Animals, plants 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.

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.

Snowshoe Rental at Spring Valley: Experience the beauty of the winter landscape and get in a workout at the same time by snowshoeing through Spring Valley, a 135-acre nature preserve located at 1111 E. Schaumburg Road.

Rentals are available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. (847) 985-2100 or visit www.parkfun.com for more information.

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.

Feb. 13

Dog Sled-Family Fun Night: 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, Bartlett Public Library, 800 S. Bartlett Road. Celebrate the Big Read grant project with a visit with Iditarod musher Karen Land and her dog Borage. Entertainment, crafts, refreshments, more. Everyone welcome. (630) 837-2855 or bartlett.lib.il.us.

Valentine's Day party: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, Elmhurst Animal Care Center, 850 S. Riverside Drive, Elmhurst. Pet photos, meet the staff, adoptions available, goody bags, information on pet health care. (630) 530-1900.

Feb. 14

TLC Adoption Event: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, Pet Supply Plus, 67 W. Golf Road, Arlington Heights. TLC Animal Training and Rescue will hold a pet adoption event to find homes for dogs, cats and a cockatiel.

Feb. 18

Kayak and canoeing: 7:30-9 p.m. Thursdays beginning Feb. 19, Wheeling High School pool. $200 for 10 sessions. Visit www.ce214.org or call (847) 718-7700.

Feb. 19

Garden Club of Inverness: 9:30 a.m. Feb. 19, All Saints Lutheran Church, 630 S. Quentin Road, Palatine. Pat Hollingsworth from RLS Landscape and Nursery in Elburn will speak about dividing outdoor gardens into floral rooms. All Gardeners are welcome. For information, call Carole at (847) 381-2727.

Scuba diving: 6:30-10 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Feb. 18, Wheeling High School pool. $135 for five sessions. Register at www.ce214.org or call (847) 718-7700.

Prairie Woods Audubon open house photo contest: 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Members share experiences and photos. Pat, (847) 934-0407.

Feb. 21

Social birding: 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. Share conversation and snacks while watching the busy bird feeders. A short hike may be included, extra snacks welcome. (847) 381-6592.

Mardi Gras party: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, Barrington Dog Bakery, 110 Barrington Commons Court. Includes an As Good as Gold Golden Retriever Rescue of Northern Illinois meet and greet. asgoodasgold.org.

Feb. 22

Try snow shoeing: 1 p.m. Feb. 22, Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. Learn how to snowshoe the trails. Free loaners or bring your own. Reserve your snow shoes at (847) 381-6592.

Feb. 23

Reduce, reuse, recycle: 5:30-7 p.m. Feb. 23, Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. Lean how you can become one of nature's caretakers. Includes hands-on activities and fun games. $15-$20. (847) 298-3500.

Feb 24

Ornamental Grasses: Feb. 24 or Feb. 26, 1100 E. Warrenville Road, suite 170, Naperville. Part of the Four Seasons Gardening program presented by University of Illinois Extension. $10. For information or to register, call (630) 955-1123.

Feb. 26

Read to Starr: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 and 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.

Feb. 28

Agility classes for beginners: 10 a.m. Feb. 28, Agility Junkies, Lake Barringotn. Call (847) 381-2222 or w-mail agilityjunkies@aol.com.

This old birdhouse: 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. Prepare for the upcoming nesting season by construction a bird house for a $5 fee per house. Plans and placement suggestion included. Register at (847) 381-6592.

March 1

"Bartlett Adventurers and Their Dogs": 2 p.m. Sunday, March 1, Bartlett Public Library, 800 S. Bartlett Road. Presented by the Bartlett Historical Society. (630) 837-2855 or bartlett.lib.il.us.

March 3

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

March 5

Sustainable lawn care: 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Evergreen and Wille, Mount Prospect. Panel of experts outline a path to a healthy lawn and a healthy environment. Sponsored by the St. Raymond de Penafort ECO committee and the St. Mark Green committee. Sann, (847) 259-9795.

March 10

Buffalo Grove Garden Club: 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, Alcott Center, 530 Bernard Drive, Buffalo Grove. Patricia Armstrong of Prairie Sun Consultants will present "Saving The Earth with Native Plants." Guests are welcome. For information call Sylvia Ney, at (847) 537-4677.

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.

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.

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.

April 6

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

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.

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.