There’s so much to do in our region! Here’s a look at upcoming lectures and educational enrichment.
August
Volunteer Days in the Garden
Through Aug. 26. Learn how to grow food organically, turn compost, plant, harvest, prune and more. Angelic Organics Learning Center, 1547 Rockton Road, Caledonia, Ill. (815) 389-8455, learngrowconnect.org.
Perseid Meteor Watch
Aug. 12-14, 9 p.m.-12 a.m. Watch the most active meteor shower of the year. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Byron Forest Preserve, 7993 N. River Road, Byron, Ill., (815) 234-8535, byronforestpreserve.com.
Bumble Bees and Other Native Pollinators
Aug. 15, 1-4 p.m. Lesson on identifying different species of bumblebees followed by bee watching in the garden. $6 adult; $3 seniors, kids and students with ID; members free. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Rockford, (815) 965-8146, klehm.org.
Owl Pellet Dissection
Aug. 20, 7-8 p.m. Discover what owls eat by dissecting an owl pellet. $15/$12 members. Midwest Museum of Natural History (MMNH), 425 W. State St., Sycamore, Ill. (815) 895-9777, mmnh.org.
Japanese Aesthetics: Art of Tea Ceremony
Aug. 20, 7-8 p.m. Professor Kimiko Gunji on the features of traditional Japanese culture and arts that have influenced the country’s contemporary daily life and industry, performance of a tea ceremony. $5/members free. Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens.org.
Wildflower Walk
Aug. 22, 9-10 a.m. Walk amongst a wide variety of wildflowers in bloom. Byron Forest Preserve, Byron, Ill., (815) 234-8535, byronforestpreserve.com.
Polish Name Day
Aug. 22, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Food, festivities and a kid-friendly workshop on Wycinanki – folk art paper cutouts. $7 adult; $5 kids; members free. Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.
Twilight in the Garden
Aug. 29, 5-10 p.m. Enjoy local food and wines in a beautiful setting. Benefits Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Rockford, (815) 965-8146, klehm.org.
SEPTEMBER
Printmakers Talk: Matthew Vincent
Sept. 10, 7 p.m.- 8 p.m. Rock Valley College art professor Matthew Vincent talks about printmaking and its place in modern and contemporary art. Free. Rockford Art Museum (RAM), 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-2787, rockfordartmuseum.org.
Garden Education Seminar: Lavender
Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The Jefferson County Master Gardeners will present a seminar on Lavender. Free. Hoard Historical Museum, 401 Whitewater Ave., Fort Atkinson,Wis. (920) 563-7769.
Native Plants of the Midwest
Sept. 12, 10-11 a.m. Alan Branhagen on Midwestern native plants and how to incorporate them into your landscape. His new book will be available for purchase. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Rockford, (815) 965-8146, klehm.org.
Main Street Market
Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. More than 120 vendors selling vintage, re-purposed and handmade goods. Live music and food available. $8 adult; $5 child; members and children under 8 free. Midway Village Museum, Rockford, Ill. (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.
Paranormal Events
Sept. 12-Nov. 14. Hear scintillating tales from paranormal experts, listen to audio clips found in Tinker Cottage, enjoy a tour with the chance to have your own paranormal encounter. $25. Tinker Swiss Cottage, 411 Kent St., Rockford, (815) 964-2424, tinkercottage.com.
Using Japanese Garden Principles
Sept. 17, 7-8 p.m. Dr. David Slawson on aspects of universal landscape art developed in Japan. $5/members free. Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens.org.
Wine Tasting & Luminary Walk
Sept. 18, 7-9 p.m. Twilight wine tasting, live music, twinkling lights, light hors d’oeuvres. First 200 to register receive wine glass. $25/$20 members. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Rockford, (815) 965-8146, klehm.org.
Trivia on the Terrace
Sept. 25, 7-11 p.m. 95.3’s Jeff Andrews will aim to stump you and your friends with a variety of fun questions. Snacks and cash bar available. $20/$15 members. Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford. (815) 965-3443, burpee.org.
OCTOBER
The Four Seasons of the Gardens
Oct. 15, 7-8 p.m. John Powell on the famed Adachi Museum of Art located in Yasugi, Japan. $5/members free. Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens.org.
Scorpion Dissection
Oct. 22, 7-8:30 p.m. Dissect a creepy-crawly. $18/$12 members. Midwest Museum of Natural History (MMNH), 425 W. State St., Sycamore, Ill. (815) 895-9777, mmnh.org.
Creepy Crawly Halloween Party
Oct. 24, 6-8 p.m. Trick-or-treat throughout the decorated museum, have your photo taken with live critters, check out the grossology lab, enjoy games, candy, prizes and more. $8/$6 members. Midwest Museum of Natural History (MMNH), 425 W. State St., Sycamore, Ill. (815) 895-9777, mmnh.org.