SPECIAL

SECOND SATURDAY AT THE GARDEN, one of a series of monthly programs, this one featuring the garden's newly renovated organic culinary herb garden, and the talents of chef Dale Thomas, Kapi'olani Community College instructor and Hale Koa Hotel chef; includes tastings, guided tours, question-and-answer opportunities, free recipes and UH seed sale and mini-plant sale; 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Jan. 10; Pearl City Urban Garden Center; free; 453-6050, www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ougc.

MANOA HERITAGE CENTER DOCENT TRAINING CLASS, beginning March 16; Manoa Heritage Center botanical garden and cultural site, 2859 Manoa Road; for times, reservations: 988-1287.

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.

LYON ARBORETUM offers a schedule of classes for adults and children interested in things botanical, including workshops on invasive plants, organic gardening, traditional Hawaiian crafts, flower arranging, garden photography, field sketching and nature journaling, oshiban, and special children's classes, at the arboretum, 3860 Manoa Road; full schedule at www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum; register: 988-0461.

FOSTER BOTANICAL GARDEN is seeking volunteers to help maintain the new butterfly garden, including ongoing deadheading, replanting and general maintenance; 373-4200.

GARDEN TOUR, one-mile (1 1/2-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.

"PLANTS OF PARADISE GARDEN TOUR," a tour of the museum gardens, 11:30 a.m. daily; Bishop Museum (meeting at Hawaiian Hall entrance); required museum admission; 847-3511.

GUIDED TOURS, view plants of the rain forest; 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.

SECOND SATURDAY AT THE GARDEN, stroll and learn about home gardening from certified Hawai'i master gardeners and Urban Garden Center volunteers; 9 a.m.-12 p.m. every second Saturday of the month; Pearl City Urban Garden Center; free; 453-6050, www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ougc.

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, at least 10 days in advance of the event, 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.