If you’ll be wandering in Chicago’s northern suburbs in mid-April, Road Trips Gardeners, consider a stop at the Antiques & Garden Fair April 15 through 17, 2011, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, Illinois.

The Antiques & Garden Fair, the garden’s signature spring event, offers classical and contemporary garden furnishings, antiques and collectible art from more than 100 exhibitors from the United States and Europe. The Fair is staged in the Regenstein Center and in tented pavilions on the Esplanade, Rose Garden and Runnells and Searle Courtyards.

The theme this year is Landscapes Transformed: Gardens of a New Era. Garden “wows” will be donated and installed by premier landscape designers, including Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, Inc., William Heffernan Landscapes, Mariani Landscape, Schmechtig Landscape Company and Maria Smithburg with Manfredini Landscaping and Design.

Additionally, flower-arranging experts will stage complimentary demonstrations at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on April 16 and 17.

This year’s featured speaker is Peter Wirtz, renowned Belgian landscape architect and principal in Wirtz International. He will discuss contemporary gardens in his lecture, “Formal and Informal in Contemporary Gardens,” at 10:30 a.m. April 15 in the Alsdorf Auditorium.

Fair hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all three days. Advance tickets are available beginning March 1 online or in person at the Visitor Center Information Desk. Fair tickets are $15 at the door and $12 in advance. Accompanied by an adult, children under the age of 16 are free. On site parking is $20 per car, but the Chicago Botanic Garden Trolley will operate between the Garden and the Glencoe Metra station during fair hours. Roundtrip tickets are $2.

If you’re really, really interested, consider attending the preview evening from 6 to 10 p.m. April 14, 2011. It offers guests the opportunity to enjoy priority shopping, preview the garden exhibits and enjoy buffets and refreshments. Tickets start at $200 per person.

Proceeds from the Fair benefit the Chicago Botanic Garden’s conservation, education and research programs.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 24 distinct display gardens and four natural areas. Opened to the public in 1972, it is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA).

(Photo courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden)