SPECIAL

BETTY CROCKER LANDSCAPE AWARD NOMINATIONS sought, honoring the best in local garden and landscape projects and their creators — in four categories: private homeowners, professional landscapers, volunteers for public or private projects and xeriscape gardens. Nominations deadline: May 22, with project's name, address and phone, principal project architect and nominator's name/contact: Scenic Hawaii, P.O. Box 10501, Honolulu, HI 96816, Bettycrockerawards@gmail.com; 263-5627.

SOIL AND COMPOST WORKSHOP, on starting/maintaining a compost system, and making compost tea using vermicompost (worms) or traditional methods, 9:30-11:30 a.m. April 4; Lyon Arboretum, Manoa; $15; reservations: 988-0461.

MAY DAY LEI-MAKING WORKSHOP SERIES by lei master Brian Choy, 9:30-11:30 a.m., April 4, 18 and 25 (wili method; haku with ti, and maintaining a lei garden, respectively); Lyon Arboretum, 3860 Manoa Road; series of three, $45 (materials list provided; no floral components provided); register: 988-0461; www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum.

WIND WIND ORCHIDS orchid and flower arrangements display and sale; 10 a.m.-3 p.m., April 4; Windward Mall, Upper Level.

HOME RAIN BARREL CATCHMENT SYSTEM WORKSHOP, taught by environmental engineer Jeremai Cann, 1:30-3 p.m. April 4; The Green House, 224 Pakohana St., Pauoa Valley; $15; required registration, 524-8427, www.thegreenhousehawaii.com.

DECORATE AN EGG, THE XERISCAPE WAY," workshop hosted by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply for keiki ages 2-12 and parents with Easter egg hunt to follow; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. April 4; Halawa Xeriscape Garden; $5 per family; register by April 2: 748-5319.

"INTRODUCTION TO PORTABLE ORGANIC GARDENING," workshop on apartment/condo pallet organic gardening for growing vegetables and herbs; one of a series of UH Outreach College, noncredit workshops for home and garden; 3-4:30 p.m. April 5, Olomana Gardens, Waimanalo; $20; registration/directions, 956-8400, www.outreach.hawaii.edu/noncredit.

"HO'OMALUHIA SPRING PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES; 10:30 a.m. April 21 (spiders) and May 19 (bees); with story and song time, crafts and short hike. Recommended items to bring: picnic lunch, rain, mud and mosquito precautions, and covered shoes; free; 233-7323.

ONGOING

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

"WHAT'S BLOOMING/WHAT'S BEARING FRUIT WITH DAVID ORR," walking tour of Waimea Valley with botanical collections specialist, David Orr, 2-3 p.m., first and third Sundays beginning April 19; recommended: snack, insect repellent, sunscreen, hat, water and sturdy shoes; free with paid park admission; reservations, 638-7766.

LYON ARBORETUM classes for adults and children, 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 seeks volunteers to help maintain new butterfly garden, including ongoing deadheading, replanting and general maintenance; 373-4200.

GARDEN TOUR, one-mile (1 1/2-hour) "easy" guided walk; 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; 808-967-8222, www.volcanoartcenter.org.

Niaulani Forest WorkDay, volunteers needed to preserve the rainforest; 9 a.m.-12 p.m., third Sunday of each month; Volcano Art Center, Niaulani campus, Volcano Village, Big Island; 808-967-8222.

"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.

TUESDAYS AT KANAHA, weekly beach cleanup and plant maintenance, coordinated by Community Pride at Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, 8-10 a.m. Tuesdays, at the park; Valerie Vines Magee, 808-264-1454.

MAKIKI FOREST RESTORATION PROJECT, volunteers needed as part of Makiki Watershed Awareness Initiative forest restoration project. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., fourth Saturday of each month; 973-9782.

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 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.

WEED AND POT CLUB, Maui Nui Botanical Garden's Weed & Pot Club meets 8:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, 150 Kanaloa Ave., Kahului, Maui, to do beautification and maintenance work; tools, gloves, drinking water provided; wear shoes; 808-249-2798.

NATIONAL GARDEN HELP, volunteers needed to protect rare plants and ecosystems at National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kaua'i; 808-332-7324, ext. 228, or volunteer@ntbg.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.

"NATURE SEEDLINGS PARENT/CHILD PROGRAM," a mini-forest nature trail exploration for ages 3-5, followed by storytime and arts and crafts program, 10-11:30 a.m., first Sunday monthly, Hawai'i Nature Center; $20/nonmember parent-and-child team; 955-0100.

Send announcements, at least 10 days before event, with contact name and phone number, to: Island Life, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; or islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com, with "Home & Garden Cal" in the subject line.