Holiday decor, holiday shopping, lighting and more

Ready to spruce up your home's entry for the holiday season? Several local garden centers are hosting workshops to help you get started.

Gertens' "Spruce Tip Planter Party" will start with design tips and instructions, followed by time to shop and customize your creation. The cost is $29.99 for a 12-inch pot or $49.99 for a 15- to 16-inch pot, and includes a container with potting soil, spruce tips, pine boughs and design instruction. Additional greens, stems, sticks and accents will be available for purchase. The workshop will be offered twice, 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 and 15 at Gertens, 5500 Blaine Av., Inver Grove Heights. Register at gertens.com.

Heidi's Lifestyle Gardens & GrowHaus will present a "Wintergreens Workshop" featuring fresh ideas for wreaths, planters and centerpieces, to help you beautify your home for holidays. The workshop will be offered in two-hour increments, noon to 8 p.m. Nov. 11, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 12. $15. Registration required, at growhausmn.com, or 763-420-2909. Participants are invited to bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to the Hanover food shelf. GrowHaus is located at 7555 County Road 116, Corcoran.

Bachman's "Spruce Top Container Workshop" will offer direction on how to design, plant and embellish a container that can be transitioned from fall to the holiday season. The cost is $50, which includes materials. The workshop will be offered 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 5, and 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 20, as well later dates; at Bachman's, 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. Register at bachmans.com.

Before you start your next remodeling project, gather "Smart Countertop Ideas" at a free class, focused on green remodeling and how to incorporate eco-friendly products into your home renovation. The class will be offered 10 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 12, at Natural Built Home, 4020 Minnehaha Av. S., Mpls. To register, call 612-767-3739, or visit naturalbuilthome.com.

Kick off the holiday season at the Minneapolis Holiday Boutique Show, coming to U.S. Bank Stadium next weekend, and bringing exhibitors of home decor, garden goods, gifts, jewelry, accessories and more. Special exhibits will include Christopher Straub from "Project Runway" with a display of six holiday-themed dresses. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 11 and 12; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 13. Cost is $12 at the door, $10 online at minneapolisholidayboutique.com, free for ages 12 and under. U.S. Bank Stadium is located at 900 S. 5th St., Mpls.

It's almost time to decorate your home for the holiday season. Get ideas and inspiration at two holiday-themed open house events.

Gertens will host its Christmas Preview Open House next weekend, with the entire store transformed into a Northlands Christmas Showcase, featuring holiday decorating and lighting, plus workshops and demonstrations on ice lanterns, greens, garlands and lighting. Doors will open at 10 a.m. on both Nov. 12 and 13, 5500 Blaine Av., Inver Grove Heights. Preregister at gertens.com.

If you live in the north metro, check out the Home Improvement & Design Expo in Blaine, where up to 100 exhibitors will showcase the latest products and services for all types of projects, plus speakers every hour on the hour. Bring your ideas and blueprints to get tips from experts. The expo will be held 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 12 at the National Sports Center, 1700 105th Av. NE., Blaine. Tickets are $6 at the door, free admittance with nonperishable food donation.

Ready to start your holiday shopping? Minneapolis-based Thymes will hold its annual warehouse sale, featuring discounted body washes, lotions, soaps, candles, home fragrance and more. Sale hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11; 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 12. Location is 630 NE. Hoover St., Mpls.

Terrace Horticultural Books is celebrating its 25th anniversary next week with an open house, featuring refreshments and 25 percent off everything in the store, including new and used garden books, collectibles and gifts. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 12 and 19; noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 14-18. 503 St. Clair Av., St. Paul.

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will be aglow after dark with the opening of its new evening exhibition, "Bruce Munro: Winter Light at the Arboretum." Munro's show, which was created in the United Kingdom, includes more than 70 miles of optical fiber making up five installations outdoors and a suspended sculpture indoors, including the unveiling of three new works. The exhibit opens Nov. 12 and runs through April 9. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Advance online tickets are recommended; $17 ($15 for members), $12 for ages 4 through 12, free for ages 3 and under with paid adult, at munrowinterlightmn.org.

KIM PALMER