Three designers review front yard plans at free seminar

Seminars

•"Landscape Design Sampler," 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 13. Three designers review front yard plans and offer suggestions on plant selections and placement. Cost: Free. Send picture of the front of your home with dimensions for possible topic of discussion by Jan. 28. Includes a drawing for free home design consultation from the photos received. The Growing Place, 1000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. (630) 820-8088 or thegrowingplace.com.

•"Plant a Succulent Container Garden," 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, and Saturday, Feb. 27. Plant your own succulent garden in a container of your choice. Cost: Materials only. The Growing Place, 1000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. (630) 820-8088 or thegrowingplace.com.

Expos, shows

•Midwest Gardening Symposium, March 5-7, Morton Arboretum. Horticulture and landscape design experts to discuss new plants, how to arrange artistically inspired beds and borders in a three-day seminar. Cost varies. For full details, click on "adult programs" under the "Education" heading at mortonarb.org. (630) 719-2468.

•Chicagoland Home and Energy Expo, March 13-14. More than 150 home improvement booths, plus the Daily Herald House Walk. Special events include a healthy cooking show, home theater displays, ask-an-expert booths, moonwalks, crafts and games. Renaissance Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. To reserve space as a vendor, call (630) 469-4611. For other details, visit myhomeshow.com.

•Spring Flower Show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 20. Celebrate the arrival of spring with more than 30 exhibitors, product demonstrations and free educational seminars. Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. (847) 369-1080.

Chicago Botanic Garden

The following activities are scheduled at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org.

•Bonsai Silhouette Show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31.

•Family Activities and Lunar New Year Flower Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 31.

Garden clubs

•Garden Club of Inverness: The club meets January through May and September through November on the third Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at All Saints Lutheran Church, 630 S. Quentin Road, Palatine. Call Beth at (847) 934-7929.

•Pottawatomie Garden Club: "Going Green in the Home Landscape," presented by Susan Grupp, University of Illinois Extension Environmental Science Educator, noon, Monday, Feb. 22, at St. Charles Library meeting room, 1 S. Sixth Ave., St. Charles. For more information, visit pottagardenclub.org.

•South Barrington Garden Club: Feb. 4: "Tips for the Lazy Gardener," by Cindy Tyley. Learn how to save time, energy and money on indoor and outdoor gardening. Meetings first Thursday morning of month. Membership $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.

•St. Charles Antique & Collectible Market, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7. DuPage Expo Center, 4050 E. Main St., St. Charles. zurkopromotions.com.

•Grayslake Antique Market & Chicago Advertising Show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, 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, Feb. 20, 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.