• Jewelry making class — Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m. Jewelry artist Dawn Marie Cronen from DC Designs in Allegan, Mich. will teach this beginners class in jewelry design. Using the wire-wrapping method, attendees will learn to create a multi-gemstone pendant and a wire-wrapped bead ring. Sterling silver wire, beads, genuine gemstones and all other materials are provided to finish two pieces. Fee $35 (members $30). Registration required by today.

• Gardeners’ rummage sale — Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fernwood is still gathering items for the Second Annual Gardeners’ Rummage Sale, and gently used or seasoned garden items will be gratefully accepted for this sale. Old tools, garden books, containers, trellises, ornaments and birdhouses were just some of the popular items last spring. Call Steve Bornell at 695-6491.
• Prairie burn — Saturday, 10 a.m. Each spring, half of Fernwood’s reconstructed tallgrass prairie is burned by local firefighters to encourage seed germination and new growth while suppressing unwanted non-native plants. This year’s burn is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m., weather permitting. Visitors are welcome to watch. Call ahead for schedule changes.
• Fernwood Book Group — “Fruitless Fall: Why We Should Care About Dying Bees,” by Rowan Jacobsen — Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Whatever the disorder is called — colony collapse disorder (CCD), mad bee disease, stress accelerated decline or bee autoimmune deficiency — it has decimated honeybee colonies and imperiled the fertility of the Earth’s flowering plants. Although Rachel Carson famously warned us about pesticides causing a “silent spring,” we now face a “fruitless fall.” Jacobsen explains why with compelling lucidity, carefully documented facts and a deep respect for the sophisticated and diligent honeybee. A voluntary donation at each meeting will go toward purchasing new books for Fernwood’s Library. Attendees are not required to have read the book.
• Chicago glass house tour — Friday, April 8, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fernwood will visit three glass houses in the Chicago area —Oak Park, Garfield Park and Lincoln Park. The spring flower shows are under way, providing welcome color after a stark winter. Oak Park Conservatory was built in 1929 and houses a botanical collection of more than 3,000 plants. Garfield Park Conservatory, designed by renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen, is one of the largest and most stunning conservatories in the nation. The Lincoln Park Conservatory is comprised of four display houses, nearly every inch covered by greenery. Most plants in the Fern Room are more than 100 years old. Lunch is on your own near Lincoln Park. Fee $73 (members $58). Registration is required by April 5.
• “Stories of the Anishinabeg with Shawanah Jane Murray” — Sunday, April 10, 2 to 3 p.m. Welcome spring with the stories of the Anishinabeg — Michigan’s first people, the Ottawa, Potawatomi and Ojibwe. Shawanah Jane Murray offers a  glimpse into the culture and philosophy of the Woodland Indians of Michigan through her storytelling. A brief history and presentation of cultural artifacts rounds out this educational and entertaining program. This presentation is best suited for adults and children ages 6 and up. Jane, whose Ojibwe name is Shawanah, studied for five years with Grandmother Keewaydinoquay, a professor of ethnobotany at the University of Wisconsin and an Ojibwe leader and storyteller. Murray has been telling stories and presenting workshops throughout Michigan and northern Indiana for more than 15 years. Fee $10 (members $8). Children ages 10 and up $4, and all children 9 and under are free.
• “Nature Saplings: Signs of Spring” — Thursday, March 31, 10 to 11 a.m. Children ages 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 accompanied by an adult can enjoy an introduction to nature. Dress for walking the trails. Class size is limited; call ahead. Fee $5 per child/adult pair (members $4 per child/adult pair).
• Woodland wildflower walk — Thursday, March 31, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Join a Fernwood naturalist to explore the woodland nature trails in search of blooming spring wildflowers: anemones, trilliums, violets and much more. Fee $10 (members $8).
Call 695-6491 to confirm status of classes. Fernwood is located near Buchanan at 13988 Range Line Rd., Niles.