Fernwood is a place where nature blends with gardens and art to create an experience for all ages. Fernwood comprises 105 acres on the St. Joseph River near Buchanan at 13988 Range Line Road in Niles. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Winter café hours are from noon to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Call (269) 695-6491 or visit fernwoodbotanical.org for more information and to confirm status of classes.
Below are the upcoming events, features, classes and programs from Feb. 14 to 19.
Tuesday, Feb. 14 — Valentine’s dinner
6 to 8 p.m. Cost: $90
People can enjoy a Valentine’s dinner with their sweetheart at Fernwood. Chef Tim Carrigan presents a choice of entrees and desserts, topped off with champagne and a rose for each couple. Register by Saturday, Feb.11, on Fernwood’s website.
Saturday, Feb. 18 — Great Backyard Bird Count
Organized by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual event to engage people from around the world in citizen-science. People may stop by the Nature Center to learn about feeding and identifying our common winter birds as we tally our sightings for the day. This event is free with paid Fernwood admission.
Saturday, Feb. 18 — Botanical wood coasters
3 to 4 p.m. Cost: $15
Spring is just around the corner, and these botanically inspired coasters are just the thing to bring a touch of the season indoors. Using wood slices and image transfers, participants will create a set of four botanical coasters. All materials provided. Call Fernwood to register.
Saturday, Feb. 18 — Fernwood Book Group
10:30 to 11:30 p.m. Cost: Free with admission
People may join the book group as they discuss Stranger in High Places: The Story of the Great Smoky Mountains by Michael Frome.
Sunday, Feb. 19 — Perennials: New Releases and Old Favorites
2 to 3 p.m. Cost: $12
Find out what to look for at the garden centers this spring by spending an hour with Patty Steinhauser of Stonehouse Nursery. Patty shares images of new perennial cultivars and recommended old stalwarts. Patty and her husband, Jay, own and operate a wholesale nursery in Berrien Springs, where they specialize in producing new introductions of perennial liners to be grown in the nursery industry.