Local plant sales

Stop.

Step away from the pink flamingoes.

If you're looking for something to gussy up your yard this spring, please skip the tacky lawn ornaments and think green (and we don't mean those awful plastic frogs).

It's plant sale season and a whole bunch of local garden clubs and not-for-profit organizations are participating.

Here is a list of upcoming events where you'll find a nice selection of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets and more.

The earth, Al Gore and anyone who drives past your house all thank you.

Through May 31

• The Hinsdale Humane Society's spring plant sale runs through May 31 at Vern Goers Greenhouse, 5620 S. Oak St., Hinsdale. The sale includes a variety of annuals, perennials, landscape supplies, flowering shrubs, ornamental grasses and more. Ten percent of sales made with the "Diggers' Delight" coupon will be donated to the animal shelter. Coupons are available at the Hinsdale Humane Society, 22 N. Elm St.; online at www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org; or at Vern Goers Greenhouse. Proceeds will benefit the humane society, a not-for-profit organization that offers pet adoptions, humane education programs, foster-care programs, dog obedience classes and pet-assisted therapy. For details, call (630) 323-5630 or visit www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org.

Through Sunday

• Boy Scout Troop 191's perennial plant sale will be from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot behind West Suburban Bank on Gary Avenue, between North Avenue and Hiawatha Drive, Carol Stream. Plants cost $6 to $10.

Saturday

• The Garden Club of Bensenville's annual plant sale will be from 9 a.m. until all plants are sold Saturday at the Bensenville Community Public Library, 200 S. Church Road.

Saturday and May 10

• The Landscape Design and Management program at Technology Center of DuPage will hold a spring plant sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and May 10 at the school, 301 S. Swift Road, Addison. Other shopping times are available by appointment. Only checks and cash will be accepted for payment. For details, call Brian Clement at (630) 675-4515.

Sunday

• Backyards for Nature Fair and Native Plant Sale will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Spring Valley Nature Center and Heritage Farm, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. The event will include demonstrations; a native wildflower, grass and shrub sale; and children's activities. Admission is free. For details, call (847) 985-2100 or visit www.parkfun.com.

Tuesday

• Orders are due Tuesday for The Conservation Foundation's second annual Native Plant Sale. More than 100 varieties of common and specialty native plants, trees and shrubs are available. Pickup will be May 31 at The McDonald Farm, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville, or Headwaters Conservation Area, 42W525 Beith Road, Elburn. Quantity pricing and special pick-up arrangements are available for orders of 2,000 plants or more. Sale proceeds benefit The Conservation Foundation's environmental initiatives in northeastern Illinois. For details or an order form, visit www.theconservationfoundation.org; call Jill Johnson at (630) 428-4500, ext. 20; or e-mail jjohnson@theconservationsfoundation.org.

• Place your order by Tuesday for the Streamwood Woman's Club plant sale fundraiser. The selection includes annuals, vegetables and hanging baskets. Delivery will be May 17. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Hanover Park Food Pantry and Alexian Brothers Network Women's Services. For an order form, e-mail streamwoodwomansclub@yahoo.com or call (847) 991-6213.

May 8-10

• The Lilacia Park plant sale will be from 3 to 7 p.m. May 8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 9 and 8 a.m. until all plants are sold May 10 in the park, 150 S. Park Ave., Lombard. Plants cost $8 to $10 for a one-gallon container. For details, call (630) 620-7322 or visit www.lombardparks.com.

• The Lombard Garden Club's annual lilac sale will be from 3 to 7 p.m. May 8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 9 and 8 a.m. until all plants are sold May 10 at Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park Ave., Lombard. For details, call the Lombard Garden Club at (630) 495-1920.

May 9-10

• The Addison Trail High School plant sale will be from 3 to 6 p.m. May 9 and 7 a.m. to noon May 10 at the school's greenhouse, 213 N. Lombard Road. For details, call (630) 628-3300 or visit www.dupage88.net.

• DuPage County Forest Preserve's native plant sale will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 9 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10 at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. A catalog and prices are available at www.dupageforest.com/nativeplant08.pdf. For details, call (630) 933-7208.

May 9

• Students in the ornamental horticulture program at the College of DuPage will hold a plant sale from 8 a.m. to noon today on the south side of the Student Resource Center, Fawell Blvd. and Lambert Road, Glen Ellyn. Plants are grown by the students throughout the spring as a fundraiser. For details, call Elizabeth Britt at (630) 942-3806.

May 10

• The DuPage Organic Garden Club's annual perennial sale will be from 9 to 11 a.m. May 10 at Town Center, Gary Avenue and Lies Road, Carol Stream. All plants are from members' gardens. For details, call Bonnie at (630) 462-6919.

• The Downers Grove Organic Gardeners' annual plant sale will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10 at Hummer Park, 4833 Fairview Ave., Downers Grove. The sale will include annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs. Proceeds will benefit the club. For details, visit dgorganicgardeners.blogspot.com.

• The Naperville Community Gardeners' plant sale will be from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 10 at the West Street Community Garden Plots south of Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave. The sale will include annuals, perennials and hanging baskets. For details, call (630) 753-2361 or visit www.napervillecommunitygardeners.org.

• The Elk Grove Garden Club plant sale will be from noon to 4 p.m. May 10 at the Farmhouse Museum Campus, 399 Biesterfield Road, Elk Grove Village. The sale will include annuals, perennials, dahlias and garden decorations. For details, call Cathy at (847) 593-0453 or e-mail cek379@sbcglobal.net.

May 16-17

• The West Suburban Association for the Retarded Inc. will hold its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 16-17 at Bronswood Greenhouse, 3805 Madison, Oak Brook. The sale will include a selection of annuals, bedding plants, potted geraniums, hanging baskets and perennials. Proceeds will benefit residents of the Deicke Home in Lombard, which provides housing, activities and more for adults with disabilities. For details, call Marce Norris at (630) 627-8743.

• Canticle Ministries is holding its annual perennial and plant sale from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 16 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 17. Plants are donated and all proceeds help fund scholarships for high school students living with HIV. The sale is at Wheaton Franciscan Sisters/Marianjoy Hospital, 26W171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton. For details, call (630) 588-9165.

May 16-18

• The Bloomingdale Garden Club's perennial sale will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 17 and 11 a.m. 2 p.m. May 18 at the village hall/library complex, 201 S. Bloomingdale Road. The sale will include full flats, premium hanging baskets, geraniums in all hues and specialty and accent plants delivered from a Michigan grower. Flats and premium baskets cost $13. Perennial plants come from members' gardens and are priced according to size. For details, call Helen Price at (630) 980-6585 or Debbie DeChinistso, (630) 351-1010.

May 17

• The Crestview Garden Club's annual plant sale will be from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 17 at The Abbey, 407 W. St. Charles Road, Elmhurst. All of the plants have been grown in members' gardens. For details, call Patricia Wudi at (630) 834-5127.

• The Friends of the Wheaton Public Library's Garden Day and perennial sale will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 17 at the library, 225 N. Cross St. University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and various gardening items will be sold. Proceeds will benefit library programs. For details, call (630) 668-1374.