March 28, 2024

Calendar: Indianapolis hosts Tree Climbing Championship

INDIANAPOLIS — The 2022 Indiana Arborist Association Tree Climbing Championship will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET Oct. 7 at Garfield Park, 2345 Pagoda Drive, Indianapolis.

The event provides an opportunity for working arborists to demonstrate and exchange new climbing techniques, increase the interaction between various firms and members in the industry, and provide positive public exposure for the profession.

Contestants must compete in five preliminary events — Work Climb, Aerial Rescue, Throwline, Ascent Event, and Speed Climb. The contestants who accumulate the highest combined points total in the preliminary events earn the right to move on to the championship round, the Masters’ Challenge, at 2 p.m. ET Oct. 9.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/52ttw3xs.

Fall Nature Festival

SPENCER, Ind. — Fall Nature Festival will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET Oct. 1 at McCormick’s Creek State Park, 250 McCormick Creek Park Road, Spencer.

Meet in the Nature Center parking lot to investigate nature and participate in family activities. Lunch will be provided.

A gate fee will be charged upon entry into the park. Register by visiting https://tinyurl.com/ycks4zd2. For more information, call the Owen County Extension office at 812-829-5020 or email rfbruner@purdue.edu.

Tree ID Walk

DECATUR, Ill. — Tree ID Walk will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 1 at Fairview Park, 2095 W. Eldorado St., Decatur.

Participants will learn how to identify trees by more than just leaves. Twig, bud, and bark characteristics will be discussed. Also discussed will be invasive species, pruning procedures, and ways to improve tree health.

Wear appropriate attire for light hiking. Water bottle, sunscreen, and insect repellent recommended.

The program continues from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 7 at Piatt County Forest Preserve Park, 700 E. Wilson St., Bement; and 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 8 at Weldon Springs State Park, 4734 Weldon Springs Road., Clinton.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/4j8j685h.

Grapevine Wreaths

ELIZABETH, Ill. — Grapevine Wreaths will be from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Jo Daviess County Extension office, 204 Vine St., Elizabeth.

Participants will learn a few different things they can do with the grapevines they see growing around their property. Each participant will make a wreath to take home. Cost is $15. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ycktnvfw.

The program is part of the Falling Into Autumn Gardening Series. For more information, call 815-858-2273.

Fall Fun Fest

MT. CARMEL, Ill. — Wabash County Fall Fun Fest will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, 15039 4-H Center Lane, Mt. Carmel.

Explore what 4-H has to offer. A meal will be provided. Register at https://tinyurl.com/64r2aure or call 618-262-5725.

The Meaning of Flowers

FRANKLIN GROVE, Ill. — Learn how you can communicate using flowers in the program The Meaning of Flowers from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Winfred Knox Memorial Library, 112 S. Elm St., Franklin Grove.

The program is part of the Lee County Master Gardeners Big and Small Gardening series. Upcoming adult lessons at 6 p.m. include Getting to Know the Christmas Cactus, Dec. 6; Tea Party, Feb. 7; and Right Plant Right Place April 4. Youth lessons at 4 p.m. include All About Owls, Nov. 1; For the Birds, Jan. 3; and Vegetable Wars, March 7.

Register by calling the library at 815-456-2823.

Forestry Field Day

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — Forestry Field Day will be 1:30 to 4 p.m. ET Oct. 5 at the Moore Family Tree Farm, 2235 N 175 E, Crawfordsville.

Topics will include:

• How to get started in tree farming.

• Why trees matter economically.

• Timber stand improvement.

For more information and details about the event, visit https://montgomerycoswcd.com. RSVP by calling 765-362-0405, ext. 3.

Uninvited Guests

URBANA, Ill. — Spotted Lanternfly will be the subject of the Uninvited Guests: Invasive Webinar Series from 3 to 4 p.m. Oct. 5.

Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a newer invasive pest that has the potential to become a serious pest across a large part of the United States, including Illinois. Learn why we should be concerned about this pest, its identification, and management.

Other uninvited guests in the series include Jumping Worm at 3 p.m. Oct. 12, and Emerald Ash Borer at 3 p.m. Oct. 19.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/bdhu422e.

Native Plants

CARLINVILLE, Ill. — Native Plants Workshop and Tour will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Oct. 6 at the Macoupin County Extension office, 60 Carlinville Plaza, Carlinville.

Attendees will learn about landscaping with native plants, seed collection and propagation. There will be a tour around Carlinville where you can find many native plants incorporated into the community. This event is free and also will be available online.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/4rccyy9z.

What’s Killing Our Trees

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The webinar What’s Killing Our Trees will be at 2 p.m. Oct. 6. The presentation will include the top issues considered most detrimental to sustainable tree plantings and how to develop longer-lived trees in the landscape and the urban forest.

The webinar will focus on:

• Recognizing common environmental stresses on trees in the urban forest.

• Identifying the impacts of construction damage on trees.

• Recognizing the importance of soil volume in relation to sustainability.

Presenter will be Lindsey Purcell, urban forestry specialist and principal of Lp Consulting Group LLC. Purcell serves as executive director of the Indiana Arborist Association and is a former Purdue Extension specialist, forestry and natural resources.

Cost is $35. Register at https://tinyurl.com/5cdbv4k7.

4-H Recognition

EUREKA, Ill. — The Woodford County 4-H Recognition and Family Fun Night will be Oct. 6 at the Woodford County Farm Bureau Park, 1448 County Road 800 N, Eureka.

Dinner and check-in will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 6 p.m.

Recognized will be milestone leaders, Cloverbuds, first-year, County Record award winners, Illinois State Experience Award winners, the I Dare You Award, and the officer of the year awards.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/yhdp4tzy.

4-H Fall Festival

PARIS, Ill. — The Edgar County 4-H Fall Festival will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Edgar County 4-H Fairgrounds, 319 E. Elliott St., Paris.

There will be information about joining Cloverbuds and 4-H, a caramel apple bar and family-friendly activities sponsored by current 4-H clubs.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/4jyz6zfy.

4-H Kickoff

YORKVILLE, Ill. — Learn about 4-H programs for ages 5-18 at the 4-H Kickoff event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Kendall County Fairgrounds, 10826 IL-71, Yorkville.

Meet 4-H leaders and staff and participate in hands-on activities.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/nrs2tvcs.

Gardening with Grasses

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Gardening with Grasses: Native Grasses for the Home Landscape will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 8.

Incorporating grasses into your home garden is nothing new — but what are your options? Learn more about what these four-season interest plants have to offer, and get some ideas about which native grasses you can choose to incorporate into your landscape.

The program is part of the Gardening in the Air fall workshops on Oct. 8. This year’s fall edition features three tracks led by horticulture experts from across the Midwest: Water, Lawns, and Nature. Participants can choose all the sessions in a track or mix and match from any of the tracks. The workshops are co-hosted by University of Illinois Extension and Iowa State University Extension.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/mphp2wbs.

Water sessions:

• Make Every Drop Count — Xeriscaping, 9 to 10 a.m.

• Water Features For Your Garden, 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.

• Drought Tolerant Annuals and Perennials, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Lawn sessions:

• Troubleshooting Turfgrass Problems, 9 to 10 a.m.

• Reimagining the Lawn, 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.

• Get into the Weeds of Natural Lawn Care, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Nature sessions:

• Trees for Fall Leaf Color, 9 to 10 a.m.

• Owls of Iowa and Illinois, 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.

4-H Fall Fest

BRAZIL, Ind. — The Clay County Fall Fest will be 4 to 8 p.m. ET Oct. 8 at the Clay County 4-H Fairgrounds, 6656 IN-59, Brazil.

The event will include hay rides, crafts, games, and a dodgeball tournament.

For more information, contact the Extension office at 812-448-9041.