Aurora garden center to host 'Do It Yourself Landscaping'
Events
•Tots 'n Trucks, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. See the nursery's big landscape trucks, little trucks, forklift and bob-cat, along with Palatine police and fire vehicles. Free. (847) 359-1080.
Seminars, workshops
•Garden stroll, 10 a.m. Saturday, The Growing Place, both locations, 25W471 Plank Road, Naperville, and 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. A designer-led tour with advice on combinations, design, pests, etc. Coffee and doughnuts served.
•"Do It Yourself Landscaping," 10 a.m. Aug. 14, The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. Tips for laying out bedlines, mulching, new garden areas, etc.
•Summer vacation kids activity, butterflies and hatching station creation, 1 p.m. Aug. 21, The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. $5. Each child will receive a caterpillar to take home. Call (630) 355-4000 to register.
•"Let Us Help You," full day of talks on how to take your garden into autumn, Aug. 21, The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. 10 a.m., containers; 11:30, creating privacy with plants; 1 p.m., edibles; 2:30 p.m., ornamental grasses.
Chicago Botanic Garden
The following activities are scheduled at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org.
•Cactus & Succulent Society of Greater Chicago Show and Sale, today, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free children's educational program provided by Multidisciplinary Education for the Environment.
•Plant giveaways, Wednesdays through Sundays through Oct. 3 in Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden. Volunteers share information about the monthly featured plant and encourage visitors to plant a seed or seedling to take home to their own gardens. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. chicagobotanic.org/familyprograms/dropin.
•Garden Clubs of Illinois State Show, noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 8. Advanced standard flower show, which includes a judged exhibit of flower arrangements and exhibits as well as a cut horticulture competition. gardenglories.org.
•Gardeners of the North Shore Show, noon to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 14 and 10 to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 15. Includes a judged exhibition with more than 500 entries of anything a home gardener can grow, including flowers, vegetables, herbs and houseplants.
•Mid-America Bonsai Show & Sale, noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 20 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 21 and 22. One of the top three bonsai shows and sales in the nation. More than 100 bonsai are on display. Workshops are held throughout the show and require registration. midwestbonsai.org.
Garden clubs
•Tri Village Garden Club: 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: Car pool to Steve Maggos dahlia garden in Carpentersville. Sept. 2: "Extend the Summer Bounty of Herbs," lecture by Kathy Vitalo. 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 (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. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 8 at Grayslake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Plus buttons and beads show. Admission $6; free parking. zurkopromotions.com.