Get 'best of the west' with local garden walk

Tours, walks

•Best of the West Garden Walk, sponsored by the Morton Arboretum, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 9-10. Six locations the Western suburbs including Lemont, LaGrange, Oswego, Aurora and St. Charles. The walk highlights average-sized lots. $20 a person/$15 for Arboretum members. Register at (630) 719-2468 or online at mortonarb.org/adult-programs.

•Tri-Village Garden Club Benefit Garden Walk, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 10. Six gardens, five in Bartlett, one in Hanover Park, with proceeds going to horticulture scholarships at College of DuPage. $10 in advance at Platt Hill Nursery, 222 W. Lake St., Bloomingdale; Arts in Bartlett Gallery, 117 Railroad Ave., Bartlett; American Charter Bank, 388 Main St., Bartlett; Bartlett Farmer's Market at Town Center on Main Street. Tickets day of the walk are $12. Turn in tickets for a map to gardens at Banbury Fair, 211 Railroad Ave., Bartlett. trivillagegardenclub.org.

•Pottawatomie Garden Club of St. Charles biennial garden walk, Saturday, July 10. Five gardens with boutique in one and refreshments in another. Tickets $15 in advance, $18 day of; available at Heinz Bros. Greenhouse or Blue Goose Supermarket, 164 S. First Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. pottagardenclub.org.

•McHenry County Master Gardeners' Garden Walk, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 10, beginning at the Master Gardeners' Demonstration Garden at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. Includes seven private gardens in the Crystal Lake, Huntley and Marengo areas, including Trudi Temple's Marengo homestead and organic farm. $15. (815) 455-8588 or mchenry.edu/gardenwalk.

•Arlington Heights Garden Club's Garden Walk and Unique Boutique, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 11. Five gardens in town open for viewing; tickets are $15 and proceeds benefit scholarship and conservation programs. No charge to shop at the Unique Boutique at Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St. (847) 259-5273.

Seminars, workshops

•"Handling Water on Your Property," 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 10, Morton Arboretum, Lisle. Learn how to use trees and sustainable materials to manage stormwater and wet soils. $66, discounts for Arboretum members. Thornhill Picnic Shelter. (630) 968-0074.

•Vegetable Gardener's Forum, 1 p.m. Saturday, July 17, The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. Share your knowledge and learn from others. (63) 355-4000.

•"The Art of Bonsai: Exhibition and Demonstration," 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 17, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 18, Morton Arboretum, Route 53 at I-88 in Lisle. Demonstrations both days at 2 p.m. by members of the Prairie State Bonsai Society. (630) 968-0074.

Expos, shows, festivals

•Girls Night Out, 5 p.m. to dusk, Thursday, July 15, Spring Bluff Nursery, 41W130 Norris Road, Sugar Grove. Includes local artists and vendors plus gourmet food tastings, which start at 6 p.m. Free perennial and goody bag to first 250 ladies to register. Free, but canned goods will be collected for local food pantries. (630) 466-4278 or visit springbluffnursery.com/events.htm.

•Art in the Garden, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 10, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Original art, handmade jewelry and ceramics, sculpture, etc., with more than 50 artists participating. (847) 359-1080.

Garden clubs

•Gardeners from 70 Garden Clubs of Illinois will attend the District IX annual summer meeting featuring Wayne and Kathleen Messmer at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer on July 19. Wayne Messmer, famous for belting out the "Stars Spangled Banner" at Wrigley Field, and his wife Kathleen will entertain after lunch. Registration begins at 9 a.m. followed by a 10 a.m. meeting. To register, call Denise Hook (847) 382-1869 or e-mail denisehook@comcast.net. The fee is $30.

•Pottawatomie Garden Club: July 10: Garden walk, 9. m. to 3 p.m.; five gardens will be shown, with one serving refreshments and one hosting a boutique. Tickets are $15 in advance at Heinz Bros. Greenhouse and Blue Goose Supermarket; $18 on day of walk. pottagardenclub.org.

•Tri Village Garden Club: July 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Benefit garden walk; call Carol Ann at (630) 289-8592. Aug. 18: Don Obuch to speak on "Preparing Your Garden for Fall Color." Sept. 15: Joannie Rocchi of The Growing Place will speak on "Autumn Bulbs." Oct. 20: John Sosnowski on proper pruning techniques. Nov. 17: Ron Zick of Wild Birds Unlimited. 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.

•South Barrington Garden Club: Aug. 5: Carpool to Steve Maggos dahlia garden in Carpentersville. 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

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

•Grayslake Antique Market, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 11, at Grayslake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Plus post card and paper show. Admission $6; free parking. zurkopromotions.com.