Wild Adventures Presented by Silly Safaris
Saturday, Oct. 1, 3 to 4 p.m.
Amazon John from Silly Safaris in Indianapolis comes to Fernwood for the first time. Expected live animals for up-close viewing include a kinkajou, scorpion and baby alligator. Adults $10 (members $8), Children $5 (Members $4), Children 5 and under are free.

Knitted, Felted, and Embellished Purse
Two Saturdays, Oct. 1 and 8, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Knit and felt a small shoulder bag and play with embellishing the flap using embroidery, appliqué, buttons, etc. — wherever your imagination leads you. Flowers, leaves, ferns, frogs and more allow you to express your creativity and make something unique. Materials list provided. Fee $45 (members $40). Register by Wednesday.

Fall Night Hike
Saturday, Oct. 1, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Join naturalist Wendy Jones for an exploration of a side of Fernwood rarely seen: under the cover of the dark of night. Watch for flying squirrels and raccoons at the feeders, call in screech owls for up-close viewing, look for spiders busy with their nocturnal hunting, and hear stories about the stars overhead. Please bring a flashlight and meet in front of the Visitors Center. Fee Adults $15 (members $12); all children 12 and under free. Register by noon Friday.

Photographing Fall Colors
Saturday, Oct. 1 at Fernwood and Sunday, Oct. 2 in South Bend (rain dates Oct. 8 and 9), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day
Discover fall photography with nationally known photographer Danny Burk. On Saturday at Fernwood, learn to choose good subjects, create attractive compositions, use a light meter and more. On Sunday in Danny’s classroom, learn to use Photoshop to optimize images. Bring a tripod and digital camera with interchangeable lenses or close-up settings and user-adjustable settings. Instruction is tailored to individual level, beginner or advanced. More information at www.dannyburk.com. $180 (members $150). Saturday session only: $100 (members $85). Register by noon Wednesday.

Gallery Exhibit Opens: “Sharon Beals: The Nest Series”
Lecture and Book Signing Event, Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m.
Meet the Artist, Oct. 22, 2 to 4 p.m.
Exhibit open at Fernwood Oct. 2 through Nov. 13

Large-format, high-resolution nest photos by California artist Sharon Beals will be on display in Fernwood’s Gallery from Oct. 2 through Nov. 13. The exhibit contains 30 breathtaking bird nest photographs captured against a dramatic black background using specimen nests and eggs, dating from the 1800s to present day, from collections at The California Academy of Sciences, the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology. Beals’ work has been featured in Audubon Magazine, Scientific American and can be found in private and public collections throughout California and beyond. Beals compiled her nest photos into a new book, “Nests: Fifty Nests and the Birds That Built Them,” released in the spring and available for purchase in Fernwood’s gift shop. Beals will be at Fernwood on Friday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. for a wine and cheese event, lecture and book signing. The fee for the lecture is $30 (members $25); advance registration is required. On Saturday, Oct. 22, meet Beals in the Gallery between 2 and 4 p.m.; free with paid Fernwood admission. Berrien Birding Club is a sponsor for the Beals’ lecture and book signing on Friday, Oct. 21. To sponsor or register for the event, call Fernwood at (269) 695-6491 to register.

Last Wine and Weeds Wednesday of the Season
Wednesday, 5 to 7 p.m.
Join Fernwood staffers at dusk on Wednesdays through Wednesday for an evening of light gardening and good conversation, followed by a glass of wine (or other fine beverage) on the cafe decks. Call ahead.
Call 695-6491 to confirm status of classes. Fernwood is located near Buchanan at 13988 Range Line Rd., Niles. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Fernwood is closed on Monday. Visit www.fernwoodbotanical.org.