Calendar: Flower walks celebrate Mother’s Day

GENOA, Ill. — Mother’s Day flower walks will begin at 10 a.m. May 11 at Russell Woods Forest Preserve Natural Resource Education Center, 11750 IL-72, Genoa.

The walks leave from the Natural Resource Education Center on the hour starting at 10 a.m. and the last walk leaves at 1 p.m. Two local botany enthusiasts, Karen Matz and Brian Hale, will lead the flower walks and talk about all that is blooming.

The NREC is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those who wish to explore the exhibits while they wait for the next scheduled flower walk.

For more information, call 815-784-2000.

Plant Sale

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association Plant Sale will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT May 4 at the Vanderburgh 4-H Center, 201 E. Boonville-New Harmony Road, Evansville.

Billed as the tri-state area’s largest indoor plant sale, the event will include perennial and annual flowers for sun and shade, native plants, succulents, vegetables, herbs, houseplants, peonies and hydrangeas. Master gardeners will be available to answer gardening questions.

For more information, including a complete list of this year’s offerings, visit https://www.swimga.org/swimga-events/plant-sale/.

UAV Contest

ALEXANDRIA, Ind. — The Indiana 4-H UAV Competition will be noon to 4 p.m. ET May 4 at the Madison County Fairgrounds, 512 E. 4th St., Alexandria.

The contest for middle school and high school 4-H members will include a timed flight, knowledge of FAA rules and regulations, and drone programming .

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/ym8bu7xv.

Food Preservation

GREENFIELD, Ind. — The Mastering Home Food Preservation Workshop will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET May 6-9 at the Sarah Burke Exhibit Hall, 620 N. Apple St., Greenfield.

The workshop will include in-depth lectures, interactive discussions, hands-on practice and take-home products.

USDA Home Food Preservation recommended procedures will be taught, including food safety, boiling water canning, pressure canning, pickling and fermenting, freezing and dehydrating, and jams and jellies.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/mrxuaux4. For additional details, email krichey@purdue.edu or gray89@purdue.edu.

Teacher Appreciation

HILLSBORO, Ill. — Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-10. To celebrate, Montgomery County 4-H is hosting a community service workshop to prepare gifts for teachers who are special to Montgomery County 4-H members.

The workshop, open to youths ages 8 to 18, will be 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. May 6 at the Montgomery County Extension office, 1 Industrial Park Drive, Hillsboro.

Register by visiting https://tinyurl.com/4smzvnee.

Pests and Diseases

FAIRFIELD, Ill. — Garden Pest and Disease Identification will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 6 at the Wayne County Extension office, 2B Frontier Drive, Fairfield.

Learn how to identify and control common garden pests, when to expect them and techniques to reduce damage. Plant diseases can be overwhelming and difficult to identify. Learn about common diseases, how to control them, and when to expect them during the growing season.

Register for this seventh and final workshop in the Introduction to Gardening series at https://tinyurl.com/3fe32nvr.

Native Pollinators

MENDOTA, Ill. — The program Native Pollinators will be 6 to 7 p.m. May 6 at the Graves-Hume Public Library, 1401 W. Main St., Mendota.

When it comes to pollination, honey bees get a majority of the attention. However, many creatures play a role in pollination. This presentation will discuss different native pollinators and how to make your landscape attractive to them.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/3kz83ct4.

Declutter Workshop

BENTON, Ill. — Declutter Your Home and Finances will be 10 to 11:30 a.m. May 7 at the Gwen Wynn Senior Center, 104 N. 10th St., Benton.

Do you feel overwhelmed trying to organize your stuff? Do you have a filing cabinet spilling over with financial paperwork? Join Family Life Educator Robin Ridgley in a free workshop to get your home and finances organized.

To register, call 618-439-3181 or visit go.illinois.edu/Where2Start.

Healthy Heart

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Meals for a Healthy Heart will be noon to 1 p.m. May 7 and May 9 at the Chestnut Family Health Center, 702 W. Chestnut St., Bloomington.

The program is for anyone interested in preventing or managing heart disease. In each session, participants will receive recipes, watch cooking demonstrations and taste heart-healthy foods.

Register for this free program at https://tinyurl.com/mry267yn.

Landscape Design

CARLINVILLE, Ill. — Exploring Nature’s Canvas: Landscape Design will be 2 to 3 p.m. May 7 at the Carlinville Public Library, 510 N. Broad St., Carlinville.

Participants will learn a variety of design principles from Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Andrew Holsinger. Learn the basics of plant selection in developing an attractive landscape.

Register for this free program at https://tinyurl.com/8ddwzp28.

Sourdough Starter

OAKWOOD, Ill. — The Sourdough Starter Class will be 5 to 6 p.m. May 7 at the Oakwood Public Library, 110 E. Finley Ave., Oakwood.

Led by Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator Rachel Mannen, this hands-on class is the perfect opportunity for beginners and curious bakers to unlock the secrets of sourdough.

The session will equip participants with everything needed to get started, including sourdough starter and sourdough recipes.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/5hfspvse.

Here’s to Health

HARDINSBURG, Ind. — Here’s to Our Health will be 6 to 8 p.m. ET Tuesdays, May 7 to July 16, at the Hardinsburg Christian Church, 160 S. Maple St., Hardinsburg.

Here’s to Our Health is a comprehensive nutrition education and wellness program crafted to equip individuals with the understanding and resources necessary for making healthier lifestyle choices. Its primary focus is on promoting the preparation and enjoyment of nutritious meals. Each participant receives complementary meal kits tailored to feed a family of four at each class, along with various kitchen essentials such as knife sets, crockpots, and utensil sets, distributed at random intervals throughout the program to further bolster participants’ efforts toward better nutrition.

Register by calling 812-883-4601. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/444f6zfh.

Bargain Gardens

WALNUT, Ill. — The program Bargain Gardens will be 6 to 7 p.m. May 7 at the Walnut Public Library, 101 Heaton St., Walnut.

Don’t let a limited budget keep you out of the garden. Find out how gardens can be simple, fun and inexpensive. You’ll learn gardening tips and ideas that will save you time and money.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/5e9hshza.

Make Salsa

STAUNTON, Ill. — Let’s Make Salsa will be 6 to 7 p.m. May 7 at Community Hospital of Staunton, 400 Caldwell St., Staunton.

Learn how to make the most out of your summer produce by making fresh salsa. This class is open to all ages and will involve hands-on practice making a variety of different salsas, and canning salsa.

Register for this free program by contacting Brandi Crawford, director of nursing, at 618-635-4218 or crawfordb@stauntonhospital.org.

Make a Change

FREEPORT, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension is partnering with researchers from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to offer Empowered to Make a Change: An Introduction to Weight Management, 7 to 8:30 p.m. May 7 at the Stephenson County Extension office, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport.

During this workshop, experts will discuss reasons for weight gain, how weight is assessed, the benefits of losing and maintaining a healthy body weight, and offer tips to promote weight loss.

After the workshop, participants will be provided with information about enrolling in EMPOWER, an online weight management research program focusing on sustainable lifestyle changes. The study includes a 12-month virtual program focusing on lifestyle, nutrition and behavioral health education, empowering participants to create a personalized diet plan based on targeted levels of protein and fiber to promote weight loss.

To register for the workshop, visit https://tinyurl.com/35j3cw8z. For more information about EMPOWER, visit https://publish.illinois.edu/empower-uiuc.

Heart and Sole

FREEPORT, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension is offering a walking club, Heart and Sole, and the first four-week session, Move More For Better Health, will begin at 10 a.m. May 8 at the Krape Park concessions area, 1799 Park Blvd., Freeport.

Various topics will be covered during the walk each week, including the benefits of physical activity, making and tracking goals, preventing age-related muscle loss, and the health benefits of connecting with others. The class will walk for at least 20 minutes during each session.

For a list of walking sites and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/mszc3ufr.

Debt Repayment

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Strategies for Debt Repayment will be 11 a.m. to noon May 8.

Debt can be distressing. If you have debt or are planning on taking on debt, do you have a plan on how to pay the money back? Explore different strategies for prioritizing debt repayment.

Register for this Money Basics Webinar Series program by visiting https://tinyurl.com/2pht257a.

Raised Beds

PERU, Ill. — Vegetable Gardening in Raised Beds and Containers will be 6 to 7 p.m. May 8 at the Peru Public Library, 1409 11th St., Peru.

Participants will learn how to select, plant and maintain container gardens so that they can become attractive, season-long additions to the home landscape.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/bdhy4pka.

Cicadas 2024

FREEPORT, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension Educator Jay Solomon will discuss periodic cicadas from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 8 at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau, 210 W. Spring St., Freeport.

Cicadas will appear in May and June in Illinois. Solomon will discuss how to protect vulnerable plants.

Register by calling 815-235-4125 or visit go.illinois.edu/jsw.

Water Bath Canning

PANA, Ill. — Water Bath Canning: Jams and Jellies will be 10:30 a.m. to noon May 9 at Livewell Fitness at Pana Community Hospital, 101 E. 9th St., Pana.

Love making jam or jelly with fresh produce and not sure how to store it? Join Illinois Extension to learn the ins and outs of water bath canning jams and jellies and get hands-on practice making and canning jam.

Register by calling 217-562-6231 or sign up at the front desk of the fitness center.

Vermicomposting Workshop

INDIANAPOLIS — The Vermicomposting Garden Workshop will be noon to 1 p.m. ET May 9 at the Indianapolis Public Library — Garfield Park Branch, 2502 Shelby St., Indianapolis.

Vermicomposting is a great way to take your table scraps and turn them into food for your plants. Participants will learn what you can and cannot compost in a worm bin, and tips about worm bin maintenance.

For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/2kx3ez88.

Fungus Among Us

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Fungus Among Us: An Insight to Fungi in Illinois Ecosystems will be 1 to 2 p.m. May 9.

Fungi are more than a pathogen eating your trees or the mushroom in your meals. Not a plant or an animal, fungi are dynamic organisms that help decompose and recycle the nutrients in organic materials and form beneficial relationships with plants. Discover the vital role fungus has in connecting and balancing Illinois ecosystems.

Presenter will be Karla Griesbaum, Extension natural resources, environment and energy educator. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2astjx8r.

Pump Station Tour

EVANSVILLE, Ill. — A tour of Sunrise Pump Station, 1200 Waterworks Road, Evansville, will be 4:30 to 8 p.m. CT May 9.

The pump station prevents water from backing up into the City of Evansville when flood gates are closed on the Ohio River levee. Built on the site of Sunrise Park, the pump station incorporates green space and highlights the spillway as a focal point along the Ohio River. There is a rain garden and access to the Evansville Riverfront Walkway. The building has ample public space for community events.

For more information about this free event, visit https://tinyurl.com/5n7zcjkr or call Amanda Bradshaw-Burks at 812-435-5287.

Seed Saving

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. — The Seed Saving Program will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 9 at the Jackson County Extension office, 402 Ava Road, Murphysboro.

You don’t need to run to the store each year for a fresh batch of seeds. Seed saving is a great way to continue your garden from the plants and flowers you already have. Saving seeds also allows you to select particular characteristics you might like to cultivate by choosing fruits or plants with those traits.

The program will cover methods used to collect seeds, seed storage techniques and the seed stratification process.

Register for this free Modern Homesteading Series program by visiting https://tinyurl.com/53rp74e5 or call 618-687-1727.

Basket Workshop

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The Mother’s Day Basket Workshop will be 10 to 11:30 a.m. May 10 at the DuPage County Extension office, 1100 E. Warrenville Road, Suite 170, Naperville.

Learn the basics of floral design as a master gardener guides you through creating a beautiful floral basket arrangement. This BYOF (bring your own flowers) workshop allows you to choose your favorite blooms and basket to customize the final piece as a special gift or to match your own décor.

It is recommended to bring two or three bunches of cut flowers, which can be purchased and/or collected from your garden. Recommended flowers include daisy mums, mini carnations, alstroemeria, tulips and daffodils. Participants should bring a lined basket or container approximately 7-inches in diameter. Floral foam and greenery will be provided.

Cost is $15. Register at https://tinyurl.com/47nsn9jn.

Plant Sale

DANVILLE, Ill. — The Vermilion County Master Gardener Plant Sale will be 8 a.m. to noon May 11 at First Presbyterian Church, 100 N. Franklin St., Danville.

Find a variety of vegetables, herbs, flowers and houseplants, all grown by master gardeners, who also will offer free expert advice.

Admission and parking are free, and proceeds support community garden programs. Learn more by calling 217-442-8615.

Plant Sale

MATTOON, Ill. — The Master Gardener Plant Sale will be 9 a.m. to noon May 11 at Lytle Park, 500 S. 32nd St., Mattoon.

Featuring an impressive array of plants, the sale offers something to captivate every taste. From peppers to numerous tomato varieties, there’s a plant for everyone. Additionally, herb and houseplant enthusiasts will find plenty to explore, with a selection of native species carefully nurtured by local master gardeners.

Admission is free, and plants start at $2. No registration is required. For additional information, contact Jenny Lee at 217-345-2637.

Bird Walk

ST. ANNE, Ill. — The Bird Walk with Brandon Ratcliff of the Kankakee Audubon Society will be 10 to 11 a.m. May 11 at the Aroma Land and Water Reserve, 1578 S. Hieland Road, St. Anne.

Register for this free program at https://tinyurl.com/39st5ryt.

Extension Day

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Extension Day will be 1 to 3 p.m. May 11 at Martens Center, 1515 N. Market St., Champaign.

Extension Day will feature booths from Extension program areas: 4-H, Family Life, Finances, Nutrition and Wellness, SNAP-Ed, EFNEP, master gardeners and master naturalists. It also will feature booths from community partners, including Champaign Parks District, the Housing Authority of Champaign County, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, OSF Healthcare, and the Trauma and Resilience Initiative.

There will be free cooking demonstrations at 1:15 and 2:15 p.m. and inflatable play areas for children. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/ya5ccpds.