Northwest suburban nature calendar

March 13

History of the Canary: 1:45 p.m. Friday, March 13, Victory Centre of Bartlett, 1101 W. Bartlett Road. Donald Perez presents, the history of the Canary. Free, register at (630) 213-0100.

Puppy class: Classes begin Friday, March 13, German Shepherd Dog Training Club of Chicago Inc., training facility, 4925 County Farm Road, Hanover Park. Nine week puppy class for all breeds under 6 months old. To register, call Arlene, (630) 852-6129 or lucini@comcast.net.

March 14

Indoor fishing and flea market: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 14, Rolling Meadows High School, 2901 Central Road, Rolling Meadows. Sale of antique, collectible, used fishing tackle, close outs and overstocks, boat and marine merchandise, free seminar at 10:30 a.m. Hosted by the Rolling Meadows Choral Boosters and Chicagoland Muskie Hunters. Raffle and refreshments. Terri, (847) 870-8132.

Northern Illinois Gesneriad Society plant show: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Non-judged show to educate the public about gesneriads. Susan, (847) 740-7801 or asusan.bradford@abbott.com.

Preparing Your Garden for Spring: 10 a.m. Saturday, March 14, Red's Garden Center Inc., Northbrook. Free seminar about what you should be doing to prepare your garden and landscape for spring. redsgardencenter.com or (847) 272-1209.

March 16

Green Thumbs of Barrington Garden Club: Meet at 12:30 p.m. Monday, March 16, Barrington Area Library. Carpool to the Atrium Garden Center to learn about growing vegetables in containers. Vicki, (847) 526-5998.

March 17

Arlington Anglers Fishing Club: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, Dick's Sporting Goods, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. Gary Drew, veteran muskie professional, shares information on tackle, techniques and local muskie fishing opportunities. Tom, (847) 639-7858 or Bob, (630) 688-0995.

March 19

Read to Starr: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 19, Bartlett Public Library, 800 S. Bartlett Road. Children in grades one-three can read with a certified therapy dog. Appointments required, call (630) 837-2855 or bartlett.lib.il.us.

Amphibian reintroduction event: 7-9 p.m. Thursday, March 19, Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Allison Sacerdote will speak about her research on flatwoods wetland habitat restoration and the reintroduction of extirpated amphibians and the impact of the European buckthorn invasion on amphibians and mammals in Northern Illinois.

Garden Club of Inverness: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 19, All Saints Lutheran Church, 630 S. Quentin Road, Palatine. Spring fresh floral arrangements by Glenn Egeland, owner of the Barrington Flower Shop. cjbass@comcast.net.

March 21

Pollinators: 9 a.m. Saturday, March 21, Barrington Area Library, Barrington. Cyndi Duda, environmental education specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will present, "Bees, Beetles and Birds- Why Should We Care About Pollinators?" RSVP to (847) 382-SAVE.

March 30

Composting 101: 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, March 30, Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. Find out how you can compost in your backyard to improve your soil and reap happy plants. $12-$15. (847) 298-3500.

April 4

Composting 101: 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4, Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. Find out how you can compost in your backyard to improve your soil and reap happy plants. $12-$15. (847) 298-3500.

Hound Egg Hunt: 11 a.m. Saturday, April 4, Towne Square, 150 W. Palatine Road, Palatine. Hosted by the Palatine Park District. Dogs hunt for eggs filled with treats, photos with the bunny. $5 per dog. For requirements and registration, call (847) 991-0333.

Children's spring workshop: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 4, Red's Garden Center, Northbrook. Junior gardeners decorate and plant a container for spring. redsgardencenter.com or (847) 272-1209.

Spring adoption event: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 4, Elmhurst Animal Hospital, 850 S. Riverside Drive. Pets for adoption, photos with the Easter Bunny, refreshments, prizes, more.

April 6

Chicagoland Shih Tzu Club: 8 p.m. Monday, April 6, Arlington Heights Public Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights.

April 16

Garden Club of Inverness: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 16, All Saints Lutheran Church, 630 S. Quentin Road, Palatine. Diane Hunter follows the migration ot the Monarch butterfly. Carole, cjbass@comcast.net.

April 25

Midwest Bird Expo 2009: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, main hall, Dupage Country Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. midwestbirdexpo.com.

April 26

Rain garden seminar: 1 p.m. Sunday, April 26, Red's Garden Center, Northbrook. Managing water in your landscape. Register at redsgardencenter.com or (847) 272-1209.

May 4

Chicagoland Shih Tzu Club: 8 p.m. Monday, May 4, Arlington Heights Public Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights.

June 2

Chicagoland Shih Tzu Club: 8 p.m. Monday, June 2, Arlington Heights Public Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights.

Aug. 3

Chicagoland Shih Tzu Club: 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, Arlington Heights Public Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights.

Sept. 18

Prairie Woods Audubon Society: 5:30 p.m. bird walk; 7 p.m. meeting/presentation Thursday, Sept. 18, Spring Valley Nature Center, Schaumburg. Pat Winkelman, president of the Vehe Farm Foundation will speak about the farm in Deer Park.

Sept. 21.

Prairie Woods Audubon Society field trip: 3-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, Illinois Beach State Park, Zion. Meet at the North Unit parking lot or at 2 p.m. at the Bank of Palatine, Northwest Highway and Plum Grove Road, to carpool. Cyndi, (847) 776-8713.

Oct. 11

Prairie Woods Audubon Society: 3 p.m.-dusk, Sunday, Oct. 11, Stillman Nature Center, South Barrington. "The Big Sit." Bring a folding chair, munchies and beverage and sit and count the bird species. Meet at the dock/picnic area. Cyndi, (847) 776-8713.

undated

Midwest Bass Busters: Bass fishing club is looking for new members at any experience level. No boat is necessary. Monthly meetings are held at The Where Else Lounge, Higgins Road and Lively Blvd., in Elk Grove Village. The club fishes one weekend a month from April-October. Call Len (847) 870-7070.

Garden Club of Inverness scholarships: Students who live in the area serviced by District 211 and Barrington High School and who plan to major in horticulture or environmentally related studies in college are invited to apply. Applications available at the guidance officers in District 211 and Barrington High School.

Nippersink Garden Club: A new garden club is forming to serve northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Members of the Nippersink Garden Club are coming together because of the love of gardening and the love of the Nippersink Creek area and waterways. Membership is open to all interested men, women and their children. Membership will be free and 2009 meetings are yet to be determined. Visit nippersinkgardenclub.org or contact Stacy at (262) 279-5992 for details.

Stillman Nature Center: Volunteers are being sought to help in a variety of areas including, landscape maintenance, birds of prey and more. (847) 428-6957 or stillnc@wildblue.net.