
Find home improvement and gardening classes for Milwaukee, Waukesha and the surrounding counties. Here is a roundup of home and garden events, craft and hobby shows, and where to find more information:
Apple Holler: Country Store, Bakery & Gift Shop are open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday. 5006 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant, (262) 884-7100; appleholler.com
- Easter Prime Rib Buffet. April 4.
- Apple Blossom Fest. May weekends.
Boerner Botanical Gardens: Education and Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Whitnall Park, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners. General information: (414) 525-5653; boernerbotanicalgardens.org
- Terrarium Make-at-home Kit. March 31.
- How to Attract and Feed Migrating Birds Garden Walk. April 21.
- Fairy Garden Make-at-home Kit. May 26.
Brookfield Farmers Market: Opens May 1, 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Brookfield Central High School, front parking lot, 16900 Gebhardt Road.
Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion: Learn about the historic house museum dedicated to the preservation of the Pabst family legacy. Virtual tours and lectures available online. 2000 W. Wisconsin Ave. pabstmansion.com
Cedar Creek Settlement: Visit a variety of mid-19th century buildings with gift and specialty shops, antique stores, galleries, restaurants, and the Cedar Creek Winery. N70-W6340 Bridge Road, Cedarburg. cedarcreeksettlement.com
- Mother’s Day Weekend. May 8-9.
East Troy Railroad Museum: Travel on a historic rail car in 2021 for dinner or a family picnic, or as a passenger on a regular day trip or holiday train. Dinner trains offer three or four-course meals. Sunday Brunch Train features breakfast casseroles, pastries and a fruit cup, plus juice or coffee. Advance electronic ticket purchase required. Depot, 2002 Church St., East Troy. (262) 642-3263; easttroyrr.org
- Bunny Train. March 27-28, April 3.
Ebert’s Greenhouse Village: Opens April 15, with online gardening seminar “Helpful Ideas for New Plant Parents” with Melinda Myers. W1795 Fox Road, Ixonia. ebertsgreenhouse.com
Elegant Farmer: Shop the Farm Kitchen Bakery, Deli & Market, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. 1545 Main St., Mukwonago, (262) 363-6771; elegantfarmer.com
- National Pie (Pi) Day. March 12-14.
- Maple Fest, through March.
- 75th Anniversary Celebration. May 13-16.
Fresh Coast Guardians: Virtual rain garden workshops, 10 a.m. March 13 or 23. Free.. Register online, or by phone (414) 225-2222; freshcoastguardians.com
- Rain Garden Plant Sale pre-order by April 8.
Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens: Membership includes free unlimited admission to the gardens, with discounts on classes and events. (414) 525-5653.
Friends of the Domes: Adult education programs are held at various locations. 524 S. Layton Blvd. (414) 257-5608; milwaukeedomes.org
- Seed Starting for Beginners with UW Extension. March 18.
Friends of Wehr Nature Center: View virtual programs or participate in park events at a variety of locations. Reservations required. friendsofwehr.org/events
- Manage Your Yard Naturally: Early Spring Preparation. March 31.
Hales Corners Public Library: Adult Crafting Club, 6 to 8 p.m. March 17, April 21; 2 to 4 p.m. March 30, April 27. A monthly gathering for those who prefer a quiet place to relax and work on crafts of all kinds. Coloring supplies will be provided. Bring your own materials for all other crafts. Free and open to the public. No registration required; however, space is limited to 10 attendees. 5885 S. 116th Street, Hales Corners. (414) 529-6150.
Hearthstone Historic House Museum: America’s Electrical National Treasure self-guided exhibit, (through Aug.). Pre-purchase recommended for all public building tours. 625 Prospect Ave., Appleton. (920) 730-8204; hearthstonemuseum.org
Historic Milwaukee: Self-guided tour maps are available highlighting local architecture and history. The store is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday with curbside pickup and delivery available with online order. 235 E. Michigan St. (414) 277-7795; historicmilwaukee.org
- House History virtual class. March 25, April 18.
Johnson’s Gardens: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Garden related classes/demos/workshops are offered throughout the year. Registration required. 8504 Highway 60, Cedarburg. (262) 377-2500; jgplants.com
- Starting Seeds Indoors / Sprouts & Microgreens. March 6.
- All About Fruit Trees. March 13.
- Tips & Tricks for a Successful Garden. April 3.
- Hanging Basket Sale. April 30-May 9.
Kenosha Public Market: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Indoor in The Vault Banquet Hall, 625 57th St., Kenosha. kenoshapublicmarkets.com
- Outdoor market, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays. May 8 (through Oct. 30).
Lynden Sculpture Garden: Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday-Wednesday, (closed Thursday). Experience art in nature through its collection of more than 50 monumental sculptures sited across 40 acres of park, lake and woodland. 2145 W. Brown Deer Road. (414) 446-8794; lyndensculpturegarden.org
- Introduction to Native Plant Landscape Design. March 7.
Melinda Myers Virtual Gardening Seminars: Each class is designed to deepen your horticulture knowledge, enhance your gardening skills, and help you transform your landscape. The seminars are free, but registration is required. melindamyers.com
- Summer-Blooming Bulbs. March 3.
- How to Plan a Vegetable Garden. March 11.
- How to Select Rain Garden Plants. March
Metropolitan Builders Association: Home Building & Remodeling Show, noon to 8 p.m. April 30; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 1; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2. Shop for the latest product innovations, smart home technologies, and design trends in the home building and remodeling industries. Wisconsin State Fair Park, Exposition Center, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis. mbaonline.org
Milaeger’s-Racine: Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Expo Greenhouse, 4838 Douglas Ave., Racine. (262) 639-2040; milaegers.com
- How to Start Your Seeds Indoors. March 6.
- Orchids are for Everyone Event. March 13-14.
- Health and Wellness Expo. March 20-21.
- Frost-Free Plants in a Spring Garden Bowl. March 30, April 3.
Milwaukee Food & City Tours: A local guide leads the virtual tour of historic neighborhoods, unique food stops and breweries. (414) 255-0534; milwaukeefoodtours.com
- Cuba: Where Cigars & Cuisine Meet. March 7.
- City of Festivals: Ethnic Immigrants of Milwaukee. March 13.
- Churches & Chocolates. May 8.
Milwaukee Public Library: Full list of virtual workshops available at mpl.org
Milwaukee Recreation: Full list of adult enrichment courses available online at mkerec.net
- Starting Seedlings Indoors. April 1.
- Fairy Gardens & Folklore. April 24.
- Make Your Own Worm Bin. May 10.
Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory: “All Aboard Games Train Show” in the Show Dome, (through March 21). G-Scale trains make tracks along four routes amid a landscape of board games. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Timed entry reservation required. General admission: $8; $6 for children ages 6 to 17, students and people with disabilities; free for children age 5 and younger. Milwaukee County residents receive $1 off entry, and resident seniors (60+) get $3 off entry. ID Required. 524 S. Layton Blvd. (414) 257-5600; milwaukeedomes.org
- Seasons of Legend: Spring Floral Show. April 3-May 31.
Monarch Trail: Milkweed Plant Sale, May 16. Event is held at Milwaukee County Parks Department headquarters building, 9480 W. Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa. themonarchtrail.org
Muskego Public Library: Home Makeover: Green Edition, via Zoom, 6 p.m. March 31. S73-W16663 Janesville Road, Muskego. (262) 271-2100.
- Well Loved Wisconsin Garden Plants with Melinda Myers. April 27.
NARI Milwaukee: Spring Home Improvement Show, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 21-22; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 23. Wisconsin State Fair Park, Exposition Center, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis. narimilwaukee.org
Nicolet Recreation Department: Register online for Winter/Spring adult enrichment classes and programs. Virtual and in-person sessions are available. nicolet.us/activities/recreation.cfm
Oconomowoc Winter Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays (through March 20). Local farmers bring their produce indoors to Crosspoint Community Church, N6931 N. Lake Road, Oconomowoc. business.oconomowoc.org
Pewaukee River Partnership: Native Plant Sale early ordering ends April 17. Early order and drive-thru pickup only. No plant stand on site. Plants are sold in 2.5-inch pots and are priced at $2.60 per plant; orders of 12 plants or more are $2.40 per plant. Pickup hours are 4 to 6 p.m. May 7, and 9 a.m. to noon May 8, in the Village parking lot, next to Noah’s Pizza, 220 Oakton Ave., Pewaukee. Early order form is available by emailing [email protected] (enter plant sale in subject line of email),
or call Charlie, (262) 443-6737.
Racine Art Museum: Virtual and in-person art classes are available for adults and children. A complete list of classes and workshops, as well as links to class registration, are available at the RAM website. 441 Main St., Racine. (262) 638-8300; ramart.org
Richfield Nature/Historical Park: Maple Syrup Family Day, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 27. Free admission. Visit the park’s historical buildings and see demonstrations of pioneer life activities. Hot dog lunch, beverages and sweets available for purchase. 1896 Highway 164, Richfield. richfieldhistoricalsociety.org/
Roots and Branches: Bonsai: A Growing Hobby, virtual seminar, 7 p.m. March 18. Free. West Bend City Hall, 1115 S. Main St., West Bend. Registration: (262) 335-5083; rootsbranches.org
Schlitz Aubudon Nature Center: From Maple Trees to Maple Sugar adult program, 1 p.m. March 21. $20 member/$30 nonmember. 1111 W. Brown Deer Road. schlitzaudubon.org
Stone Bank Farm Market: Shop seasonal foods, family style meals and small-batch baked goods. Register now for Kids On The Farm spring and summer classes. N68-W33208 County Road K, Stone Bank. (262) 563-8010; stonebankmarket.com
- Kitchen Cafe Pop Up. March 20, April 24.
- Virtual Cooking Workshop: Fresh Pasta Two Ways. March 26.
- Raised Bed Gardening Basics. April 8, April 24.
- Annual Spring Plant Sale. May 5-8.
Sussex Indoor Winter Market: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. March 7 and 21. Sussex Civic Center, N64-W23760 Main St.
Taliesin Preservation: House and estate tours begin May 1, (through Oct. 31). Driftless Landscape tour features history of the surrounding area, and the One-Hour House tour features Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio. Visitor Center, 5607 County Road C, Spring Green. taliesinpreservation.org/
Tower Heritage Center: Campus includes two museums and one historic site that trace the history of Washington County. 320 S. 5th Ave., West Bend. (262) 335-4678; thetowerheritagecenter.org
Urban Ecology Center: Online CSA workshops, 6:30 p.m. March 3. Learn how to get farm fresh foods to your table with a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership. urbanecologycenter.org/CSA
UW-Extension Master Gardener: Virtual gardening symposium “Let’s Get Green and Growing,” 9 a.m. March 20. Free. Presented by Columbia County Master Gardener Association. columbia.extension.wisc.edu/master-gardener/
Victory Garden Initiative: Purchase a 4×8 foot raised garden bed that is filled with Blue Ribbon Organics garden mix soil and delivered/installed at your site. Additional yards of soil or soil only is available for purchase. Prices vary by zone. For more information visit victorygardeninitiative.org
The Village Cheese Shop: Store and cafe, with classes and virtual events. Cheese of the Month and Wine Club subscriptions available. Order cheeses, meats and specialty foods for curbside pickup or home delivery. 1430 Underwood Ave., Wauwatosa. (414) 488-2099; villagecheesetosa.com
- Fondue for Two. March 13 or 27. $40.
- Red Wine, Cheese, and Chocolate. 5 p.m. March 24. $40.
- Spring Cheeses, Spring Wines. 6 p.m. April 21. $35.
Waukesha Farmers Market: Opens May 1, 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, (through Oct. 30). Waukesha State Bank Employee parking lot, St. Paul and Madison, along the the Fox River.
West Allis Farmers Market: Opens May 1, 1 to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, (through Nov. 27). 6501 W. National Ave.
Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts: Exhibition of works by fiber artists demonstrating traditional to contemporary techniques. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. N50-W5050 Portland Road, Cedarburg. (262) 546-0300; wiquiltmuseum.com
- Remnants, (through April 25).
- Wisconsin Quilts: Stories in the Stitches. April 29–Aug. 29.
Wisconsin State Fair Park: Wonderful World of Weddings, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 20-21. $7 advance; $9 at the gate; $10 virtual. Attend in-person or online. Wisconsin Products Bldg., 640 S. 84th St., West Allis. wisconsinweddingshow.com
Please submit your event three weeks before the event or registration deadline to [email protected], with “Attention Home and Garden calendar” in the subject line.