Lilies galore

Feast your eyes and nose on the array of colors, shapes and fragrances at the free annual lily show hosted by the North Star Lily Society. This year's show, themed "Love Lilies," features many varieties including new colors developed by hybridizers, plus 25 floral displays inspired by the theme "love." Lily Society members will be on hand to answer questions about growing lilies. Show hours are 1 to 5 p.m. July 8, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 9, at Bachman's Heritage Room, 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls.

Ask the masters

Master Gardeners in Hennepin County will host their 10th anniversary "Learning Garden Tour" next week, featuring eight gardens in southwest Minneapolis. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions, and each garden will have education stations and demonstrations on a wide variety of garden topics including edible gardening, pollinators, native plants and decorative container gardening. Food trucks will be at three garden locations. Tour hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 8. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the tour; ages 11 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Register at www.mnarbonline.com.

New in bloom

The entrance to the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory has a different look with the opening of new gardens to replace the open turf in front of the Visitor Center. The formal garden layout is reminiscent of the historic public gardens that were adjacent to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in years past, before they were removed to create space for parking. The new Minnesota Garden features 5,000 Minnesota-native cultivars and several plants that have been selected from historic plant lists, all grown free of pesticides. Incorporated within the garden is a new circle turnaround for safer, easier unloading for school buses, visitors with limited mobility and large groups. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is at 1225 Estabrook Dr., St. Paul.

Pottery central

Red Wing pottery will be the focus when the Red Wing Collector Society celebrates its 40th anniversary at its convention this week in Red Wing. The festivities begin July 5 with a "Wine-ing for Red Wing" fundraiser, featuring food, beverages and silent and live auctions, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pottery Museum of Red Wing, 240 Harrison St., admission is $20.

The convention kicks off officially with a keynote address at 10:30 a.m. July 6 at which historian Nancy Lambert and about a dozen collectors will share insights on Red Wing pottery and their collections, Minnesota State College Southeast campus, 308 Pioneer Rd.

A members-only auction featuring more than 250 pieces will held at 4:30 p.m. July 6, with onsite registration available to become a member, Red Wing National Guard Armory, 885 E. 7th St.

Other convention events include street sales at Red Wing's historic Pottery Place, educational seminars, a "Crock Hop" celebration, scavenger hunt and hands-on pottery projects for kids, plus the official show and sale, which is free and open to the public at the Red Wing National Guard Armory, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 8. For more information, visit redwingcollectors.org.

Kim Palmer