Free lecture, workshop on creating a bird habitat

Seminars, sales

•Creating a Bird Habitat, 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Learn how to identify and attract gold finches, chickadees, cardinals, blue-jays, juncos and mourning doves. Free. (847) 359-1080.

•Fall Fun at the Farm, 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 10. Create an eye-catching fall decoration; for adults. The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. Call (630) 820-8088.

•Plant a Pumpkin Workshop, 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Plant colorful annuals in hollowed out pumpkins. $25 fee. Register by calling (847) 359-1080.

•Gourds, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekends through Nov. 1 at Morton Arboretum. Illinois Gourd Society display gourds made into birdhouses, rattles, drums and home decor items. Classes will be taught by professional artists. Visit mortonarb.org for details. Click on Adult Programs under the "Education" link for costs and times. Morton Arboretum, Route 53 and I-88 in Lisle. mortonarb.org.

Become a Master Gardener

•Master Gardener training, 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 12 through March 30. Master Gardeners provide unbiased, research-based information from the University of Illinois to the public. Offered by University of Illinois Extension North Suburban Cook office. Cost is $250 plus 60 hours of volunteer work. Classes held at Big Ten Conference, 1500 Higgins Road, Park Ridge. Registration deadline is Nov. 1. Find application at web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/mgnorth/index.html. For more details, contact Sharon Gaske at gaske@illinois.edu or (847) 818-2901.

Chicago Botanic Garden

•Harvest Festival, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Oct. 4. A marketplace with fresh baked goods, roasted nuts, cut flowers, handmade soaps and fresh vegetables. Free sage plants. Farmers market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, north of Visitor Center. Bulb Bazaar at Regenstein Center 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today; see what's available at chicagobotanic.org/bulb. (847) 835-5440 or visit chicagobotanic.org.

•Illinois Orchid Society fall show and sale, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. Orchids in 128 classes will vie for ribbons. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org.

Garden clubs

•Garden Club of Inverness: Holiday luncheon, Dec. 3. The club meets September through November and January through May on the third Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at All Saints Lutheran Church, 630 S. Quentin Road, Palatine. Call Beth at (847) 934-7929.

• South Barrington Garden Club: "My Book of Flowers by Grace Kelly," a dramatization by Carolyn Stein Stillman, Nov. 5; holiday luncheon at Seville Banquet Center in Streamwood; Dec. 10. Meetings first Thursday morning of month. Membership $25 for residents; $35 for nonresidents. Call Anita at (847) 277-7151.

Flea markets, antique shows

•International Antiques Fair, Oct. 4-5, 12th floor Merchandise Mart, at Wells and Kinzie streets, Chicago. Part of Experience Design weekend. More than 100 top national and international antiques and fine art dealers. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5. Tickets $15. Call (800) 677-MART or visit merchandisemartantiques.com.

• Open air market features antiques, furniture, garden statuary, jewelry as well as food vendors, flowers, produce and perennials. Free. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. The Arboretum of South Barrington at Route 59 and Higgins Road. Visit shopthearboretumsb.com.

•Kane County Flea Market, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, Oct. 4. Continues first weekend of the month through Dec. 6. $5 daily admission; free parking. On Randall Road between routes 64 and 38 in St. Charles. Call (630) 377-2252 or visit kanecountyfleamarket.com.

•Antique Market, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at Grayslake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Also features comic, toy and pop culture. Admission $6; early buyers, $25 for shopping 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 10. zurkopromotions.com.

•Wolff's Flea Market is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 1, at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Admission is $1, 50 cents for seniors and children ages 6 to 12. Call (847) 524-9590 or visit wolffs.com.

•Fall Fox Valley Show, Antiques and Decorative Arts, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles. Hosted by Chicago Suburban Antiques Dealers Association. More than 50 dealers from 14 states. Includes mini-lectures by expert dealers. Admission $8; benefits local historical and educational organizations. Nonperishable food being collected. Free parking. On Randall Road between routes 64 and 38 in St. Charles. Call (815) 838-0606 or visit foxvalleyantiquesshow.com.