March 8 - 14:  Chicago.  The Chicago Flower & Garden Show will again return to Navy Pier.  With the lush themed-gardens, hands-on demonstrations, workshops, and seminars, there's something for everyone, whatever your level of gardening experience.  Visit www.chicagoflower.com for all the details.

March 8 - May 9:  Chicago.  Come view the Spring Flower Show to enjoy gorgeous flowers long before they are blooming naturally outside.  Free, just drop by!  9 am-5 pm daily, Wednesdays until 8 pm, Show House, 312-746-5100, Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N Central Park Ave, www.garfield-conservatory.org

March 8 - April 4:  Glencoe.  Forty-four original botanical artworks of threatened and endangered plants from the United States and around the world will be on exhibit in the Regenstein Center at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363, www.chicagobotanic.org

March 8 - 31:  Lisle.  Rocks are an important element of some really beautiful and peaceful gardens.  Try your hand at this Zen form of gardening.  March weekdays (weather permitting), 1-4 pm, Children's Garden, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468, www.mortonarb.org

March 8 - September 30:  Statewide.  Register to become a Citizen Scientist from Project BudBurst.  Join us in collecting important climate change data on the timing of leafing and flowering in your area.  This national field campaign targets native tree and flower species across the country.  With your help we will be compiling valuable environmental and climate change information around the United States.  Visit www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/budburst/ for more information.

March 11:  Oak Lawn.  Join the Oak Lawn Garden Club on their bus trip to the Chicago Flower and Garden Show.  The bus will leave Oak View Center, 4625 W 110th St, at 9 am and return at 4 pm.  $25/bus trip and admission to the show.  Call June Curtis at 708-499-0578 or Mariann Prendergrast at 708-784-0744, www.oaklawngardenclub.org

March 13:  Glencoe.  Discover amazing plants of the rainforest in our greenhouses.  Find out how people use parts of rainforest trees to make chewing gum and rubber.  Create your own bouncing ball and flavorful gum to take home.  For children ages 4 to 10 accompanied by adults, $17/child/member, $20/child/non-member, 9:30-11 am or 1-2:30 pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363, www.chicagobotanic.org

March 13 & 14:  Glencoe.  Gesneriads including African violets, lipstick plants, and more will be on display and for sale.  These plants make excellent house plants and enliven any indoor space.  Experts will be on hand to answer questions during this Northern Illinois Gesneriad Society Show & Sale.  10 am-4:30 pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363, www.chicagobotanic.org

March 13:  Joliet.  Sponsored by the Joliet Park District and Joliet Area Garden Club, this 5th annual Garden Day Event will include three speakers:  Roy Kleim of Kleim's Spring Sparrow, Nancy Clifton of the Chicago Botanic Garden, and Shirley Remes, Better Homes and Gardens Field Editor.  9 am-2 pm, $35 (includes lunch), pre-register by calling 815-741-7278 X5 asking for Kevin Eberhard, held at Barber & Oberwartmann Horticulture Center, 227 N Cougar Rd.

March 13 - 31:  Lisle.  Come discover different types of rocks, find out what they are used for, and make a rock creation of your own to take home.  Weekends in March (weather permitting), 11 am-4 pm, Children's Garden, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468, www.mortonarb.org

March 14:  Glencoe.  The Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society presents a lecture, "Put Glam in Your Garden with Lilies."  Winnetka resident Woodruff Imberman, president of the Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society, will teach simple propagation techniques for growing lilies, and describe the wide variety of lilies that flourish in the Chicago area.  Attendees will learn how to design a garden with lilies so that some are in bloom all summer long.  2 pm, preceded by the Society's Spring Bulb Sale which starts at 1 pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363, www.chicagobotanic.org

March 20, 27:  Glencoe.  Many of our favorite kinds of ice cream are flavored with plants—chocolate comes from a tree and vanilla comes from an orchid.  Examine these plants, make a batch of vanilla ice cream, and pot a mint plant to flavor ice cream.  For children ages 4 to 10 accompanied by adults, $17/child/member, $20/child/non-member, 9:30-11 am or 1-2:30 pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363, www.chicagobotanic.org

March 20, 21:  Glencoe.  The Illinois Orchid Society presents their Spring Show & Sale in which individual orchids in 128 classes will vie for ribbons.  Forty displays of orchids will be arranged, and repotting services will be available.  Vendors will sell orchid plants and related products.  Visitors can attend free lectures in the Alsdorf Auditorium.  10 am-5 pm (special photographer's hour at 9 am), Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363, www.chicagobotanic.org

March 21:  Glencoe.  The Midwest Fruit Explorers presents a hands-on grafting workshop with step-by-step instructions.  The best varieties for the Midwest will be available, including apple, pear, and Asian pear trees.  After purchasing root stock (approximately $4), visitors can follow the demonstration and leave with one or more trees ready to plant in the ground.  2-4 pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363, www.chicagobotanic.org

March 22:  Oak Lawn.  The time is now to begin a butterfly habitat in your garden.  Learn the best butterfly attracting plants and how to plan your garden to provide food, cover and host plants for caterpillars.  #4408, 7-8:30 pm, $5/resident, $8/non-resident, Oak View Center, 4625 W 110th St, 708-857-2200, www.olparks.com

March 23 - August 31:  Statewide.  By watching and recording the bees at sunflowers in your garden, you can help us understand the challenges that bees are facing.  No knowledge of bees required.  Get all the details at www.greatsunflower.org

March 26:  Chicago.  Our Fleurotica runway adventure features artistic floral interpretations in clothing and accessories - all made from flowers, plants and leaves - to raise money for programs and activities run by the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance.  6:30-10 pm, throughout the Conservatory, $100/reception, $175/reception & runway show, for more information, please contact Christine Martin at 773-638-1766 X33 or cmartin@garfieldpark.org, 300 N Central Park Ave, www.garfield-conservatory.org

March 27 & 28:  Glencoe.  Dr. Ikka Nakashima features her students and the art of Ikenobo Ikebana with its ancient discipline on Japanese floral design.  Each design tells a story.  10 am-4:30 pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363, www.chicagobotanic.org

March 27:  Lisle.  Meet local author Tim Magner signing copies of his children's book Earl the Earthworm.  See live worms in action and learn about vermicomposting.  10 am-2 pm, The Arboretum Store, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468, www.mortonarb.org

March 27 & 28:  Lisle.  Rock on into spring with the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois.  Club members will showcase unique rocks and gems.  You'll even take home a rock creation of your own.  Noon-3 pm, Children's Garden, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468, www.mortonarb.org

March 28:  Lisle.  Meet Rosalind Creasy, author and landscape designer, as she shares her global perspective on conservation, lifestyles, sustainable landscaping and, of course, great food from the garden.  After the lecture, stay to join her for a dinner of locally grown organic food in the Ginkgo Restaurant.  2-4 pm, Thornhill Education Center, $35/member, $44/non-member, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468, www.mortonarb.org

April 1 - 30:  Lisle.  Each weekday in April (weather permitting) you can weave your way through a paper tree maze and uncover the mysterious world of roots.  1-4 pm, Children's Garden, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468, www.mortonarb.org

April 3, 10:  Glencoe.  Explore tiny critters like bees, crickets, and butterflies.  Find out about the ways bugs help the plants in a garden.  Create a scientific tool to help you study insects at home, experience how bugs see the world, and plant some flowers that butterflies love.  For children ages 4 to 10 accompanied by adults, $17/child/member, $20/child/non-member, 9:30-11 am or 1-2:30 pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363, www.chicagobotanic.org

April 3 - 25:  Lisle.  Each weekend in April you can visit the Children's Garden to discover some interesting facts about trees.  Then plant a tree seed to take home to grow.  This self-guided activity is available from 11 am-4 pm, weather permitting.  Children's Garden, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468, www.mortonarb.org

April 5, 26:  Oak Lawn.  Learn the basics of what is required for a beautiful landscape.  This lecture is 2 separate sessions (fee covers both sessions), #4409, 7-8:30 pm, $10/resident, $15/non-resident, Oak View Center, 4625 W 110th St, 708-857-2200, www.olparks.com

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Illinois Club Meetings:

Homewood.  The South Suburban Garden Club meets the first Thursday of each month, 7 pm, at the Dolphin Lake Club House, 183rd & Governors Hwy.  Call 708-220-7351 for additional information.

Lynwood.  The South Suburban Cage Bird Association meets the 2nd Sunday of the month in the Calvin Reformed United Church of Christ, 2895 Glenwood-Lansing Rd, Basement Banquet Rm, at 2 pm.  This club is dedicated to the protection and breeding of birds, training and exchanging ideas.  Come and meet people who share your interest in pet birds.  Call 219-864-0420 or 219-836-5079 for more information.

Oak Lawn.  The Oak Lawn Garden Club normally meets the 4th Thursday of the month (with several exceptions) from 9:30 am-noon at the Oak View Community Center, 4625 W 110th St.  Visit www.oaklawngardenclub.org for more information about the Club.

Peoria.  The Central Illinois Herpetological Society holds public meetings on the 1st Thursday of every month at Forest Park Nature Center, 7 pm.  Come share or learn about the fascinating world of amphibians and reptiles.  Contact Robert Pomazal at 309-579-3296 for more information.  5809 Forest Park Dr, 309-686-3360, www.peoriaparks.org/forest-park-nature-center

Peoria.  Peoria Audubon holds public meetings and presentations in the Forest Park Nature Center on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from September through May, 7 pm.  Everyone is welcome.  Call John Mullen at 309-686-3360 for additional information, 5809 Forest Park Dr, www.peoriaparks.org/forest-park-nature-center, www.peoriaaudubon.org

Peoria.  The local chapter of the Sierra Club holds public meetings at the Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 Forest Park Dr, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from September through May at 7 p.m.  These meetings usually have a guest speaker followed by discussion.  The Sierra Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.  For further information contact Joseph Laszlo at 309-637-4692, www.peoriaparks.org/forest-park-nature-center

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Other garden and nature related events and activities for children and adults can be found at these places to visit in Illinois: