Native Plant Expo

Adding native plants to your yard or garden is a win-win. Because natives are adapted to local growing conditions, they're generally lower-maintenance for the gardener. And they also provide food and habitat for native wildlife, including threatened pollinator species.

Next weekend's Landscape Revival, Native Plant Expo and Market, brings more than a dozen growers of native plants together for an annual plant sale and education event. Because most of these growers are located in rural areas, it's a convenient timesaving opportunity to shop several different growers without having to take multiple road trips. The expo will offer native flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses (no cultivars), all grown without the use of systemic insecticides, ensuring "clean" food for pollinators.

The expo is also an opportunity to learn about native plants from local conservation organizations.

Landscape Revival will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 4 at the Cub Foods Community Pavilion, 1201 W. Larpenteur Av., Roseville. Cash or check only.

Perennials in the garden

Planning to plant some perennials this growing season? Gertens is hosting a Perennial Festival next weekend offering a series of free seminars, sales and light refreshments. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 4 and 5. The free seminars include shade-loving perennials at 10 a.m.; sun-loving perennials at 11 a.m.; perennial ground covers at noon; perennials for birds, bees and butterflies at 1 p.m.; and fairy gardening at 2 p.m. The pollinator seminar at 1 p.m. will be presented by Minneapolis writer Rhonda Fleming Hayes, author of "Pollinator Friendly Gardening," who also will sign books from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration for seminrs is requested at gertens.com/events, 5500 Blaine Av., Inver Grove Heights.

Plants in the city

Looking for flowers or foliage plants for your city garden? More than 200 plant species will be offered at a plant sale next weekend to benefit the Dharma Field Zen Center, a Buddhist community in southwest Minneapolis. Master gardeners will be on hand to assist and answer questions; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 3 and 4, 3118 W. 49th St., Mpls.

Dogs at the Arb

Humans and canines are invited to attend the grand opening of the new Dog Commons and 3 miles of on-leash dog trails at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The Dog Commons, a separate area at the Arb, is part of the Nature-Based Therapeutic Services, to provide physical activity, education, socialization and emotional restoration. The goal of the new trails is to inspire a shift from walking the dog as a "chore" to walking the dog as a "mindful and restorative experience that benefits health and well-being for humans and pets." The grand opening and open house is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 5; free with gate admission of $12 for adults (free for members and for ages 12 and under). With the exception of the free open house, membership is required to walk your dogs on the on-leash dog trails. A dog-added membership fee is $50 and includes up to two dogs. The Arb is located at 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska.

City walking tours

Preserve Minneapolis has announced its lineup of summer walking tours. The popular tours explore the city's neighborhoods and history. This season offers more than 20 tours, starting with a tour of Historic E. Hennepin on June 5. New tour topics this year include black history and its influence on the E. 38th Street community (June 28); the second generation of brewers' houses of Lowry Hill East followed by a tour of the LynLake Brewery (July 16); a riverfront tour including St. Anthony Falls, Nicollet Island and Boom Island (July 20); and the small lake cottages built south of Lake Calhoun in the late 1800s, now being replaced by larger homes (July 26). Most tours are $9 per person. Participants must preregister and pay for tours online at eventbrite.com (search "Preserve Minneapolis walking tours"). Tours fill up quickly and often sell out. For more information, visit preserveminneapolis.org.

Artful weekend

Find a distinctive piece of artwork for your wall, shelf or display niche. The Edina Art Fair, now in its 50th year, kicks off the art fair season next weekend with three days of painting, photography, sculpture and other fine art. The art fair, ranked No. 1 in Minnesota, features the work of 300 artists from around the country and Canada, is at the corner of 50th Street and France Avenue S. and the surrounding area. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 3 and 4, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 5. For more information, visit edinaartfair.com.

Fields of peonies

It's peony season. If you love the big showy spring blossoms, consider a short road trip to Swenson Gardens' Peony Field Days, where thousands of flowers in a rainbow of colors will be in bloom. All Swenson peonies are grown without chemicals, and staffers will be on hand to answer peony-related questions and offer growing tips. Visitors are welcome from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 3 and 4. Swenson Gardens is located at 10958 70th St. SW. in Howard Lake, Minn., just west of the Twin Cities in Wright County. For more information, visit swensongardens.com or call 763-350-2051.

KIM PALMER