Northwest suburban pets & 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. Deadline is two weeks before event date.

Nov. 20

Astronomy Night: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton St. NASA Ambassador Jim Kovac presents "A Universe in Images," showing photos of galaxies, nebulas and stars made by the Hubble, Spitzer and Chandra space telescopes. Weather permitting, the program ends outdoor for star gazing through telescopes set up by the Northwest Suburban Astronomers Club. Free. No registration required.

Winter Container Garden workshop: 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Create a winter outdoor container garden. All materials provided, bring gloves and pruners. $45. Register at (847) 359-1080.

Nov. 21

Winter Container Garden workshop: 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Create a winter outdoor container garden. All materials provided, bring gloves and pruners. $45. Register at (847) 359-1080.

Four Paws Animal Foundation pet photos: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Hanover Park Animal Care Center, 1920 Ontarioville Road. Pet photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, holiday gift bazaar, bake sale. Benefits the organization's rescue and adoption efforts. (630) 289-0478.

Native Seed Gardeners seed drives: 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Thursdays and Saturdays; 3:30-5 p.m. Sundays, Citizens for Conservation headquarters, 459 W. Highway 22, Lake Barrington. Volunteers collect seeds from natural populations in the Barrington area. Visit NativeSeedGardeners.org.

Nov. 23

Winter Container Garden workshop: 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Create a winter outdoor container garden. All materials provided, bring gloves and pruners. $45. Register at (847) 359-1080.

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. 1

Four Seasons Garden Club: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway. Barbara Clayton presents how to help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint and thus conserve the earth's resources. Alena, (847) 438-3981or alenagust@comcast.net.

Dec. 1

Festive Florals: 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, South Barrington Park District, 3 Tennis Club Lane. Joyce Grattoni teaches participants how to make a holiday arrangement with fresh greens, flowers, berries and bows. Light refreshments and cash bar. Registration deadline is Tuesday, Dec. 1. $32-$35. (847) 381-7515 or sbpd.net.

Garden Club of Lake Zurich: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Dec. 1, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 22480 Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods. "Top Tens for Zone 5, " presented by Joann Loebel, author and landscape design consultant. Guests welcome. (847) 550-0329.

Dec. 2

Winter Container Garden workshop: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Create an outdoor winter container garden. All materials provided, bring gloves and pruners. $45. Register at (847) 359-1080.

Dec. 4

The Northwest Suburban Astronomers: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 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.

Dec. 3

Garden Club of Inverness holiday luncheon: 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, Medinah Country Club, Medina. Holiday luncheon and fundraiser. Joyce Grattoni, floral designer, creates holiday floral pieces to be used at home or to give as gifts. $50. For reservations/information, contact Diane at dgarcea@comcast.net.

Dec. 5

Winter Container Garden workshop: 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Create an outdoor winter container garden. All materials provided, bring gloves and pruners. $45. Register at (847) 359-1080.

Little Paws, Big Hearts holiday dinner: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, The Meadows Club, 2951 W. Golf Road, Rolling Meadows. Dinner dance and silent auction to benefit Almost Home Foundation's rescued dogs and cats. $45. Chuck at almosthomefoundation.org. To donate an item for the silent auction or door prize contact Deanne at deannemarkos@sbcglobal.net.

Holiday open house: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. Musical entertainment, crafts, live reindeer, hayrides, holiday floral displays and Santa. Bring your camera. Free. (847) 298-3500.

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

Dec. 7

Winter Container Garden workshop: 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Create an outdoor winter container garden. All materials provided, bring gloves and pruners. $45. Register at (847) 359-1080.

Dec. 10

South Barrington Garden Club Holiday luncheon: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, Seville Banquet Center, 700 S. Barrington Road, Streamwood. Lunch program, floral demonstration, silent auction, raffles. $35. Call Anita, (847) 277-7151.

Dec. 12

Santa Paws: 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 12, Palatine Hills Club House, 512 W. Northwest Highway, Palatine. Bring your furry friend out for a picture with Santa. First-come, first-served basis. $5 per dog. Must register. For information, call Lisa, (847) 991-0333.

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

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.

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.

Be Citizens for Conservation volunteer: Citizens for Conservation restoration volunteers work from 9-11 a.m. every Thursday and Saturday. Jobs include: sowing legume seed, cutting brush, rescuing native plants and planting sedges. Meet at 459 West Highway 22 in Lake Barrington. Look for the white farmhouse with a silo across from Good Shepherd Hospital. Bring work gloves, dress for the weather, tools provided. For information, call (847) 382-7283

Read and Feed Food Drive: Through Tuesday, Dec. 1, donate food pantry items when you check out or return library books at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave.; on the Book mobile or at the Reading Room of the Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W. Central Road. Items donated will be delivered to the food pantry at Wheeling Township. Donations of dog and cat food are also being accepted for donation to The Buddy Foundation. For information, visit ahml.info or call Deb Whisler, (847) 5-06-2613.