The Dirt: Native Plant Expo, Peony Days, fairy gardens and more

Want a beautiful garden that's lower-maintenance for you, plus beneficial to wildlife and the environment? Go native — plant more Minnesota-native plants that have thrived in our region for hundreds of years and are well adapted to our growing conditions.

A wide variety of natives will be available for purchase at the Landscape Revival Native Plant Expo and Market, which brings together 12 local growers of native plants for convenient shopping. Related products, including organic compost, rain barrels and native plant seed, also will be available.

Gardening experts and representatives from conservation organizations will be on hand to share tips and information. The expo, which is free and open to the public, will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 6 at the Cub Foods Community Pavilion, 1201 W. Larpenteur Av., Roseville.

If you love peonies, this is your season. Swenson Gardens, a peony grower in Howard Lake, has fields full of peonies in bloom and is inviting the public to come see them during Peony Days on June 5, 6, 12 and 13.

In addition to the familiar pink, red and white, visitors can check out the new intersectional hybrid varieties, which come in a wide range of colors, including coral, fuchsia, lavender, rust, purple, peach, eggplant, burgundy and yellow, in two-tones and tritones.

Staffers will be on hand to answer peony-related questions and offer growing tips. If you have an interest in photography, bring your camera — grower Keith Swenson will be leading photography tours.

Hours during Peony Days are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Swenson Gardens is at 10958 70th St. SW., Howard Lake, Minn.

Want to avoid the "7 Deadly Gardening Sins" this growing season? Master Gardener JoAnne Sabin will discuss this topic during a presentation at 7 p.m. June 8 at the Church of St. Joseph in Rosemount. Sabin, who has been gardening for 30 years, will discuss careless gardening care, including common planting and watering mistakes, mulch misuse and failure to deadhead.

The presentation is free and open to the public. The Church of St. Joseph is at 13900 Biscayne Av. W., Rosemount

If you're enchanted by fairy gardens, check out the free fairy gardening seminar at Gertens. You'll see a demo on how to create your own magical fairy garden, featuring indoor and outdoor miniature garden examples. Then you'll have an opportunity to explore Gertens' wide selection of fairy garden supplies and diminutive plants.

The seminar will be held at 6 p.m. June 10 at Gertens, 5500 Blaine Av., Inver Grove Heights. Preregister at www.gertens.com/events.

Kim Palmer