Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners looking for unique, mature gardens

Sales

•Spring Bulb Sale, 8 a.m. May 17, First Division Museum parking lot, Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org.

Tours, walks

•The Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners is looking for unique, mature gardens for their 2011 garden walk. The group has been showcasing gardens for nearly 20 years. Garden walk participants will share their creative vision and tireless passion and enjoy the appreciation of the gardening public. To have your garden considered for the walk, call Chairwoman Melissa Hyams at (639) 879-9638 by May 15.

•"Garden Tour: Flowering Trees, Shrubs & Wildflowers," 9:30 a.m. April 6. Free. Meet at the Visitors Center. Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. (630) 668-5161.

Seminars, workshops

•Pansy Bowl Workshop, 10 a.m. March 27, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Create your own container of pansy flowers; materials provided. $20; bring your gloves. Register by calling (847) 359-1080.

•"Blossoms for Easter Centerpiece Workshop," 6:30 p.m. March 31, Cantigny Park. $45. Register at cantigny.org or call (630) 260-8162. Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. (630) 668-5161.

•How to Grow a Great Lawn, 9 a.m. April 10, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. John Heaton, Knupper Nursery owner, shares his years of experience. Free. (847) 359-1080.

•Watering Can Workshop, 9 a.m. April 17, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Plant up an antique-looking watering can with spring flowers; materials provided; bring your gloves and pruners. $35, due when you register. (847) 359-1080.

•Growing a Spring Vegetable Garden, 9 a.m. April 24, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Free. (847) 359-1080.

•Planting Party Workshop, 5-7 p.m. April 29, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Bring empty planters and work with designers to create your own container garden. $10 per container, plus cost of plants you use; maximum of two containers. Bring gloves and pruners. Register by calling (847) 359-1080.

Expos, shows, festivals

•Backyard Expo and Summer Fun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, April 18, Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road in Grayslake. Gazebos, ponds, fireplaces, lawn equipment, pavers, yard art, birdbaths and houses, landscape services, tools, plus golfing biking, water sports and vacation ideas. To reserve space as a vendor, call (847) 301-8543 or visit backyardexpos.com.

Chicago Botanic Garden

•Antiques & Garden Fair, April 16-18. Features antique garden furnishings, botanical art and home and garden design from 100 dealers from Europe and U.S. Advance tickets available starting March 1 from www.chicagobotanic.org/antiques. $10-$12 in advance, $15 at door. Children under 16 free with paid adult. No strollers. Parking $20. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org.

Garden clubs

•Garden Club of Inverness: The club meets January through May and September through November 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: April 1: "Monarch Butterfly," a slide presentation on the two-month migration to Mexico with Speaker Diane Hunter. Learn how to entice Monarch butterflies. Meetings are held at South Barrington Park District, 3 Tennis Club Lane, at 9 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month. Membership fee is $25 for residents, $35 for nonresidents. Call Anita at (847) 277-7151.

•Naperville Garden Club: March 24: "Kermit Was Wrong: It's Easy Being Green," by Susan Grupp. April 28: "Flower Show 101: You Can Do This," by club members Judith, Diane, JoAnn and Mary. Programs follow business meeting and continental breakfast, which starts at 8:45 a.m. at White Eagle Golf Club. Cost for breakfast is $12 for members, $13 for guests. Reservations due 10 days before program; call Joyce at (630) 357-4022. Membership $35 annually. Call Gale at (630) 898-9560. napervillegardenclub.org.

•Tri Village Garden Club: April 21: "Edible Ornamentals," by Kelly Bryant. April 24: Club will have a table at James Pate State Park Nature Center to celebrate Earth Day. May 1: Plant sale at Banbury Fair in Bartlett; call Bruce at (630) 837-1727. June 16: "Trees - Their Needs and Pests," by Peggy Spector of the Morton Arboretum. July 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Benefit garden walk; call Carol Ann at (630) 289-8592. Meetings held third Wednesday of the month at Poplar Creek Public Library, 1405 S. Park Ave., Streamwood. Annual dues $15. Call (630) 830-0118 or visit trivillagegardenclub.org.

Flea markets, antique shows

•Wolff's Indoor Flea Market, 1775 N. Rand Road, Palatine (old Menard's store), 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $1, 50 cents for seniors and children ages 6 to 12. Call (847) 524-9590 or visit wolffs.com.

•Grayslake Antique Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 10, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 11, at Grayslake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Plus vintage clothing show and sale. Admission $6; free parking. zurkopromotions.com.

•Wheaton Antique Market & Civil War Show and Sale, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester, Wheaton. Antique market continues the third Saturday of the month through December 2010. Admission $5. Early buyer, $15, for admission starting at 6 a.m. zurkopromotions.com.