NW suburban pets and nature

Events that involve pets, animals and plants, such as pet washes, adoption days, nature walks, microchipping, nature photography exhibits, nature tours, bird walks, calls for volunteers for nature-related work days, etc. Send items to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com two weeks before event date.

Aug. 29

Arlington Heights Farmers Market: 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, Eastman Street between Arlington Heights Road and Evergreen, downtown Arlington Heights. Fresh produce, seasonal fruit, plants, cut flowers, breads, Pastries, cheeses, preserves, kettle corn, cheese cakes, dry pastas, sauces, focaccias and cookies, mushrooms, fruit butter, more. Call Claudia, (847) 421-1860.

Park Ridge Farmers Market: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, downtown Park Ridge. Fresh vegetables, fruit, flowers, cheeses, baked goods, pickles, salsa, honey, artisan soaps, dog treats, more. Barb, (847) 318-5217.

Tool sharpening with Joe: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Aug. 29, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Bring your tools to Knupper for professional sharpening by Joe the Sharpener. Fees vary by size of tool, cash or check only. Call for details. (847) 359-1080.

Microchip Your Pet: Schedule a time on Saturday, Aug. 29, Loving Care Animal Clinic, 2633 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows. Have your pet safely identified with a permanent microchip that gets injected under the skin, that animal shelters, police departments and animal clinics can scan to identify the animal. Dogs, cats, horses, birds, reptiles and exotics can be chipped; $25 per pet. To schedule an appointment call (847) 670-8488.

Bark for Life: 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, Sugar Grove Dog Park. First American Cancer Society Bark for life of Fox Valley includes one-mile walk for dogs and their owners., vendors, doggy camp, contests, more. Benefits research, cancer education, patient services, advocacy efforts of the American Cancer Society. (630) 879-9009 or barkforlifefoxv5alley.com.

Animal Control adoption event: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, McHenry County Animal Control and Adoption Center, 100 N. Virginia St., Crystal Lake. Dogs, cats, puppies and kittens read to be adopted. Fees begin at $80 and include all vaccinations, spay/neuter, FELV and FIV testing, microchip, deworming, free first vet visit and discounted grooming. Call (815) 459-6222 or visit mcdh.info.

Aug. 30

Mount Prospect Lions Club Farmer's Market: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday Aug. 30, west Metra station parking lot, Route 83 and Northwest Highway, in downtown Mount Prospect. Fresh farm produce, food, nutrition products, crafts, health services, family activities, cooking demonstration series, more. For information, (847) 682-0880 or MtProspectLions.com.

Bird Banding: 9 a.m.-noon Sunday, Aug. 30, Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, South Barrington. Watch Mark Spreyer, a licensed bird bander, measure, weigh and record data about resident and migratory birds. Birds are not caught in a predictable manner, so come prepared to hike the trails. Free. To register, (847) 428-6957 or stillmannc.org.

Sept. 1

Four Seasons Garden Club: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Sept. 1, at a members home. Kickoff meeting of the 2009/2010 season. Includes brunch, bring a dish to pass; discussion of 2009 garden successes; and perennial exchange. Alana, (847) 438-3981.

Garden Club of Lake Zurich: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 22480 Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods. Program: "Gardener's Gripe Book" by Abby Adams will be presented by Carolyn Stein Stillman. For information, (847) 550-0329. Guest welcome.

Sept 2

Animal Rabies Vaccine and Microchip Clinic: 10 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept 2, Oasis Mobile Park, 7500 Elmhurst Road, Des Plaines. Available to all dogs, cats and ferrets 3 months and older owned by Cook County residents with valid ID. Rabies vaccine $7 for one year, $21 for three years; microchip for dogs and cats, $10, ferrets, $9. Cash or check only, no credit or debit cards. (847) 871-1717 or cookcountygov.com.

Field and Flower Garden Club of Barrington: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at a member's home. Program, "Butterflies in Your Backyard," will be presented by Arlene Donahue. Guests welcome. (847) 381-1869.

Sept. 3

Garden Club of South Barrington: Thursday, Sept. 3, at the home of a member. A DVD presentation of Audrey Hepburn's Garden of the World Tour. Call Anita, (847) 277-7151.

Hoffman Estates Garden Club: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S. Roselle Road. Jo Ann Loebel hosts a slide presentation of the top 10 low-maintenance, long-blooming perennials from the area.

Des Plaines Garden Club: 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, Frisbie Senior Center, 52 E. Northwest Highway, Des Plaines. German Octoberfest pot luck luncheon. Bring a German dish to pass. Program will be "Garden Games" featuring plant bingo. For informaiton, (847) 299-0412.

Sept. 4

The Northwest Suburban Astronomers: 7:30 p.m. Friday Sept. 4, Willow Recreation Center, 3600 Lexington Drive, Hoffman Estates. Programs cover various aspects of amateur astronomy, for program details and club information visit nsaclub.org.

Sept. 5

Garden Club of Lake Zurich fall plant sale: 8:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, Sept. 5, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Features locally grown perennials from member's gardens and seasonal perennials. For information, (847) 550-0329.

BanburyFest: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, Banbury Fair, 211 Railroad Ave., Bartlett. Dog wash and bake sale fundraiser to benefit Four Paws Animal Foundation. $10. Also on Sunday, Sept. 6, a dress your pet contest and sidewalk parade will be held at 11 a.m. For information, (630) 289-0478.

Sept. 9

Mount Prospect Garden Club: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. Learn about the life cycle of Monarch butterflies plus butterfly release. For information, call Ginny, (847) 398-1213.

Sept. 10

Canine Carnival: 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, Fred P. Hall Amphitheater, 262 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. Includes games, raffles, dog body painting, fun house, photo opportunities, more. $5 per dog with one handler, who must be age 16 and over. Fee for additional friends and family is $1. Dogs must wear current tags and be leashed at all times. For information, call (847) 991-0333.

Sept. 12

Bees, wasps and hornets: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. Presentation includes life histories, local varieties and some useful tips. (847) 381-6592.

Fall Harvest celebration: 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, Citizens Park Pavilion, 511 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington. Benefits Smart Farm of Barrington. $50. (847) 382-8040 or smartfarms.org.

Sept. 14

Long Grove-Kildeer Garden Club meets: Monday, Sept. 14, Reed Turner Nature Center, 3851 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Club offers gardening programs, events, projects and filed trip to all levels of gardeners. For information, call Ivy, (847) 800-5000.

Sept. 15

Training to be Top Dog: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton, Ave. Alex Brooks of the Alex Brooks Canine Center in Des Plaines present an instructional seminar, "Training to be Top Dog: Guiding Your Pet to Good Behavior." Common dog training and behavioral issues will be discussed. Free and open to the public. To register, (847) 392-0100.

Sept. 16

Tri-Village Garden Club: Meets Wednesday, Sept. 16, Hanover Park Branch Library, 4300 Audrey Lane. Annual dues $15. (630) 830-0118 or (630) 289-4253. trivillagegardenclub.org.

Sept. 17

Garden Club of Inverness: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, All Saints Lutheran Church, 630 S. Quentin Road, Palatine. William Buckley, president of the Illinois Beekeepers Association and a beekeeper, address the membership. All gardeners welcome. For information, call Beth, (847) 934-7929.

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. 20

Prairie Pik'n: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. Learn about prairie restoration and help collect seeds with a naturalist in one of the center's local prairie fields. Hat, sturdy shoes and long pants recommended. (847) 381-6592.

HOGS for Dogs Charity Ride: 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, Heartland Animal Shelter, 2975 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook. Leisurely 75-mile observation ride to benefit Heartland Animal Shelter includes food, raffle, music and more. Ride ends at Jesse Oaks, 18490 E. Old Gages Lake Road, Gages Lake. For registration information, visit heartlandanimalshelter.net.

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.

Sept. 22

Bird walks: 8 a.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 22 and 29, Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. Join the Natural History Society of Barrington to observe resident and migrating birds. Meet in the parking lot. (847) 381-6592.

Sept. 25

Field of Dreams Mane Event: 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, St. Charles Country Club, 1250 Country Club Road, St. Charles. Silent and live auctions to benefit Field of Dreams Horse Rescue and Adoption. $50, dressy casual, no jeans. RSVP before Sept. 25, to Chris, (847) 431-6302.

Sept. 26

South Barrington Park District Pet Fair: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, Arboretum Mall, routes 72 and 59 in South Barrington. Various pet businesses, local pet shops, veterinarians, animal communicator, animal massage therapy, adoption agencies, contests, training demonstrations, photos, prizes, more. For event information or to participate as a vendor, call (847) 381-7515.

Autumn Ramble: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. Enjoy the last flowers of summer and the first colors of fall during a walk through woods and prairies. (847) 381-6592.

Sept. 29

Bird walks: 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. Join the Natural History Society of Barrington to observe resident and migrating birds. Meet in the parking lot. (847) 381-6592.

Oct. 1

Garden Club of South Barrington: Thursday, Oct. 1. Slide presentation, "Garden Rooms Without Walls." Speaker Shirley Remes, Better Homes and Gardens field editor, presents a program on how to create garden rooms in your yard. Call Anita, (847) 277-7151.

Oct. 2

The Northwest Suburban Astronomers: 7:30 p.m. Friday Oct. 2, Willow Recreation Center, 3600 Lexington Drive, Hoffman Estates. Programs cover various aspects of amateur astronomy, for program details and club information visit nsaclub.org.

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.

Nov. 6

The Northwest Suburban Astronomers: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, Willow Recreation Center, 3600 Lexington Drive, Hoffman Estates. Programs cover various aspects of amateur astronomy, for program details and club information visit nsaclub.org.