Lake County pets and nature

Events that involve pets and other animals, plants and nature, 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. Deadline is two weeks before event date.

Oct. 31

Putting Your Garden to Bed: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, Knupper Nursery and Landscape, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Tips on preparing you garden for winter. Learn which perennials to cut back and which to leave for winter interest. Advice on pruning, mulching and preparing and protecting perennials and roses for winter. (847) 359-1080.

Spooky Pooch Parade: 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. For two hours, dogs will be allowed in the Chicago Botanic Garden a parade of costumed canines. Additional activities include a costume contest and an awards ceremony. Nonprofits and vendors from local pet supply shops will share information and sell products. Cost is $14 in advance and $19 at the door. Parking is $20; free for Garden members. Parade spectators pay for parking only. For information, call Melissa Schuler, at (847) 835-6819.

Nov. 2

Lake County Ravines: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, Libertyville Village Hall, 118 W Cook Ave., Libertyville. Lake Country Audubon Society hosts Ken Klick, a senior restoration ecologist, who will provide an overview of the distinctive geologic forces that create Lake County ravines, the plants and animals that flourish there, how urbanization affects ravines and how the Lake County Forest Preserves are restoring the habitats. Chris, (847) 362-5134.

Nov. 3

Four Seasons Garden Club: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway. Don Guzman hosts an informative an interesting presentation on native infusion landscaping. Alena, (847) 438-3981or alenagust@comcast.net.

Garden Club of Lake Zurich: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 22480 Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods. Monthly Meeting will feature "Creating Healthy Gardens", on how to turn kitchen waste, leaves and garden debris into life-giving compost. Guests welcome. For information, call (847) 550-0329.

Nov. 5

South Barrington Garden Club: Thursday, Nov. 5. Annual meeting and dramatization. Carolyn Stein Stillman provides costumed dramatization of "My Book of Flowers" by Grace Kelly. For information, call Anita, (847) 277-7151.

Nov. 6

Lincolnshire Garden Club: 7-10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at a member's home. The Lincolnshire Garden Club's 34th annual benefit and auction will feature a raffle, silent and live auction of local goods and services, bake sale, and botanical note cards. Tickets are $25. The event benefits garden club-sponsored community programs, such as the Riverside Foundation. New members are welcome. Call Jan at (847) 945-6575.

Nov. 7

Exploring Animal Homes: 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, Lake County Discovery Museum, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road, Wauconda. Ages 4-8, with an adult will take a hands-on look at different animal homes and learn how animals use homes to provide shelter. The program concludes with outdoor exploration. $5 per child for Lake County residents, $7 for nonresidents; includes museum admission. For information, visit LakeCountyDiscoveryMuseum.org.

Horses perform to benefit cats: Refreshments at 2:30 p.m., show at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, McCrae Farm, 32159 N. Bacon Road, Grayslake. Riders will showcase their horses by performing high-school riding in musical acts. All proceeds from the event will go to support the humane work Spay and Stay does for feral and stray cats. $10. Registration is required; call Sandra Kooper, at (847) 548-1981.

Nov. 8

Our House of Hope K-9 Rescue shopping party: 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, 1816 St. Andrews Drive, Vernon Hills. Wine tasting, raffles, food and shopping to benefit Our House of Hope's medical fund.

Nov. 9

Long Grove-Kildeer Garden Club meets: Monday, Nov. 9, 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.

Nov. 11

Wheeling Garden Club: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, Pavilion Senior Center, 199 N. First St., Wheeling. Chris (847) 537-8642.

Nov. 15

Building for Bugs: 1:30-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, Lake County Discovery Museum, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road, Wauconda. Ages 6-10 can learn about insect homes, then try to build like insects with a wasp nest building relay race and spider web building activity. $5 per child for Lake County residents, $7 for nonresidents; includes museum admission. Registration required; call (847) 968-3321 or visit LCFPD.org.

Nov. 25

Agility classes: Begins 7 p.m. Nov. 25, Agility Junkies, 22N073 Pepper Road, Lake Barrington. Class for beginners. (847) 381-2222 or agilityjunkies.com.

Dec. 6

Yule Log Open House: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, Barrington. Make a festive seasonal decoration our of natural materials. Kids are welcome, but no scout groups. Free for members; $5 per log for nonmembers. For reservations, (847) 428-6957

Jan. 1

New Year's Day walk: 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, Barrington. Walk along Stillman's trails. Ages 10 and over. Free. (847) 428-6957

Ongoing

Bird Seed Sale: Prepaid orders must be received by 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1; seed may be picked up from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, or 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, behind the visitor center at Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. Eleven varieties of bird seed are available. Proceeds help to support habitat restoration, education and other activities sponsored by the Friends of Volo Bog at the Illinois State Natural Area. Order forms are available at FriendsofVoloBog.org at the visitor center, or at (815) 344-1294.

Pooch Pantry: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Lake County Animal Control, 29278 N. Highway 83, Mundelein. Accepting donations of dry and canned dog and cat food, treats and domestic bird food; gift cards for PetSmart, Petco, and Pet Supplies Plus; cat litter; resealable plastic bags; and pet welfare goods such as bowls and toys. The Pooch Pantry will be open for families in need from 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. For information, call (847) 566-1960.

Puppy Playtime: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturdays, Doggy Day Camp, Inc., 21212 W. Commercial Drive, Mundelein. Puppies 10 weeks to 6 months of age with proof of vaccinations can play with other puppies for free in a safe, off-leash environment. Puppies must be in good health and free from any contagious diseases within the past 30 days. Advance registration is required. For information, call (847) 970-6777 or visit DoggyDayCampInc.com.