Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners looking for mature gardens
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.
•"The Greenhouse Effect," 10 a.m. May 2. Cantigny's annual open house. Free. Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. (630) 668-5161.
Seminars, workshops
•"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.
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
•South Barrington Garden Club: April 1: "Monarch Butterfly," a slide presentation on the two-month migration to Mexico with speaker Diane Hunter. 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.
Flea markets, antique shows
•Wolff's Indoor Flea Market, 1775 N. Rand Road, Palatine, 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. Admission $5. Early buyer, $15, for admission starting at 6 a.m. zurkopromotions.com.