Art Crawl at the Arb

Next weekend you can go shopping and connect with nature at the same time. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is hosting its first "Art Crawl Through the Gardens," a two-day exhibition and sale of local arts and crafts, ranging from photography to paintings to birdhouses, plus live music.

Exhibitors will set up shop along the Arb's Three-Mile Drive. Art Crawl hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. next Sunday. Admission is free with gate admission ($12).

Also happening at the Arb next weekend is "Flowerfest: Flower, Food and Foto Show." The exhibit, in the MacMillan Auditorium of the Oswald Visitor Center, will feature flowers, vegetables, photos and floral designs, presented by the Men's and Women's Garden Club of Minneapolis. Flowerfest hours are 12:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. next Sunday.

The arboretum is at 3675 Arboretum Dr. in Chaska.

Vintage road trip

Like antiques and interesting "junk" for your home? Oronoco's Gold Rush Days, an antique show and flea market, is taking place next weekend. The annual three-day event attracts many vendors and vintage treasure-hunters.

National vintage expert Ki Nassauer, editor of the magazines Flea Market Style and Flea Market Style Weddings and founder of Junk Bonanza and FleaQuest (www.fleaquest.com), will be on hand Friday and Saturday at noon to sign copies at the Junk Bonanza booth.

Arboretum artistry.

Gold Rush Days hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. next Sunday. Oronoco is about 75 miles southeast of Minneapolis. For more information, visit www.goldrushmn.com.

DIY entryway seminar

Want to create a beautiful entrance to your home? Gertens is offering a free DIY seminar on pavers and lighting.

Kelly Walker of Walker Lawn Care will offer tips and tricks for planning, installing and maintaining an entryway. Participants will learn about materials and tools to make the job easier.

The seminar will be offered at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Gertens, 5500 Blaine Av., Inver Grove Heights.

Make a topiary

Hone your DIY decor skills with a floral design workshop at Bachman's. The project for August is sunflower topiaries. Participants will use a terra cotta pot, sunflowers and other late-summer blooms to create a topiary-style arrangement.

The workshop, taught by award-winning designers Diane Enge and Cindy Snowberg, will be offered twice, at 6-8 p.m. Thursday and 2-4 p.m. Saturday in the Design Room at Bachman's on Lyndale, 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. The cost is $40. To register, call 612-861-7311 or visit www.bachmans.com.

Free design help

If you could use some professional help with your home's design, Gabberts is offering two opportunities this week.

On Tuesday from 5-8 p.m., the topic is "Build or Remodel Without Being Overwhelmed." Designer Karen Hodgdon will review your building or remodeling plans and offer insights from a design perspective.

On Wednesday from 4-8 p.m., the topic is "Historic Home. Today's Lifestyle." Jennifer Austin-McGrath will share ideas for respecting the heritage of vintage homes while making them functional for today's lifestyles.

Call 952-928-3123 to schedule a free half-hour appointment with the designers on either topic.

KIM PALMER