Free tomato plants
Want to grow your own tomatoes this year? Chipotle Mexican Grill will be giving away Roma tomato plants from Pahl Farms at the Como Park Zoo. The giveaway marks the kickoff of this season's "Chipotle Edible Garden," an exhibit designed to teach about planting and preparing foods that can be grown at home. On Friday, starting at 10 a.m., the first 1,500 children who stop by the Chipotle Tent, located next to the Edible Garden, will receive a free plant, while supplies last. Como Park Zoo is at 1225 Estabrook Dr., St. Paul.
Peony Days
Peonies bloomed late this year, and Swenson Gardens in Howard Lake, Minn., is finally hosting its annual "Peony Field Days." The peony grower has more than 20,000 plants growing in its production fields, which will be open to the public four days in June, for gardeners, photographers and artists. Staff members will be available to answer peony gardening questions.
Cut flowers will be available for purchase, and visitors also can order bare-root peonies, for delivery or pickup in the fall.
Peony Field Days will be held this Friday and Saturday, and the following Friday and Saturday, June 20-21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Swenson Gardens is at 10958 70th St. SW. in Howard Lake. For more information, call 763-350-2051.
Monarch party
Save Our Monarchs, a new nonprofit foundation dedicated to saving the threatened Monarch butterfly, invites the public to its "Plant a Seed" launch party June 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Interlachen Country Club in Edina. The organization has one mission: plant milkweed to provide sustenance for Monarch caterpillars.
The launch party will include a brief presentation about why the Monarchs are in trouble and what is being done locally to help. Milkweed seed packets will be distributed, with a suggested donation of $2 per seed packet. The party is free and open to the public, and appetizers will be served. There will also be a cash bar.
For more information, visit www.saveourmonarchs.org.
KIM PALMER
