Calendar: April in Paris Gardening Seminar

PARIS, Ill. — The April in Paris Gardening Seminar will be 8:30 a.m. to noon April 10 at Lake Ridge Christian Church, 122 E. Steidl Road, Paris.

The event will include seminars, vendors and breakfast.

Speaker topics will include:

• Gardens for Cut Bouquets, Treva Cook, TLC U-Pick Flower Farm.

• Eight Great Alternatives to the Invasive Callery Pear Tree, Sara Vogel, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

• Landscape Design for Foundation Gardens, Erica Shannon, master gardener.

• Pruning for Tree Health, Ryan Pankau, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

Cost is $30. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mtfnhmeb.

Breakfast Briefing

GOSHEN, Ind. — Field tile cameras will be the topic of the Farmers Breakfast Briefing, 10 a.m. to noon ET March 25 at the Elkhart County Extension office, 17746 CR 34, Goshen.

Briefings are held each month with a different topic. Lunch will be provided to participants at no charge. The briefing also will be available online.

Dine to Donate

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. — The Dine to Donate event to support 4-H programs in Shelby County will be 3 to 8:30 p.m. ET March 25 at Greek’s Pizzeria, 20 S, Harrison St., Shelbyville.

Twenty percent of dine-in and carry-out orders will be donated to 4-H. Place your order carry-out order by calling 317-825-0532.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/3x99p2bm.

Digital Ag

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Get Connected with Purdue Extension’s Digital Agriculture Programs will be the topic of the Digital and Advanced Agricultural Systems Seminar Series, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 27 at Roy L. Whistler Hall of Agricultural Research, 170 S. University St., West Lafayette.

Learn how Purdue Extension is building digital and agricultural literacy in the future workforce through offering a digital agriculture curriculum for high schools, hosting on-campus youth summer programs focused on digital agriculture, and developing curricula for digital ag clubs for youth.

Plant-Based Diet

CROWN POINT, Ind. — The Pros and Cons of a Plant-Based Diet will be 1 to 2:30 p.m. CT March 27 at the Lake County Extension office, 2291 N. Main St., Crown Point.

A plant-based diet offers numerous health benefits and can significantly improve overall well-being. Explore the popularity of plant-based eating, the health benefits and the challenges to following a plant-based diet.

Native Pollinators

DECATUR, Ill. — The program Do I Really Need Native Pollinators? will be 10 to 11 a.m. April 8 at the Crossing Healthcare Garden, 320 Central Ave., Decatur.

Learn why native pollinators are important and how they can play a role in the garden.

Rainwater Management

ELIZABETH, Ill. — Rainwater Management in the Home Landscape will be 1:30 to 3 p.m. April 8 at the Jo Daviess County Extension office, 204 N. Vine St., Elizabeth.

Cost is $5. Register for this Spring Break Gardening Series program at https://tinyurl.com/28uj4xvh.

Declutter Home, Finances

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Where to Start: Declutter Your Home and Finances will be 2 to 3 p.m. April 8.

Do you feel overwhelmed trying to organize your stuff? Do you have a filing cabinet spilling over with financial paperwork? Discover simple steps to organize your space and financial documents.

Kokedama Making

MAHOMET, Ill. — Kokedama Making will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 8 at Main Street Botanicals, 410 E. Main St., Mahomet.

Kokedama is the Japanese art of growing plants in a moss-covered soil ball wrapped with string or monofilament fishing line. Participants ages 8 to 18 will learn about Kokedama from the experts at Main Street Botanicals and create their own Kokedama to take home.

Cost is $15. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yxy4nta2.

Wildflowers of Sandy Ford

STREATOR, Ill. — Wildflowers of Sandy Ford Land and Water Reserve will be 6 to 7 p.m. April 9 at the Streator Public Library, 130 S. Park St., Streator.

Sandy Ford is a 200-acre reserve that is home to many different native wildflower species and features both woodland and prairie habitats. This program will focus on identifying the diverse array of wildflowers blooming at Sandy Ford.

Birding Walk

CARBONDALE, Ill. — A birding walk with Master Naturalist Lily Glaeser will be 8:30 to 10 a.m. April 10 at Green Earth Chautauqua Bottoms Nature Preserve, 2100 W. Chautauqua Road, Carbondale.

Learn to identify our feathered friends. All ages and experiences are welcome. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mrjh6szh.

Gardening Made Easy

WELDON, Ill. — Gardening Made Easy will be 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. April 11 at the Weldon Public Library, 505 Maple St., Weldon.

With the arrival of spring, many of us look forward to planting our flower and vegetable gardens. Learn how to make your home gardening easier and less of a chore.

Ready, Set, Grow

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. — Gardenfest — Ready, Set, Grow will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12 at Luecht Auditorium at McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake.

Explore the latest gardening trends, techniques, and tools during this daylong series of seminars for gardeners of every skill level.

Held annually, Gardenfest is sponsored by McHenry County College and the University of Illinois Extension McHenry County master gardeners.

Cost is $49. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yju664k5.

Container Design

DIXON, Ill. — Spring Container Design will be 9:30 to 11 a.m. April 12 at Sauk Valley Community College, 173 IL-2, Dixon.

Elevate your spring containers with expert floral design techniques. This hands-on workshop covers color, texture, height and more for creating beautiful displays. Bring a container to plant in; all other supplies provided.

Cost is $35. Register at https://tinyurl.com/22fxxs2k.

Blooms on the Trails

LEXINGTON, Ill. — Blooms on the Trails will be 10 a.m. to noon April 12 at Lexington Preserve, 6 Timber Ridge Road, Lexington.

While on the trails, participants will identify spring wildflowers and learn how to use the iNaturalist app for identification and documentation of plants, learn about area wildlife, and participate in a scavenger hunt.

Cost is $5. Register at https://tinyurl.com/24zsmff5.

Growing Magic

DIXON, Ill. — Growing Magic: Propagation and Fairy Gardens will be 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 12 at the Sauk Valley Community College Greenhouse, 173 IL-2, Dixon.

A selection of containers will be available for participants to make a fairy garden, or participants may bring their own container. Participants will go home with a propagated plant and a small fairy garden.

Cost is $35. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4j3d6hv9.

4-H Fundraiser

ST. CHARLES, Ill. — The Kane County 4-H Foundation will host its 16th annual pork chop dinner and auction fundraiser from 4:30 to 7 p.m. April 12 at the Kane County Fairgrounds Prairie Events Center, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles.

Diners have a choice of a two-chop dinner for $16, a one-chop dinner for $14, or a pulled pork sandwich dinner for $12. The pork will be prepared by the Elburn Lions Club and served by 4-H Foundation, clubs, families, and other Extension volunteers and supporters.

Get tickets through:

• Your local 4-H club or 4-H Foundation volunteer.

• By contacting the event co-chairs Katherine Thompson at katthom8@yahoo.com or Bill Collins at 630-484-6852.

• By contacting the Kane County Extension office at 630-584-6166, or stopping in during office hours at 535 S. Randall Road, St. Charles.

A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase at the door for an additional $1 per meal.

The event also features a silent auction of popular items and themed baskets donated by Kane County 4-H clubs, Master Gardener volunteers, local Home and Community Education groups, and other area supporters. Silent auction bidding ends at 7 p.m. and the live auction begins.

Proceeds from the dinner and auctions will benefit University of Illinois Extension programs in Kane County including: 4‑H Youth Development, Home and Community Education Association, Horticulture, Master Gardener, and Nutrition and Wellness programs.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at bronze, silver, and gold levels, and all donations are tax deductible. Donors may request a set number of complimentary tickets based on sponsorship level, and they will receive recognition at the event.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/2hju3en6.

Flower Favorites

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Easy Care Flower Favorites will be 6 to 7 p.m. April 23 at the Allen County Extension office, 4001 Crescent Ave., Fort Wayne.

Master Gardener Marlene Purdy introduces participants to her flower garden favorites.