April has arrived with plenty of showers for the May flowers (as well as a whole lot more for all those interested in nature and art) –

• On April 8, 2026, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and guests will be gathering at the Daffodil Glade of The Morton Arboretum for a paint-out from 9:30 until about noon. Coordinator Celia Rodee will provide hot coffee and delicious treats to begin the morning of painting and sketching among the trees and flowers. All are invited to drop by (participants will meet by the entrance to the Fragrance Garden near the Thornhill Education Center), but registration is strongly encouraged to be added to an email list for updates, including weather-related.

• The opening of the Guild’s 2026 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum is just two weeks away! The exhibit opens on Friday, April 17, and runs through Sunday, April 19 in the Cudahy Room, adjacent to the Sterling Morton Library, located in the Administration Building of the Arboretum. Over 200 works of art in a variety of media, created by more than 60 Guild members, will be showcased. A reception will be held on Friday evening and is open to all. Registration is not required, and there will be no charge for admission, parking, or entry to the Arboretum for the reception.

• Nature is right on schedule with its flora and fauna – ephemerals are springing up to share their beauty, and frogs and birds are singing their songs! Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild can make the most of this fleeting season with sketches, plein-air paintings, and photographs for future works, such as this year’s small-works (8 x 8 inches) project honoring The Morton Arboretum, “Fauna,” to be shown this November alongside the annual Autumn exhibit.