Going native To celebrate its 30th birthday, the Minnesota Native Plant Society is holding a symposium on "Perspectives in Botany" from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 SE. Church St., Minneapolis. Topics include "Species Concepts in Plants," "Minnesota's Plant Hunters Past and Present" and "Plant Adaptations on the Prairie." The $52 cost includes breakfast, lunch, snacks and handouts. To register, visit www.mnnps.org.
Urban Chickens Susan Troller, author of "Cluck: From Jungle Fowl to City Chicks," will share stories about her feathered friends and sign her books at 2 p.m. Saturday. A "Chicken People Party," where you can meet and mingle with other Twin Cities chicken keepers, follows from 3 to 5 p.m. Both events are at Egg/Plant Urban Farm Supply, 1771 Selby Av., St. Paul. Troller will head to Wild Rumpus from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday to talk about back-yard hens on city lots and sign her books, 2720 W. 43rd St., Minneapolis.
Paradise on the 8th floor Need an infusion of floral color? Macy's "Brasil, Gardens in Paradise" show will bring the brilliant hues, aromas and textures of tropical Brazil to the downtown Minneapolis store starting Sunday. The large landscaped gardens by Bachman's reflect everything from the dense rainforests of the Amazon to colonial Brazil. There also will be two weeks of in-store special events, including fashion shows and cooking demonstrations for floral fanatics. The Macy's Flower Show is free and open during store hours at 8th Street and Nicollet Mall through April 7. Go to www.macys.com/flowershow.
