SPECIAL

"SPOOKY FOREST," with tree ghosts, haunted cemetery, cauldron ghouls and "The Green Lady," 4-8 p.m., Oct. 31, Wahiawa Botanical Garden; free; 621-5463.

HIBISCUS HYBRIDIZING, class on hibiscus hybridizing, propagation and care, 1-2 p.m. Nov. 1, Foster Botanical Garden; $5, general; $3 kama'aina; $1 children; 522-7064.

"UH PANTRY: VEGETABLE SEEDS FOR HAWAI'I'S GARDEN," class on seed selection, propagation and growing vegetables from seeds, taught by students at the UH College of Tropical Agriculture, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 1, Lyons Arboretum, 3860 Manoa Road; $15 (includes package of selected seeds; others available for purchase), register: 988-0461; www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum;

HAWAIIAN UTILITY KNIFE-MAKING, class on making the niho oki, traditional Hawaiian utility knife with shark tooth, used to make tapa-stripping and kapa beater carvers, shaving hair, and cutting food, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 1, Lyons Arboretum, 3860 Manoa Road; $20-25 (supply fee; includes one niho oki kit); register: 988-0461; www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum;

BIG ISLAND ARBOR DAY tree giveaway of 500 native plants for home landscaping, including the koki'o ke'oke'o, the rare white hibiscus, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Nov. 1, Amy Greenwell Garden native plant arboretum, Captain Cook, Big Island; free (park admission, $4 donation).

HAWAIIAN HEALING GARDEN FESTIVAL, a multi-cultural medicinal and nutritional celebration of plants; with cultural practitioners and ethnobotanists of Polynesian, Hawaiian, Chinese and Filipino influence; including lectures, tours, workshops, adult and children program, a Healing Arts Fair and cultural entertainment; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Nov. 1, Amy Greenwell Garden native plant arboretum, Captain Cook, Big Island; free (park admission, $4 donation); 808-323-3318. Also: Nov. 2: Workshop and Tour Day, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., with a "healthy tennis" workshop ($25), a community kalo-planting workshop, and an Amazon Jungle medicinal discussion ($15); www.hawaiihealthguide.com.

"GARDEN GREEN HOUR," outdoor green activities for families, organized as a respite from television, computers and daily life, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, through Dec. 10, Wahiawa Botanical Garden; free; 621-5463.

BOTANICAL DRAWING AND PAINTING, self-directed rendering of plants, flowers, seeds and pods, 12:30-2 p.m. Wednesdays, through Dec. 10; Wahiawa Botanical Garden; free; 621-5463. (Bring No. 4 round brush, Bristol paper, watercolor set or pencils; some experience helpful.)

THE CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM GARDEN ART SALE, offering works by regional artists, including garden sculptures and ornaments, bird baths and houses, plant pottery, lanterns, wind chimes, rain chimes, herb gardens, floral cards, garden stakes, flower starter kits, 2009 garden calendars and more, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 31; free gift-shop admission; museum admission applies; 237-5223, www.tcmhi.org.

23rd ANNUAL CITY HOLIDAY WREATH CONTEST entries sought for Honolulu City Lights show Dec. 6-Jan. 4, Honolulu Hale; prizes awarded for entries in three categories: adult (18 and older), youth (17 and younger), and along the theme, "Holiday Heroes"; entries (with required entry form, available at www.honolulu.gov/moca) accepted 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 1, Honolulu Hale, Lane Gallery; 768-6622.

DR. HILLEBRAND TOUR, tour of the trees planted by the first gardener of Foster Botanical Garden, led by Liesel Vander Leeden; 1 p.m., Nov. 8 and Dec. 23; free with park admission: $5 general, $3 kama'aina, $1 ages 6-12; reservations: 522-7066.

ONGOING

FREE GARDEN MULCH, available 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, Halawa Xeriscape Garden, 99-1269 Iwaena St.; self-service, bring containers and shovel; 748-5041, www.boardofwatersupply.com.

GARDEN TOUR, 1-mile (1.5-hour) "easy" guided walk to view the Kane'ohe garden's flowers, plants and trees; 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily (keiki-focused tour, 1 p.m. Sundays); Senator Fong's Plantation and Gardens; $14.50, discounts for kama'aina; 239-6775.

NIAULANI NATURE WALK, guided tour through an old-growth forest; 9:30 a.m. Mondays; Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus, Volcano Village, Big Island; donations accepted; 808-967-8222, www.volcanoartcenter.org.

GUIDED TOURS, view plants of the rainforest; 10 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays; Lyon Arboretum, Manoa Valley; $5; reservations: 988-0461.

LYON ARBORETUM WORK DAY, weeding and garden maintenance with arboretum grounds crew, first Saturday monthly; times/information: 988-0455.

MANOA HERITAGE CENTER, discover an ancient Hawaiian heiau and native Hawaiian plants while learning Manoa Valley's history; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; Manoa Heritage Center; $7 general, $4 seniors and military, students free; visits and tours by reservation only: 988-1287, www.manoaheritagecenter.org.

SELF-DIRECTED DRAWING AND PAINTING, rendering of plants, flowers and seed pods from the garden; 9-10 a.m. Wednesdays; Wahiawa Botanical Garden; reservations: 621-5463.

Send announcements, with contact name and phone number, to: Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; or islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com, with "Home & Garden Cal" in the subject line.