Photographing the signs of autumn program at Chicago Botanic Garden

Expos, shows, festivals

•Fall Farm Fest 2010, Spring Bluff Nursery, 41W130 Norris Road, Sugar Grove, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 2-3 and Oct. 16-17. Includes pumpkin fields, pumpkin painting, kids activities, refreshments, daytime hayrides and a Spooky Garden Trail. New this year is a $25 dried flower centerpiece class at 11 a.m. on Oct. 2 and Oct. 16; registration required. Also new are Twilight Hayrides 5:30, 6 and 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 1-2 and 5, 5:30, 6 p.m. on Oct. 15-16. $5 per person and under age 2 free; registration required. Visit springbluffnursery.com/contact.htm or call (630) 466-4278.

•Fall Festival Weekend, Oct. 8-9, We Grow Dreams, a not-for-profit greenhouse that trains people with disabilities. The weekend features a 4K Walk at Freedom Commons, the lifestyle center at Diehl and I-88 in Naperville where the weekly Garden Market takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also, an open house featuring fall items such as pumpkins and mums plush refreshments and pumpkin painting, will be held at the We Grow Dreams Greenhouse & Garden Center, 1055 W. Washington St., West Chicago from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10. (630) 293-0100 or wegrowdreams.org.

Tours, walks

•Healing Gardens, 2 acres of woodland and perennial gardens on Stone Hill Farm off Dean Road in St. Charles, will open to the public on Sunday, Oct. 10. There is no admission fee, but donations toward upkeep are welcome. For a donation, visitors can pick a small bouquet of flowers to take home. Also, "Yoga in the Garden" will be taught from 1 to 2 p.m. by Nancy May; go to yogafromtheheart.org or call (815) 319-3500 to register. For more information in the Healing Gardens, 37W249 Dean St., St. Charles, call (630) 377-1846 or e-mail deb@dmarqui.com or visit healinggardensatstonehillfarm.com.

Chicago Botanic Garden

•"Photographing the Signs of Autumn at Mettawa Manor," hosted by Jack Carlson, nature photographer and photographic instructor, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 11. Conducted through the Regenstein School of the Chicago Botanic Garden by invitation of the Kurtis Conservation Foundation. Mettawa Manor, with its acres of formal gardens, woodlands, prairie and ponds, offers diverse photographic opportunities. Preregistration is required. Call (847) 835-8261 or go to www.chicagobotanic.org/school. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org.

Garden clubs

•Tri Village Garden Club: 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: Oct. 7: "Hands On Fall Centerpiece," taught by JoAnn Loebel; $8, all materials provided. Nov. 4: Carpool to Platt Hill Nursery, Carpentersville, where floral designer MaryAnn will demonstrate how to make an artificial wreath. Dec. 9: Annual luncheon at The Seville in Streamwood. 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, Oct. 9, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, at Grayslake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Admission $6; free parking. zurkopromotions.com.

•Wheaton Antique Market, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester, Wheaton. Continues the third Saturday of the month through December 2010. Admission $5. Early buyer, $15, for admission starting at 6 a.m. zurkopromotions.com.