By Staff
NILES – Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 13988 Range Line Road, Niles, recently received a $3,000 grant from the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation.
Receipt of the grant was announced by Carol Line, Fernwood Executive Director. The grant will be used for educational interpretive signage for a number of key areas in the gardens and natural areas, including a newly designed rain garden, solar panel, and pond, prairie, and woodland ecosystems.
Michigan Gateway Community Foundation in Buchanan, is dedicated to creating strong, vital, and caring communities in Berrien and Cass counties. The Foundation is a charitable organization of service, dedicated to fairness, objectivity, and sensitivity to all who seek its philanthropic services.
Coming events include:
Member Morning Walks
Join in for early morning walks, birding, or photography on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings at 7:30 a.m.
Summer Nature Stations
Drop by for some nature fun with Fernwood's dedicated volunteers. These nature stations are designed to be hands-on and educational for people of all ages. Free with admission.
Snakes, the Green
Saturday, June 21, 2 to 4 p.m.
Pond Study
Saturday, July 19, 2 to 4 p.m.
Amazing Mammals
Saturday, Aug. 9, 2 to 4 p.m.
Monarch Butterflies
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2 to 4 p.m.
Fernwood's Book Group
Green Thoughts by Eleanor Perenyi
Saturday, June 28, 10 a.m.
Fernwood has a new book group that meets on the last Saturday of each month. Meetings begin at 10:30 a.m.; refreshments and social time begin at 10. The book selections include, but are not limited to, books about gardening, nature, and the environment, and even some fun botanical mysteries from time to time.
Upcoming classes:
Gourmet Picnic Baskets
Tuesday, June 24, 2 to 4 p.m.
This class will help you move your picnic beyond ham sandwiches and chips. You will learn new twists on old favorites, like potato salad and chicken salad. You may be surprised that less work means a better impression. They also discuss food safety and how to pack your picnic basket.
Members $32, Public $40
Nature Saplings: Turtles
Sunday, June 22, 3 to 4 p.m.
Come and discover turtles at Fernwood! Today we explore the different turtles that live here in our forests and ponds. We also get up close with our reptile friends in the Nature Center. For children ages 21/2 to 31/2 years old accompanied by an adult. Please dress for walking the trails. Class size is limited; please call ahead.
Members $4 for each child/adult pair; public $5 for each child/adult pair.
Fernwood Summer Day Camps
There's limited openings in Fernwood's popular nature and art camps. Call (269) 695-6491 to register or inquire about openings.
In the Clark Gallery…
Through July 27
Oil Paintings by Clare Hoinville
Mostly Flowers
Clare Hoinville is a retired art teacher from Niles, Michigan. She studied at Western Michigan University, Notre Dame, and was awarded a fellowship at Skidmore College.
Clare has also studied with many local and national artists. Her work is in numerous private and public art collections, she has won art awards, and has done commission work. She is currently working on three historical paintings for the Galien Township Library. No matter what the subject of her painting, Clare prefers to paint from life. For Clare, nothing replaces the vitality and energy of direct contact with the subject.
Fernwood Summer hours:
Fernwood is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 pm. It is recommended to call Fernwood to confirm status of classes beforehand. Contact Fernwood for registration and information at (269) 695-6491.