Like a zoo, garden shows provide an opportunity to view wildlife under controlled conditions, without fear of being trampled by kudzu or mauled by a tiger lily. Cultivate safe horticultural curiosity with today's Groupon: for $10, you get two general-admission tickets to the Portland Home & Garden Show to be held at the Portland Expo Center on North Marine Drive (a $20 value). Children 12 and younger get in free. Choose from the following dates:

• Wednesday, February 23 from 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Thursday, February 24 from 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Friday, February 25 from 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

One of Oregon's largest home and garden shows, the Portland Home & Garden Show unites hundreds of vendors and dozens of species of plants in one green-filled location. Chlorophyll cravers can peruse the wares of hundreds of merchants from all over the globe, including many local nurseries. Explore elaborate vegetation collections in the show's 15 showcase gardens, containing a biosphere of garden designs, color trends, creative materials, and plants of interest, perfect for fertilizing decoration seedlings and breaking up garden-gnome monopolies. The Original Plant Sale puts dozens of lawn-longing perennials, grasses, and shrubs into loving homes. Orchid enthusiasts can peruse the Portland Orchid Society's blooming displays, examining various examples of the scintillating species as plant pros provide information on topics to avoid ever discussing with an orchid.