Dig into Dirt-O-Rama The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's new exhibit encourages all ages to play in the dirt. "Dirt-O-Rama: Intriguing Tales From the Underground" explores the components of fertile soil and how it's used to successfully grow plants. The exhibit, which opens Saturday and continues through Oct. 14, features an "Art of the Earth" outdoor art display, Compost Corner and soil testing station. In July, visitors are invited to help two clay artists build a child-friendly earthen structure in front of the Learning Center. Family events are scheduled during the run of "Dirt-O-Rama." The arboretum is at 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska. Admission: $12 adults, free for ages 12 and under. Call 952-443-1400.

Show off your garden Seen a great garden lately? Maybe it's your mom's. Maybe it's your neighbor's. Maybe it's right in your own back yard. Share its beauty with others by nominating it for our annual Beautiful Gardens contest. Every year, Home + Garden seeks out the best private residential gardens, then publishes the winners throughout the non-gardening season on the cover of the Home + Garden section and online at startribune.com. To nominate a garden, send a few snapshots of it, along with a brief description, including who tends the garden, where it's located and what makes it special.

Send entries to: Beautiful Gardens, Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488. Or e-mail them to beautifulgardens@startribune.com. Deadline is June 16.

Rockin' gardens The Minnesota North American Rock Garden Society is holding a sale and auction of perennials, rock garden, woodland and rare and unusual plants this Saturday. The auction is at 10 a.m. followed by the sale until 1:30 p.m. at Roseville Central Park, N. Lexington Av. and County Road C, Roseville. 952-446-9272.

Plant advice and sale Bring your gardening questions and plant wish list to the Master Gardeners in Washington County plant sale and Diagnostic Clinic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in the 4-H Building at the Washington County Fairgrounds, Hwy. 5 and Manning Av., Lake Elmo. The plant sale features perennials from Master Gardeners' home and demonstration gardens as well as vegetables, herbs and annuals started from seed. Bring plant and insect samples to the Diagnostic Clinic, where Master Gardeners and specially trained tree and insect control specialists will answer questions. Sale proceeds will be used to support Master Gardener educational activities in Washington County.

Meet Jamie Durie

Dml -, Star Tribune

Jamie Durie, HGTV's garden guy, will share his landscape design and gardening secrets at two Bachman's seminars, 9 a.m. and noon June 16 at 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. The event is followed by a book signing. Tickets are $25 and include a copy of Durie's book, "The Outdoor Room." For tickets, go to www.bachmans.com or call 612-861-7311.