North

March
4 or 5
Vegetables 101, a class at Chalet, 3132 Lake Ave., Wilmette. Presented by Chalet expert Scott Thalmann, who has been vegetable gardening for years. 10-11:30 am. Register 847-256-0561 x 225.

6-7
Sogetsu Ikebana Show at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Displays, demos and experts to answer questions. Sat: noon-4:30 p.m. Sun: 10 am-4:30 pm. Show free. Parking $20. Info: www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows.

7 and 14
Orchid Growing for Beginners, a class at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. How to select orchids. The basics of orchid care. Watch a potting and propagation demo. Review the most popular varieties. Sources for orchids and supplies provided. Taught by Jerry L. Garner, landscape designer and professor of horticulture. 9:30-11:30 a.m. $74. Registration & info: www.chicagobotanic.org/school or 847-835-8261.

8
Cottage Gardening, the program for the monthly meeting of the Gardeners of Central Lake County. Presented by Marion Mich at the Evangelical Free Church, 431 W. Austin Ave., Libertyville. Public invited. 7:30 pm. Free. Info: Cindy at 847-918-7157 or
juliancindy@hotmail.com.

9
The Fight Against Invasive Species, the program for the monthly meeting of the Glenview Gardeners. Presented by Wayne Regowski, land steward and volunteer coordinator at The Grove in Glenview. 7 pm. Free. Meet in the Community Room of the Glenview Police Department, 2500 East Lake Avenue, Glenview. Guests welcome. Info: 847-832-0630 or www.glenviewgardeners.org. Email: ggardeners@eartrhlink.net

12
The Magical World of Flower Close-Ups, a presentation by master photographer Allen Rokach at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. 7-9 pm. $37. Info: www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call 847-835-8261.

12 or 13
Plant of the Week Introductions at Chalet Nursery, 3132 Lake St., Wilmette. Presented by Freya Wellin, Chalet’s perennial manager. 10-11:30 am. Register 847-256-0561 x 225.

13
Floral Close-Up Photography, a day-long class with master photographer Allen Rokach at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Learn to use macro lenses, extension tubes and close-up filters to help you create dramatic and aesthetic images of flowers. 8 am-6 pm. $224. Registration fee includes the March 12 lecture. To view examples of Allen’s work, visit www.allenrokach.com. Registration & info: www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call 847-835-8261.

13
Organic Lawn Care, a class at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Taught by Lynn Bement, The Organic Garden Coach. 9 am-noon. $74. Registration & info: www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call 847-835-8261.

13-14
Northern Illinois Gesneriad Society Show & Sale at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Approximately 50 exhibits of 20 different types of gesneriads. Plants, cuttings, tubers and rhizomes for sale. 10 am- to 4:30 pm. Info: www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows.

14
Put Glam in Your Garden With Lilies, the 3rd in this year’s lecture series of the Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society, held at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Presented by Society president Woodruff Imberman. Learn simple propagation techniques and how to design a garden with season-long lily bloom. 2 pm. Free. Parking fee applies. ALSO: Spring Bulb Sale of the Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society, at 1 pm, prior to the lecture. Buy unusual lily bulbs at inexpensive prices. Info 847-733-0071.

19 or 20
Eco-Gardens, a class at Chalet Nursery, 3132 Lake St., Wilmette. Presented by Dennis Paige, who spearheaded a transformation of his suburban condo’s grounds from lawn to a series of native plant gardens. 10-11:30 am. Register
847-256-0561 x 225.

20-21
Illinois Orchid Society Spring Show & Sale at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Orchids in 128 classes will vie for ribbons. Forty displays of orchids artistically arranged. Orchid sales area. Repotting services for $5. Lectures. Saturday 10 am-5 pm. Sunday 9 am-5 pm. Show free. Parking $20. Info. on plant society meetings at 847-835-8284 or www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows.

21
Midwest Fruit Explorers Grafting Workshop at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Step-by-step instructions on how to graft and care for fruit trees. Best varieties. Purchase root stock (approx. $4), follow the demonstration, and leave with one or more trees ready to plant. 1-4 pm. Free. Parking $20. Info www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows.

27-28
Ikenobo Ikebana Society Show at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. An exhibition of traditional Japanese flower arranging. 10 am-4:30 pm. Show free. Parking $20. Info www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows.

26 or 27
Jim Nau’s Favorite Plants for 2010, a class at Chalet Nursery, 3132 Lake St., Wilmette. Presented by Jim Nau, the manager of The Gardens at Ball at Ball Horticulture Company, West Chicago. 10-11:30 am. Register 847-256-0561 x 225.

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April
1 or 2
Instant Gratification Spring Container. A workshop at Chalet Nursery, 3132 Lake, Wilmette. Plant a container for two seasons of enjoyment. This is a fun container that allows you to plant lilies for mid-season glamour in the garden. The “instant gratification” comes from the spring annuals and forced bulbs that dress up the top of the lily pot. Enjoy the beautiful spring display of pansies, daffodils, hyacinths, Johnny jump-ups and ivy while the lilies are rooting. Get two seasons of enjoyment from this workshop. Please pre-register and pay a materials fee of $54.99 to hold your reservation. Call 847-256-0561 ext 230 or 225.

8 or 9
Gravel Gardens by Roy Diblik and Freya Wellin, a seminar at Chalet Nursery, 3132 Lake, Wilmette. This is the newest technique of sustainable perennial gardening that Roy Diblik learned from German plant specialists. It addresses both weed control and water issues. Learn the concepts from Roy and see how Freya applied the techniques when she installed the “trial” gravel garden at Chalet. 6:30 pm on Thursday or 10 am on Friday. Register 847-256-0561 ext 230 or 225.

12
Insects in Your Garden: Good Guys and Bad Guys, the program for the monthly meeting of the Gardeners of Central Lake County. Presented by Lynn Hepler of the Environmental Education Services for the Lake County Forest Preserve District. At the Evangelical Free Church, 431 W. Austin Ave., Libertyville. Public invited. 7:30 pm. Info: 847-918-7157 or juliancindy@hotmail.com.

13
The Lure of Spices, the program for the monthly meeting of the Glenview Gardeners. Presented by Tom and Patty Erd, owners of the Spice House in Evanston. 7 pm. Free. Meet in the Community Room of the Glenview Police Department, 2500 East Lake Avenue, Glenview. Guests welcome. Info: 847-832-0630 or www.glenviewgardeners.org. Email: ggardeners@eartrhlink.net.

16 or 17
Roses Simplified, a seminar at Chalet Nursery, 3132 Lake, Wilmette. Presented by Jennifer Brennan, Chalet’s horticulture information specialist. Don’t let roses scare you. There are new varieties that require very little care and new products that simplify the care of the once “fussy” varieties. 6:30 pm on Thursday or 10 am on Friday. Register 847-256-0561 ext 230 or 225.

16-18
Antiques & Garden Fair at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Classical and contemporary garden furnishings, antiques and collectible art from more than 100 exhibitors from the United States and Europe. Experts give free booth demonstrations on flower arranging. Fair hours: 10 am-5 pm. Tickets $15. Parking $20. Info: www.chicagobotanic.org/antiques or call 847-835-5440.

April 29-October 7
Children’s Farm Camp at The Learning Farm in Prairie Crossing, Grayslake. Open to children ages 3-10. Has six different groups in five age ranges. Each six-week after school camp or two-week, half-day camp has limited enrollment. The Learning Farm uses 3 acres of land, several greenhouses, and a flock of chickens to offer outdoor education that incorporates farm work, soil, crops, and animals into a wide variety of valuable lessons. Applications are on the website: www.pclearningfarm.org. Info or photos: call 847-548-4062 x11 or email droth@prairiecrossing.

20
Flower Towers, a class at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Learn how the CBG creates the incredible flowering columns or “towers” in the Heritage Garden during autumn. Then create your own miniature flower tower. Taught by Outdoor Floriculturist Tim Pollak. Please bring an apron and a pair of gloves. 6:30-8:30 p.m. $87. Info & registration: www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call 847-835-8261.

22 or 23
Spring Lawn Care for Beginners, a seminar at Chalet Nursery, 3132 Lake, Wilmette. Learn what to do now to help your lawn wake up and perform beautifully during the growing season. Bill Leuenberger, Chalet soil & turf management division manager, and Jennifer Brennan, Chalet horticulturist, will give you the routine to follow for fertilizing, weed control and maintenance. Earth-friendly practices included. 6:30 pm on Thursday or 10 am on Friday. Register 847-256-0561 ext 230 or 225.

24-25
Midwest Daffodil Society Annual Show at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Hundreds of daffodils on display to be judged. Cut blooms, floral design and photography competitions. Sat: noon-4:30 pm. Sun: 10 am-4:30 pm. Info: www.chicagobotanic.org/plantshows or 847-835-5440.

25
What Is an English Garden? the 4th and final lecture sponsored by the Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society. At the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. See how English gardens fit into several thousand years of Western garden history. Presented by Carolyn Ulrich, editor of Chicagoland Gardening magazine. 2 pm. Free. Parking fee applies. Info: 847-733-0071.

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