Calendar: Explore beauty of spring wildflowers at Dayton Bluffs Preserve

OTTAWA, Ill. — The Spring Wildflower Hike will be 10 a.m. to noon April 19 at Dayton Bluffs Preserve, 2997 IL-71, Ottawa.

Explore the beauty of spring wildflowers on a guided hike. Spring ephemeral wildflowers can only be viewed for a brief period of time, between the ground thawing and the forest canopy leafing out. Master naturalist volunteers will guide participants through each natural area to search for these rare springtime blooms.

Spring Hike

ALTO PASS, Ill. — The Spring Hike will be 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 13 at Holy Boulders, 900 Hutchins Creek Road, Alto Pass.

Explore the Holy Boulders area with “the largest concentration of boulders in southern Illinois,” according to the Illinois Climbers Association, which owns and stewards the property. This hike will be co-led by Kevin Rohling, Extension specialist, and Kim Rohling, Extension educator, and is a collaborative hike offered by the Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club and Illinois Extension.

While the main attraction is the rock climbing, the area is also of interest to hikers and naturalists alike. Participants will see spring wildflowers and migrating songbirds as they take in the rocky landscape. The hike will be around 4 miles round-trip. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring water and a snack, if desired.

Healthy Cents

RUSHVILLE, Ill. — Healthy Cents: Food Budgeting Made Easy will be 10 to 11 a.m. April 14 at the Schuyler County Extension office, 710 Maple Ave., Rushville.

Healthy Cents is an educational program designed to help adults learn how to make healthy food choices for themselves and their families on a limited budget. Participants develop skills to make healthy, low-cost meals and snacks while learning strategies for budgeting, menu planning, and shopping, all built on the foundation of MyPlate nutritional guidelines.

Pressed Flowers

JERSEYVILLE, Ill. — The Pressed Flowers Workshop will be 5 to 6:30 p.m. April 14 at the Jersey County Extension office, 201 W. Exchange St., Jerseyville.

In this fun and educational workshop, participants ages 8 to 18 will learn how to preserve flowers from home gardens and special occasions, and press their own flowers to create beautiful keepsakes. Participants will leave with their own flower press and pressed flower art.

Cost is $20. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yb9he7ey.

Home Horticulture

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — “Farming and Foraging of Gourmet Mushrooms” and “Identifying and Managing Invasive Species” will be the topics of the Spring Series of Home Horticulture, 6 to 8 p.m. April 14 at the Holiday Inn, 226 17th St., Rock Island.

Other topics in the series will be “Backyard Bird Cousins” and “Forest Bathing: The Japanese Art and Science of Shinrin-Yoku” on April 21; and “Preserve Like a Pro” and “Veggie Visions: Unveiling New Flavors in 2025” on April 28.

Cost is $15 per evening, or $40 for all three evenings. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3kcfyxxf.

Vermicomposting Workshop

ELIZABETH, Ill. — Vermicomposting will be the Spring Break Gardening Series topic 1:30 to 3 p.m. April 15 at the Jo Daviess County Extension office, 204 N. Vine St., Elizabeth.

Vermicomposting is a compost method that utilizes your kitchen scraps to transform into compost that you can then use for your houseplants, vegetables, garden beds, and seed starting. This class will look at the basics of getting started, discuss different bin options, maintaining your bin, troubleshooting, and utilizing your castings.

Cost is $5. Register at https://tinyurl.com/pbnbjm7u.

Don’t Kill Your Tree

CHERRY VALLEY, Ill. — How to Kill Your Tree: A Guide of What Not to Do will be 6 to 7 p.m. April 15 at the Cherry Valley Public Library, 755 E. State St., Cherry Valley.

Boone County Master Gardener intern Tenley Erickson-Ranum will discuss the common mistakes homeowners make when planting and maintaining their most valuable landscape investment — trees.

Better Sleep

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Strategies for Better Sleep will be noon to 1 p.m. April 16.

Quality sleep is an essential component of physical and mental well-being. Mind-body practices can be utilized to promote and improve sleep quality. This presentation will provide an overview of sleep biology, the importance of sleep routines, and specific mind-body strategies to enhance sleep.

Carnivorous Plants

HILLSBORO, Ill. — The program Exploring Carnivorous Plants will be 5 to 6 p.m. April 16 at the Montgomery County Extension office, 1 Industrial Park Drive, Hillsboro.

Participants ages 8 to 18 will learn about carnivorous plants, and take home their own Venus flytrap.

Cost is $15. Register at https://tinyurl.com/48fuk6py.

The program will be repeated 3 to 4 p.m. April 17 at the Christian County Extension office, 1120 N. Webster St., Taylorville. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3puj6m3v.

Dealing with Dementia

CROWN POINT, Ind. — The program Dementia Conversations: Driving, Doctor Visits, Legal and Financial Planning will be 9:30 to 11 a.m. CT April 17 at the Lake County Extension office, 2291 N. Main St., Crown Point.

Caring for someone living with dementia brings a unique set of challenges and rewards. Learn to navigate the responsibilities of middle and late-stage caregiving in this education program presented by Purdue Extension in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association.

Topics will include:

• Tips on how to “break the ice” and have the most common difficult conversations.

• Planning ahead to build a care team that communicates well.

• Listening to others dealing with similar issues.

For more information, call 219-755-3240 or visit https://tinyurl.com/mr2knrwt.

Spring Centerpieces

ELIZABETH, Ill. — Spring Centerpieces will be 1:30 to 3 p.m. April 17 at the Jo Daviess County Extension office, 204 N. Vine St., Elizabeth.

Fresh-cut flowers are a great way to decorate your home or celebrate special occasions. Participants will learn the basics of designing with cut flowers and will then make a fresh spring-themed flower arrangement to take home with them.

Cost is $30. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3xkb63zu.

Cut Flowers, Herbs

MT. VERNON, Ill. — Giving the Gift of Cut Flowers and Herbs series begins 6 to 8 p.m. April 17 at the Jefferson County Extension office, 123 S. 10th St., Mt. Vernon.

Learn about incorporating growing cut flowers and herbs in their own backyard or garden bed.

Cost for the four-part series is $25. Other sessions will be held May 15, June 26 and July 17. Register at https://tinyurl.com/cbvvasny.

Youth ages 14-18 are invited to attend, but registration on ZSuite is also required. There will be an opportunity for Jefferson County youth to exhibit their arrangements at the Jefferson County 4-H Show on July 19.

Family Fun Day

FRANKLIN GROVE, Ill. — Franklin Creek Family Fun Day will be 10 a.m. to noon April 19 at the Franklin Creek State Natural Area, 1872 Twist Road, Franklin Grove.

Activities will include hiking, games and fishing.

Earth Day

MARION, Ind. — The City of Marion Parks Department and Marion Utilities will host the 2025 Earth Day Celebration from 4 to 7 p.m. ET April 24 at the Gardens of Matter Park, River and Quarry roads, Marion.

For more information and vendor opportunities, contact Melissa Rogers at mrogers@cityofmarion.in.gov. Visit https://tinyurl.com/3w77xpzk.

April 22 marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, with the theme, “Our Power, Our Planet.”

Food Canning

ROCKVILLE, Ind. — Preserve It Now, Enjoy It Later food canning and preservation class will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET April 26 at the Parke County Extension office, 1472 N. U.S. Hwy. 41, Rockville.

Participants will learn both water bath and pressure canner techniques, and will take home their canned items.

Annual Banquet

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Purdue Extension Vigo County’s Annual Banquet for Purdue Day of Giving will be 5 to 8 p.m. ET April 30 at the Banquet Center at Vigo County Fairgrounds, 3901 S. U.S. Hwy. 41, Terre Haute.

Learn about the wide array of impactful programs and services being offered in the community.

For more information and to RSVP, visit https://tinyurl.com/3sd3e9zv.