Calendar: Trees of Indiana

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Author Carroll Ritter will discuss his book “Magnificent Trees of Indiana” in an online program from 7 to 8 p.m. April 12.

Ritter’s book includes information about Indiana’s biggest trees, the remaining old-growth forests, and odd and curious trees. His book details the changes that have occurred over the last two centuries in Indiana’s forests, including the landscape geology and physiography.

Ritter is a retired science teacher with a lifelong interest in trees and wildflowers. He attended Purdue University, received his master’s degree from Indiana University, and completed advanced coursework in field geology from Western Washington University. After retirement, he assisted Sycamore Land Trust, developing their first and very successful environmental education program working with children of all ages. He has nominated seven state champion trees over the years, including three new ones for the 2020 Indiana Big Tree Register.

Livestock Care

CHRISNEY, Ind. — The 4-H Quality Livestock Care Workshop will be 5 to 6 p.m. CT April 10 at the Spencer County Youth & Community Center, 1101 E CR 800 N, Chrisney.

All 4-H livestock members planning to exhibit beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, meat goats, dairy goats, poultry and rabbits at the county fair or Indiana State Fair are required to complete a livestock quality care certification each year in order to be eligible to exhibit at the fairs’ 4-H livestock shows.

Horticulture Series

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The Spring Series of Home Horticulture will be from 6 to 8 p.m. April 10, April 17 and April 24 at the Holiday Inn, 226 17th St., Rock Island.

Cost is $10 per night, or $25 for all three nights. Snacks will be provided. Register at go.illinois.edu/SpringSeries23.

Programs and presenters will include:

• April 10: Going to Bat for Bats, Jill Schmidt, naturalist with Clinton County Conservation; and The Why and How of Tree Diversity, Emily Swihart, Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

• April 17: Landscaping: It’s for the Birds, Chris Enroth, Illinois Extension horticulture educator; and Spring: A Time of Bird Transition, Jimmy Wiebler, naturalist and research coordinator for Nahant Marsh Education Center.

• April 24: Growing Plants Indoors, Perrine West, experienced local garden and plant enthusiast; and What’s New for 2023, Matt Jones, nursery manager, and Ethan Leader, greenhouse manager at Corn Crib Nursery.

Cooking with Vegetables

THOMSON, Ill. — The program Cooking with Vegetables will be 5 to 6 p.m. April 10 at the Thomson Library, 1005 W. Main St., Thomson.

Learn the basics of planting, harvesting and creating recipes using fresh broccoli. A new vegetable will be featured each month, and recipes will be provided. To register, call the library at 815-259-2480.

Start a Garden

LACON, Ill. — The program Start Your Own Vegetable Garden with 4-H will be 10 to 11 a.m. April 11 at the Lacon Community Center, 405 N. Washington St., Lacon.

Youth ages 8 to 18 will learn about vegetable gardening and make window greenhouses to start three of their own seeds.

Vermicomposting

ROCKFORD, Ill. — A vermicomposting program will be will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 11 at the Winnebago County Extension office, 1040 N. 2nd St., Rockford.

Vermicomposting is a process that relies on earthworms and microorganisms to help stabilize active organic materials and convert them to a valuable soil amendment and source of plant nutrients.

Tea Garden

GRANVILLE, Ill. — The Tea Garden Design Workshop will be 1 to 2 p.m. April 12 at the Putnam County Library, 214 S. Mccoy St., Granville.

The tradition of making and taking tea in the garden is steeped in garden history. Today, tea gardens also provide enchanting outdoor spaces that are soothing, productive, sustainable, and lovely to visit. Master gardeners from the Bureau, La Salle, Marshall, and Putnam County University of Illinois Extension will describe the different types of tea gardens and the design components that make these great spaces to enjoy tea. Various plants used to make tea also will be discussed.

Tree ID

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Identification of Illinois’ Native Oak Species will be 2 to 3 p.m. April 12.

This presentation by Chris Evans, Forestry Extension and research specialist, will review the 20 different oak species that are native to Illinois and discuss their ecology and identification.

Composting Basics

GRAYSLAKE, Ill. — Composting Basics, Benefits and Beyond will be the topic of the Lake County 2023 Garden Learning Series, 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 12.

April in Paris

PARIS, Ill. — The April in Paris Gardening Seminar will be 8 a.m. to noon April 13 at Betty Jane’s Kitchen, 1249 N. Main St., Paris.

Program topics and presenters will include: New Proven Winners Varieties, Steve Schuren from Schuren Nursery; Cooking with Herbs, Mary Liz Wright, Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness educator; and Native Plants and Incorporating Them into Your Existing Landscape, Chris Enroth, Illinois Extension horticulture educator:

Cost is $25 and includes a light breakfast, materials, speakers, and vendors. Register at https://tinyurl.com/r49zcxjw.

Vegetable Gardening

WANATAH, Ind. — The series Home Vegetable Gardening: For the Pleasure of Growing Produce will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. CT April 13, April 20 and April 27 at the Pinney Purdue Ag Center, 11402 S. County Line Road, Wanatah.

This series offers current and aspiring vegetable growers the opportunity to learn from the experts about ways to increase the success and satisfaction of quality vegetable production in their gardens.

This series should be of special interest to current and prospective gardeners and the more advanced home gardeners.

Participants will increase their knowledge of methods which will improve their ability to control pests and diseases while reducing the impact of their operation on the environment.

This program will provide the resources to facilitate learning well after the conclusion of the series.

Manure Management

URBANA, Ill. — The Understanding Farm Scale Manure Management Webinar will be 6 to 7 p.m. April 13.

Join University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator Jay Solomon for the final program in the Getting Started with Livestock Webinar Series.

To register or for more information, call 815-858-2273 or visit go.illinois.edu/jsw.

Southern Exposure

JASPER, Ind. — The program Southern Exposure: Southern Indiana’s Land of Bluffs, Bayous and Barrens will be at 6:30 p.m. April 13 at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, 100 Third Ave., Jasper.

Our country’s national parks are magnificent, but did you know you can see some of the natural features for which they are famous right here in Indiana?

The state is home to amazing rock formations, awe-inspiring waterfalls, forests teeming with brilliantly colored wildflowers, and swamplands reminiscent of the Everglades.

Guest speaker will be Michael Homoya, former Indiana DNR ecologist and author of popular Midwest flora field guides.

RSVP by contacting the Dubois County Soil & Water Conservation District at 812-482-1171.

Reduce Flooding

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Reduce Flooding and Water Pollution with Rain Gardens and Native Plants will be 1 to 2 p.m. April 13.

Rain gardens and native plants incorporated into home and business landscapes can help to reduce localized flooding, improve local water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife. Learn how to consider natural options to handle rain runoff and walk through the recent renovation of the Red Oak Rain Garden.

Presenter will be Eliana Brown, water quality and stormwater specialist.

Fisheries Workshop

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Join the Sea Grant Illinois-Indiana for a seminar on the latest fish biology, ecology, and fisheries science happening in Lake Michigan.

Topics in the online seminar from 6 to 8 p.m. CT April 13 will include the economics of sport fishing, the importance of coastal wetlands to yellow perch, and an Illinois DNR fisheries report.

To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/rfd7e7zn.

The workshop is presented by the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Purdue Extension, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Loyola University, and the Wilmette Harbor Club.

Farmers Market

CORYDON, Ind. — Have questions about becoming a vendor with the Corydon Farmers Market? A Q&A will be from 6 to 8 p.m. ET April 14 at the Harrison County Extension office, 247 Atwood St., Corydon.

For more information about the farmers market, visit https://www.facebook.com/corydonfarmersmarket.

McHenry Gardenfest

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. — McHenry County Gardenfest will be 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. April 15 at McHenry County College, 8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake.

Program topics will include Making Native Plants a Part of Your Landscape, Growing Epic Tomatoes in Northern Illinois, The Backyard Orchard, Gardening in Comfort, The Culinary Garden, Growing and Caring for Grapes, Tree and Shrub Selection, The Shape of Design, The Culinary Garden, Basic Pruning, Common Backyard Weeds, Your First Vegetable Garden, Midwest Pollinators, Tool Maintenance and Sharpening, All About Tea Gardens, and Attracting Native Bees To Your Garden.

Cost is $45, which includes the programs, lunch and exhibits. Register early for the McHenry County College Greenhouse Tour.

Gardener’s Big Day

CANTON, Ill. — Gardener’s Big Day will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 15 at Spoon River College, 23235 N. County Highway 22, Canton.

Keynote address will be Extreme Weather in Your Garden by Duane Friend, state master naturalist and climate change specialist with University of Illinois Extension.

Expand your gardening knowledge with a full day of educational sessions, including: Prairie Plants and Their Uses by Native Americans and Early Settlers, Apple Orchard Pruning/Beekeeping, Roses of Luthy Botanical Garden, Horticulture Travel, 20 Ways to Use 20 Stems, Prairie Installation/Maintenance, New Flowers/AAS Selections, Key Tools for Your Home Vegetable Garden, and Native Plants for Home Landscape.

Cost is $40, and includes lunch. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y3e4f5h5.

Things with Wings

DECATUR, Ill. — Things with Wings will be the topic of the Carolyn Mason Annual Education Day, 8 to 11:30 a.m. April 15 at the Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur.

Program topics will include Bat Conservation Across Large Landscapes, and Attracting Pollinators to your Garden. There also will be a birding tour.

Cost is $15, which includes Includes all activities and a boxed breakfast. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4t84dn9w.

Tree Sale

VALPARAISO, Ind. — The Porter County Extension Annual Tree Sale will be 8 to 11 a.m. CT April 15 in The Hickory Shelter at Sunset Hill County Park, 775 Meridian Road, Valparaiso.

For a pre-order form and prices, visit https://tinyurl.com/3jcb5udy. For more information, call 219-465-3555 or email brow2274@purdue.edu.

Garden Patch

PONTIAC, Ill. — Join the Livingston County master gardeners from 9 a.m. to noon April 15 for a morning filled with pollinators at A Day in the Garden Patch at the Livingston County Extension office, 1412 S. Locust St., Pontiac.

Program topics will include:

• Plants for Pollinators: Host plants, Illinois natives, and nectar-rich blooms from spring through fall all play an important part in a pollinator garden. Learn about what plants you could add to your landscape to create a haven for our native pollinators.

• What You Can Do for Pollinators: Discover easy things you can do (or not do) in your backyard to help the pollinators. Create a Mason bee house and butterfly puddler to support the pollinators.

• Designing Pots for Pollinators: Do you want to plant a pollinator garden but don’t have the room in your yard? Learn how to make your patio or porch a haven for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators with pollinator-friendly pots. Take away four pollinator-favorite annuals to plant in your colorful patio containers.

A $30 registration fee includes morning refreshments, three workshops, annual pollinator plants, and DIY pollinator feeders. Check-in and light refreshments will be available at 8:30 a.m., with the workshops beginning at 9 a.m.

Fire Workshop

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A workshop on prescribed fires in woodlands will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET April 15 at the John S. Wright Center, 1007 N 725 W, West Lafayette.

The workshop will cover the benefits of prescribed fire for forest regeneration and wildlife, safety considerations when using prescribed fire, prescribed fire equipment, and technical and cost-share opportunities for private landowners.

Spring Fest

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Spring Fest will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET April 15. Join Purdue College of Agriculture, 615 W. State St., West Lafayette, for a day full of outdoor and indoor activities.

Events include the College of Veterinary Medicine Open House, the Bug Bowl, and Plant Sale.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/mr3wv2hk.

Dedication

CORYDON, Ind. — In celebration of her commitment and dedication to the Harrison County community, the public is invited to remember Linda J. Flock on April 15 as the Purdue Extension-Harrison County Building is dedicated in her honor.

The event will begin at 1 p.m. ET at 247 Atwood St., Corydon.