Garden inspiration

Head to Blooms Day before you start working in the garden. The free gardeners' gathering on Saturday features workshops on vertical vegetable gardening, alpine and other rock garden plants and Japanese garden design. Renegade gardener Don Engebretson will kick off the morning with a talk on new plants, as well as the tried-and-true for northern gardens. There's also a Metro Garden Expo of products from local businesses, door prizes and a plant sale. Blooms Day is from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dowling Urban Environmental School, 3900 West River Pkwy., Mpls. Go to www.metroblooms.org.

From pollinators to composting

Maplewood Nature Center is holding free programs on garden pollinators, dividing perennials and composting. Learn about the best plants for native pollinators, 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 8, Maplewood Library, 3025 Southtown Dr., Maplewood. Tips on thinning perennials in a rain garden, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 16, Timber Park, 2133 Atlantic, Maplewood. How to make rich black soil from kitchen scraps and yard waste, 10 to 11 a.m. May 18, Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood. To register, call 651-249-2170 or e-mail info@maplewoodnaturecenter.com.

Home-grown edibles

Bachman's "From Farm to Fabulous Table" event today includes seminars on vegetable gardening, summer entertaining trends and floral design. Wine, sangria and light hors d'oeuvres will be served. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with refreshments, followed by demonstrations at 6 and 7 p.m., Bachman's, 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. Cost is $5, with proceeds going to the Youth Farm, a local organization dedicated to growing food to help young people flourish. For reservations, go to www.bachmans.com.

Hosta heaven

Bring hosta questions to the experts at Savory's Gardens, which specializes in more than 2,000 hybridizations of the popular shade-loving perennial, from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. There will be special prices on select hosta varieties, 5300 Whiting Av., Edina. Call 952-941-8755 or go to www.savorysgardens.com.

LYNN UNDERWOOD