Backyard expo show planned for Lake County fairgrounds

Tours, walks

•The Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners is looking for unique, mature gardens for its 2010 garden walk. To have your garden considered for the walk, call chairwoman Melissa Hyams at (630) 879-9638 by May 15.

Seminars, workshops

•Landscape clinics, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., March 20, Spring Bluff Nursery, 41W130 Norris Road, Sugar Grove. Free, but register for a slot in advance by calling (630) 466-4278. springbluffnursery.com.

•"Let Spring Begin! Planting Ahead," 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. March 20, The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora; (630) 820-8088. Seminar sessions to jump-start your spring gardening.

•Pansy Bowl Workshop, 10 a.m. March 27, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Materials provided. $20. Register at (847) 359-1080.

•"Blossoms for Easter Centerpiece Workshop," 6:30 p.m. March 31, Cantigny Park. $45. Register at cantigny.org or call (630) 260-8162. Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. (630) 668-5161.

•How to Grow a Great Lawn, 9 a.m. April 10, Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. John Heaton, Knupper Nursery owner, shares his years of experience. Free. (847) 359-1080.

Expos, shows, festivals

•Chicagoland Home and Energy Expo, today. Renaissance Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. myhomeshow.com.

•Spring Flower Show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 20. Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. (847) 369-1080.

•Backyard Expo and Summer Fun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, April 18, Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road in Grayslake. To reserve space as a vendor, call (847) 301-8543 or visit backyardexpos.com.

Chicago Botanic Garden

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

•Antiques & Garden Fair, April 16-18. Features antique garden furnishings, botanical art and home and garden design from 100 dealers from Europe and U.S. Advance tickets available starting March 1 from www.chicagobotanic.org/antiques. $10-$12 in advance, $15 at door. Children under 16 free with paid adult. No strollers. Parking $20.

Garden clubs

•South Barrington Garden Club: April 1: "Monarch Butterfly," a slide presentation on the two-month migration to Mexico with speaker Diane Hunter. 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.

•Naperville Garden Club: March 24: "Kermit Was Wrong: It's Easy Being Green," by Susan Grupp; follows business meeting and breakfast, which starts at 8:45 a.m. at White Eagle Golf Club. Reservations due 10 days before the program; call Joyce at (630) 357-4022. Membership $35 annually. Call Gale at (630) 898-9560. napervillegardenclub.org.

•Tri Village Garden Club: 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 17: "Certifying Your Garden as a Wildlife Refuge - How and Why," by Jody Romanowski, club member. Meetings held third Wednesday of the month at Poplar Creek Public Library, 1405 S. Park Ave., Streamwood. Annual dues $15. (630) 830-0118 or visit trivillagegardenclub.org.

Flea markets, antique shows

•Wolff's Indoor Flea Market, 1775 N. Rand Road, Palatine, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is 50 cents-$1. (847) 524-9590 or wolffs.com.

•Grayslake Antique Market & Chicago Advertising Show, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at Grayslake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Admission $6; free parking. zurkopromotions.com.

•Wheaton Antique Market & toy and comic show and sale, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 20, at DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester, Wheaton. Admission $5. zurkopromotions.com.