Oswald Visitor Center, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska.
Escape the chill of winter and feast your senses on this display of exquisite orchids grown by Jerry Fischer and Orchids Limited of Plymouth.  Many are unique species and hybrids – true living works of art.  Free with Arboretum gate admission. www.arboretum.umn.edu.

Shoreview Community Center, 4600 Victoria St. N. Shoreview.
Speaker: Eric Johnson (www.gardendrama.com). Frequent contributor to Northern Gardener magazine and knowledgable on a wide number of topics. Frequent speaker to various groups. Non members welcome. $3 fee. Contact: sandilauer@comcast.net.

Gillespie Center, 2590 Commerce Blvd., Mound.
By March, we are itching to plant something, so why not learn what you can successfully plant during the transition from late winter to early spring. Learn what cool season flowers and vegetables will fulfill the desire to dig in the soil after a long winter. Get a jump on your garden season with this exciting program and have flowers blooming by May 1 and harvest cool season vegetables for the fresh taste of spring. Westonka Horticultural Society members free, non-members $5 donation. www.westonkahort.org.

Snyder Building, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska.
Learn the principles and theories of landscape design. The class will touch on such concepts as style, balance, texture and scale. Learn to apply these concepts to any site and design. Instructor is Jim Van Slyke, lead designer for The Lawn Ranger in Eden Prairie. $30 members, $40 non-members. Register at www.arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx or call 952-443-1422.

North Isanti Baptist Church, 2248 313th Ave. N.E., Cambridge.
Theme: 'Back To The Basics'. Pre-registration fee: $15 until February 26; Same day registration fee: $20. Join us for a day of fun and learning!  Keynote presentation by Jean Larson, U of M Program Manager for the Center of Therapeutic Horticulture. Classes on various gardening topics, vendors, information booths, lunch, door prizes, and silent auction. For more information, contact the Isanti County Extension Office: 763-689-8253; e-mail gls@umn.edu, or visit www.extension.umn.edu/county/isanti. 

Rosemount Community Center, 13885 South Robert Trail (Highway 3), Rosemount.
Mark your calendar for the Dakota County Master Gardener 11th annual spring expo featuring Dr. Neil Anderson, a floriculture geneticist from the University of Minnesota, Mike Heger of Ambergate Gardens, and Master Gardeners speaking on a variety of horticultural topics. Shop the garden marketplace, enjoy lunch, and attend garden classes. Cost: $35 (includes classes and handouts, morning refreshments, silent auction and box lunch). www.letsgetgrowing.net.

Monticello Middle School, 800 Broadway Street East, Monticello.
Join the U of MN Master Gardeners from Wright County for a day devoted to tempting your gardening fantasies! Attend informational sessions, ask questions, and visit vendors. The cost for the entire workshop, including lunch and take-home educational materials is $25 for those who pre-register by March 8. For additional information on topics and presenters and/or for registration information, contact the Wright County Extension Office: 763-682-7394 / 800-362-3667, or mnext-wright@umn.edu. www.springdays.org.

Fifth Street Towers, 100 South Fifth Street, Minneapolis.
See top designs submitted in the Trellis About It! Design Competition. Designers will be on hand in the Foyer to discuss their models. Registered guests are invited to move to the Nicollet Station conference room at 7 p.m. for drinks, local organic appetizers, silent auction, and awards ceremony. Costs: Public Exhibition in the Foyer is free; Awards Reception is $12 per person, seating limited, advance registration required. More details and registration at: www.pricoldclimate.org/event/trellis_about_it_exhibition_and_reception.

First Baptist Church, 401 Fourth Street S., Long Prairie.
Keynote speaker: Al Batt. Morning and afternoon sessions include speakers on starting seeds, perennials , home food preservation, herbs, fruit trees and berries, rain barrels, hostas, and gardening in a container. $20 pre-registration includes morning coffee and lunch. Sponsored by Todd Co. Master Gardeners. For more information, contact Marie Siegel at lpplumbing@charterintrnet.com or 320-732-6520.

Oswald Visitors Center, MN Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska.
Growing orchids in a Minnesota home environment is easier than in a Florida backyard. This may sound impossible, but it’s true. The climate-controlled environment in our Minnesota homes is just what orchid plants need to grow and bloom year after year. Orchid expert Jerry Fischer will present the tips and techniques you need to be a successful home orchid grower, including light and water requirements, temperature needs, insect and disease management and more. Get started growing orchids right away with a take-home, seedling-sized orchid plant. $35 members, $45 non-members. Register at www.arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx or call 952-443-1422.

Snyder Building, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska.
Selecting plants for shady locations is far more challenging than for sunny locations. Go beyond begonias and impatiens and learn which plants will thrive in the shade. Instructor Shirley Mah Kooyman is a botanist, teacher and gardener. $30 members, $40 non-members. Beginner-intermediate level. Register at www.arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx or call 952-443-1422.

Gertens Annual Greenhouse, 5500 Blaine Ave., Inver Grove Heights.

Get connected with others who share your gardening passions. Learn all about the different plant societies and the plants they love. Free mini-demonstrations presented by the different societies. Participating societies include: Daylilies, Hobby Greenhouse, Hostas, Daffodils, Roses, Wild Flowers, Orchids, Irises, Peonies, Water Gardens, Mushrooms, Dahlias, and the Garden Club of Ramsey County. Free and open to the public.

Cornerstone Church, 3000 Hadley Ave. N., Oakdale.
David Zlesak, presenter, “Roses”. Contact: Barbara Ronningen, 651-436-5881 or bjronningen@yahoo.com.

Harmar Mall, Snelling Avenue & County Road B, Roseville.
Numerous African Violets and other Gesneriads on display and for sale. There will also be an education table, soil, other supplies, and growers on hand to answer questions. For more information: http://sites.google.com/site/avsminnesota.

Snyder Building, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska.
Many grasses have more than one season of interest because of their attractive foliage color and texture, distinctive plant habit, showy floral and fruiting structures. Learn which perennial and annual ornamental grasses are easy to grow in your garden. Instructor is Steve Horan, who grows a number of hardy and non-hardy ornamental grasses in his garden in Woodbury. 
$30 members, $40 non-members. Beginner-intermediate level. Lecture/demo. Register at www.arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx or call 952-443-1422.

Pine City High School, 1400 Main St. S., Pine City.

Topics and Speakers: Keynote: "The Importance of Biodiversity in Organic Gardening" Bud Markhart, U of M Prof. of Organic Hort.

Concurrent Sessions: "Shade Gardening with Perennials beyond Hostas", Debee Lonee, Baileys; "Trees & Shrubs for Zone 3 beyond Ash", Kathy Zuzek, U of M Extn. Ed.; "Propagating & Increasing Plants for Spring", Bill Peters, U of M Teaching Spec.; "Growing Herbs" and "Cooking & Uses of Herbs", Myrl Moran, Princeton; "Benefits of Organic Matter & Compost", Bud Markhart. Cost: $16 by March 19, $19 after March 19.

Handouts, light lunch, door prizes, commercial exhibitors included. Print registration form from www.extension.umn.edu and press Extension Offices, Pine County or call 1-800-657-3813 Ext. #4.

Itasca Community College, 1851 E. US Highway 169, Grand Rapids.
Elaine Evans, bee biologist, presenter, along with 10 other speakers addressing tree health, irrigation, blueberries, shoreland vegetation, noxious weeds, container & square foot gardening, heirloom seeds, and winter landscapes. Pre-registration is required online at www.getlearning.org or call Comm. Ed. at 218-327-5730 or e-mail
rpender@isd318.org by March 12.

Christ the King Church, 1040 South Grade Road S.W., Hutchinson.
Proceeds from silent auction will be donated to ConnectCare/Birchwood Hospice House, Hutchinson. Presenters: Steven Horan, “Ornamental Grasses”; Connie Karstens-Rathke, MS, Herbalist & Holistic Health Educator; Nathan Winter, McLeod/Meeker Extension Educator. Fun/educational displays on gardening, herbs/holistic health, birding, etc. Includes a fabulous lunch, door prizes and a hands-on planting project. Everyone attending will receive a free bag of CreekSide potting soil. To register/more information, contact: Nathan Winter, McLeod County Ext 800-587-0770 or wint0146@umn.edu.

Mound Westonka High School, 5905 Sunnyfield Road East, Mound.
Keynote speaker: Dr. Mary Meyer, Interim Director Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Learn from the experts with over 16 additional workshops to start your gardening season with sustainable and responsible take-away gardening techniques to implement this year.
Cost for speaker sessions: $25 through March 12, includes lunch and breaks; after March 12 and at the door $30. Resource Service area free and open to the public.For a full list of speakers and topics and for registration form, visit www.westonkahort.org. Contact: westonkahortday@gmail.com or 612-247-3189.

Snyder Building, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska.
The perennial garden is like an orchestra with different sections playing their parts at different times. Knowing when perennials bloom can help you orchestrate the color display in your garden.  Instructor Neil Bealka, past president of the Washington County Horticultural Society, has gardened with perennials for many years. $30 members, $40 non-member. Beginner-intermediate level. Lecture/demo Register at www.arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx or call 952-443-1422.