Learn how to make your own worm bin

Seminars, events

•"Worm Bin Workshop," 10 a.m. Aug. 9, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Create your own worm bin using soil, sand, newspaper and wigglers. $20 per bin. Call to register. (847) 359-1080.

•"Veggie Fest 2009," 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, on the grounds of the Science of Spirituality Meditation Center, 4S175 Naperville-Wheaton Road, Naperville. Learn about the vegetarian lifestyle. There will be food vendors, free samples, kids activities and live music. Free admission. Visit veggiefestchicagoland.org or call (800) 222-2207.

•"Dog Days of Summer Festival," Aug. 15, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Bring your dog, on a leash, for 20 percent off your purchase; a picture will do as well. Events include a parade at 10:30 a.m. with prizes for best costume, dog-owner look-alike, oldest, youngest and best attitude. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be free nail trims by Jimminy Clipper's, and The Buddy Foundation will host a dog wash for a $15 donation. (847) 359-1080.

•"The Birds and Bees Revisited," 10 a.m. at The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. Tour the beehives, listen and look for birds and learn what bees and birds need to thrive. (630) 820-8088 or thegrowingplace.com.

•"Summer Lawn Care," 10 a.m. Aug. 22, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Knupper lawn expert John Heaton will talk about how to grow a healthy, weed-free, green lawn. (847) 359-1080.

•"Tool Sharpening with Joe," 9 a.m.-noon Aug. 29, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Professional sharpening by Joe the Sharpener. Fees vary by size of tool; cash or check only. (847) 359-1080.

•Garden Tips and Tastes, noon, first and third Wednesdays, Cantigny Idea Garden, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Bring a bag lunch. Free; register by calling (630) 260-8162. www.cantigny.org.

Chicago Botanic Garden

•Gardeners of the North Shore show, juried exhibition of more than 500 entries of anything a home gardener can grow, including flowers, herbs, vegetables and house plants. Some plants for sale. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org.

•Mid-America Bonsai show and sale: Show hours from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15-16. Sale takes place during the show, plus starting at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14. More than 200 bonsai trees on display. Free demonstrations and lectures. Workshops for additional fee; registration required. Visit midwestbonsai.org for information about the workshops. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org.

Tours

•Guided walks of Millennium Park's Lurie Garden in Chicago are from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 20. These walks are free and led by a master gardener from the University of Illinois. Preregistration is not required. Visit millenniumpark.org.

Garden clubs

•Algonquin Garden Club: Fall Festival Luncheon, Saturday, Sept. 12, Boulder Ridge Country Club, Lake in the Hills. Celebrating their 80th year. Proceeds finance the scholarship fund. Tickets are $28-$30. Call Jane Bishoff at (847) 658-8727 or Joyce Marsiglia at (847) 854-9630.

•Rolling Meadows Garden Club: "Focus on Foliage," 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Rolling Meadows Community Center, 3705 Pheasant Drive, Rolling Meadows. Speaker Colleen Groudins will share how to use foliage, not flowers, to add color and texture to your garden and landscape.

• South Barrington Garden Club: DVD of Audrey Hepburn's "Gardens of the World Tour," Sept. 3; slide presentation "Garden Rooms Without Walls," by Shirley Remes, Better Homes and Gardens field editor, Oct. 1. Meetings first Thursday morning of month. Membership $25 for residents; $35 for nonresidents. Call Anita at (847) 277-7151.

•Wheeling Garden Club: Business meeting and field trip including the Model Railroad Garden, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Admission to the garden is $5 for nonmembers, free for club members. Call Chris at (847) 537-8642.

Flea markets, antique shows

• Open air market features antiques, furniture, garden statuary, jewelry as well as food vendors, flowers, produce and perennials. Free. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 23, Sept. 20 and Oct. 18. The Arboretum of South Barrington, at Route 59 and Higgins Road. Visit shopthearboretumsb.com.

•Kane County Flea Market, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6. Continues first weekend of the month through Dec. 6. $5 daily admission; free parking. On Randall Road between routes 64 and 38 in St. Charles. Call (630) 377-2252 or visit kanecountyfleamarket.com.

•Antique Market, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at Grayslake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Admission $6; zurkopromotions.com.

•Antique Market, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at Grayslake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Admission $6; early buyers, $25 for shopping 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 12. zurkopromotions.com.

•Wolff's Flea Market is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 1, at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Admission is $1, 50 cents for seniors and children ages 6 to 12. Call (847) 524-9590 or visit wolffs.com.

•Late Night Flea Market, 5 p.m. Aug. 22 to 4 a.m. Aug. 23, DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton. Admission is $6 per adult. Bring your flashlight.