Learn about plant pathology at Feb. 22 nature program

What's wrong with your maple tree? Why are there spots on your wildflowers? Who's eating the leaves on your shrubs?

Find out the answers to these questions and more during "Plant Pathology and Parasites," a Learn from the Experts program.

Donna Danielson, an instructor at Morton Arboretum and adjunct faculty member at College of DuPage, will lead this discussion on diseases, insects and the challenges of growing plants outdoors. This nature program will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, at the Barbara Belding Lodge at Brewster Creek Forest Preserve, 6N921 Route 25 in St. Charles.

Learn From the Experts programs are for ages 18 and above. Advance registration is required. Registration fee is $15 per person. Call (630) 444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com to register.

Learn from the Experts programs are taught by experts in their respective fields and offer in-depth learning opportunities about our local ecology. The programs are offered through a partnership with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, St. Charles Park District and Geneva Park District.

On Saturday, March 4, the series continues with "Hardwoods Made Easy" from 9 to 11 a.m. at Creek Bend Nature Center in St. Charles. Do you find tree identification a challenge? This tree identification class will give you the tools you need to identify the variety of hardwood trees native to Kane County. Participants also will look at the trees in the context of woodland ecology.

The Learn from the Experts series will feature "Sandhill Cranes" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles. One hundred years ago, sandhill cranes were a rare sight in Kane County. But thanks to improvements in conservation laws and habitat restoration, their populations have rebounded tremendously. Today, sandhill cranes not only stop here during migration but are nesting here, too. Learn what makes these regal birds tick, bugle and dance, as they explore their life history and behaviors via photos and video.

To view the full roster of forest preserve district nature programs, visit www.kaneforest.com. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter.