 Wildflower Nature
Walks
Enjoy the spectacular wildflowers on Elkhart Hill on April 17 or
April 24. Everyone on the Wildflower Nature Walks will receive a
wildflower "bingo" card to learn the names of the flowers and to
keep track of the beautiful wildflowers they see.
The walk will be led by botanist Bill McClain. McClain is an
adjunct research associate in botany for the Illinois State Museum
in Springfield, an adjunct research scientist for the Illinois
Natural History Survey in Champaign and former program manager for
the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. McClain has studied
the flowers and history of Elkhart Hill for over 25 years.
Reservations are required for the walks, and the cost is $7.50
for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. Make this a family
event. Registration closes on April 12. For more information and the
online, printable reservation form, go to
www.elkharthistoricalsociety.org.
Master Gardeners in Macon, Sangamon-Menard, McLean, Peoria and
Logan counties can obtain continuing education credit for the walk.
Contact your Master Gardener coordinator directly for credit.
Walkers will meet in historic downtown Elkhart at the Bluestem
Bake Shop, 107 Gov. Oglesby St., for the 9:30 walks and at Birdsong
Books & Vintage, 111 Gov. Oglesby St., for the 1:30 walks. Each
outing will last approximately 90 minutes, and each group is limited
to 15 people. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The outing
will be on foot, so walkers should dress for the weather, wear good
walking shoes and bring insect repellent.
Rain dates for April 17 walks: The morning walk would be moved to
April 18 at 1 p.m. April 18 and the afternoon walk to April 18 at
2:30 p.m. Rain dates for April 24 walks: The morning walk would be
postponed to April 25 at 1 p.m. and the afternoon walk to April 25
at 2:30 p.m. (Special weekend breakfasts and lunches will not be
rescheduled on rain dates.)
Dinner lecture series --"Elkhart Hill: The Biological and
Cultural History of a Prairie Grove"
The Elkhart Historical Society's 2010 Evening Dinner Lecture
Series will complement the already popular Elkhart walks. The
lecture on April 16 and 23 will be "Elkhart Hill: The Biological and
Cultural History of a Prairie Grove," by Bill McClain. To complement
his talks, McClain will lead the Wildflower Nature Walks on April 17
and April 24.
The dinner lecture series is presented at the Wild Hare Cafe in
historic downtown Elkhart, 104 Gov. Oglesby St. Dinner begins at
5:30 p.m., with the talk from 7 to 8 p.m. Reservations and
prepayment are required and space is limited. Cost is $17.99. The
dinner package price includes the meal, dessert, drink, tax and
gratuity. The reservation deadline is April 12. Dinner lectures will
be presented regardless of weather. For information and the online,
printable reservation form, see
www.elkharthistoricalsociety.org or call 217-947-2046.
Special library displays
The Elkhart Public Library will have a special display of books
related to the lecture topic for readers who are interested in
learning more. The displays will be offered on April 16 and 23 from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on April 17 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The
library, 121 Bohan St., was built in 1904 and is, in itself, a
wonderful and historic building to visit, with many of the original
furnishings still in place. Stop by the library to check out their
display and a book.
Mansion tours
Tours of the Gillett Mansion on Elkhart Hill will be offered
throughout the day on April 17 and 24. This historic family farm
originated in 1870. The beautiful residence has 700 acres of farm,
lawns and gardens that surround the 33-room home. Tours include
stories about the home's antiques and memorabilia. Reservations are
required. For tour times and to register, call 217-947-2346. The
cost is $20 per person, $15 for seniors 60 and over. For more
information on the Old Gillett Farm, see
www.oldgillettfarm.org.
Dining options
If you are going to be in Elkhart in the evening on April 16 or
23 but not planning to attend the dinner lecture series, Hudson's
Talk of the Town Restaurant at 115 Gov. Oglesby St. in historic
downtown Elkhart will offer a Friday night dinner special for $9.55
(tax included). Dinner includes your choice of fish -- whole fresh
catfish, walleye, buffalo (in season) or bluegill; all-you-can-eat
salad bar; and baked potato, homemade potato salad or coleslaw. From
5 to 8 on Friday nights the restaurant will also have its full menu
available, which includes hand-cut and hand-breaded tenderloins,
shrimp, and hand-cut rib-eyes. Reservations will be accepted:
217-947-2770.
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On April 17 and 24, enjoy a variety of dining choices on Gov.
Oglesby Street in downtown Elkhart.
-
The Blue Stem Bake
Shop will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Blue Stem is offering
Wildflower Nature Weekend participants free coffee with a pastry
purchase.
-
Hudson's Talk of
the Town will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with a
full menu. Saturday evenings after Elkhart Historical Society
events, enjoy the burgundy steak dinner with twice-baked potato,
pasta salad and dinner roll. Cost is $12 per person and includes
tax. By reservation only: 217-947-2770. You can also order from
the fryer section of the menu from 5:30 to 8 on Saturday nights.
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The Wild Hare Cafe will be open for
lunch with a Wildflower Weekend special -- choice of two
homemade soups, homemade herbed cheese biscuit and drink of your
choice for $6.99. Reservations recommended. Call 217-947-2100
after your Wildflower Walk reservation has been confirmed,
so your reservation will complement your tour time. The Wild
Hare is also open for dinner on Saturday night from 5 to 9.
Reservations are recommended: 217-947-2100.
Professional photography opportunities
Little Chapel Photography will be taking portraits at the dinner
lecture series and the Wildflower Nature Walks. There are no sitting
fees for portraits taken or scheduled during these events -- a
savings of $30. A professional photographer will be available on
April 16 and 23 beginning at 4:30 p.m. and after the dinner lecture
until 9 p.m. at the Ramblin' Elk Music Sanctuary & Wander Years
building, 105 Gov. Oglesby St. in historic downtown Elkhart.
Have your picture taken in the wildflowers on Elkhart Hill on
April 17 or 24. This is a wonderful opportunity to have a group or
family photo taken. A professional photographer will be at the
Ramblin' Elk Music Sanctuary & Wander Years an hour before and an
hour after the Wildflower Nature Walks. To reserve a specific time
for April 17 or 24, call 217-737-3105 or e-mail
Bob@LittleChapelPhotography.com.
Little Chapel Photography art prints will be on display and
available for purchase all four days at the Ramblin' Elk.
Sale at Birdsong
Birdsong Books & Vintage at 111 Gov. Oglesby St. in historic
downtown Elkhart will be open on April 16 and 23 until 5:30 p.m. In
addition, all bird and gardening theme books, postcards and items
will be 10 percent off April 16 and 23 and April 17 and 24.
Make it an overnight getaway
If you plan to enjoy the Friday lecture and all the Saturday
activities on either weekend, overnight accommodations in Elkhart
are available at the guesthouse at Old Gillett Farm. See
www.oldgillettfarm.org/accomodations.shtml and contact Lisa at
217-947-2346 for details.
Additional accommodations can be found at the Best Western Hotel
in Lincoln, just minutes north of Elkhart on Old Route 66. Call
217-732-9641 and mention your visit to Elkhart to receive a discount
on the regular room rates. The Best Western Hotel is home to the
Railsplitter Covered Wagon, the largest covered wagon in the world.
The wagon weighs 5 tons and measures 40 feet long, 12 feet wide and
24 feet tall. The Abe Lincoln figure seated in the front of the
wagon, reading a book, weighs 350 pounds and measures 12 feet tall.
[Text from file received from
Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of
Logan County]
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