Dye eggs the natural way at Elgin Public Museum

Come to the Elgin Public Museum, 225 Grand Blvd., for the annual "Natural Egg Dyeing" program from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 31.

Participants can use many different natural dyes like onion skins, turmeric, berries and much more. This technique comes from Native American and pioneer days when chemical dyes and food coloring were not available.

Use modern techniques such as crayons and rubber bands to create beautiful designs!

Explore the museum exhibits while the eggs are dyeing.

Recipes of the dyes are provided so you can try natural egg dyeing at home.

Supplies are limited, so come early! No registration is required. Cost is $2 for two eggs. For information, contact Francesca Zomkowski, education coordinator, at (847) 741-6655 or francesca_epm@cityofelgin.org. Visit www.elginpublicmuseum.org.

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Save the date! On Monday, April 2 from 5 to 8 p.m., stop by the Portillo's on Randall Road in Elgin for a fundraiser for Elgin Public Museum. The museum will get a percentage of your purchase. Just tell the cashier before you order that you are there for the museum. Save your receipt, mark it with your name, phone number, and address, and get it to the museum by April 15 to win one of three memberships or a gift basket. Receipts must be original, no photo copies.

On Wednesday, April 11, the museum will offer "A Year in the Life of Honeybees & Beekeepers" from 7 to 8 p.m. Bees are considered a keystone species for many food crops. Without them at least one third of the foods we eat would not be available. And you can kiss most flowers goodbye! Then there is honey, Mother Nature's natural sweeter. Join Wes and Jill Nelson from Two Feathers Gourds and Honey in Marengo explain the process of caring for honeybees, their hive and the harvesting of honey. Enjoy hands on observation of containers, honey, and bee facts. Cost is $7 or $5 for museum members. Call to reserve a seat at (847) 741-6655.