SPECIAL

BACKYARD GARDENING WORKSHOP, including organic gardening (mulching, permaculture, water management), nutrition and choosing appropriate plants, 2-5 p.m. Feb. 21, Waimanalo Village Garden; $20; (long sleeves and pants, covered shoes); directions: 259-5635.

MEDICINAL PLANTS TOUR of Foster Botanical Garden, led by Wayne Wong, 1 p.m. Feb. 21; requires park admission, $3-$5; register, 522-7064.

"KOKO CRATER TOUR," of xerophytic plants (needing little water), led by Nathan Wong, 9-11:30 a.m. Feb. 21 (bring walking shoes, sun protection, water); required reservations; 522-7064.

"INTRODUCTION TO HOME COMPOSTING," one of the "Growing Green" series of UH Outreach College, noncredit workshops on green practices at home and garden; 3-4:30 p.m. Feb. 22, Olomana Gardens, Waimanalo; $20; registration, 956-8400, www.outreach.hawaii.edu/noncredit.

"SPLENDORS OF IKEBANA," annual exhibition of the member works of seven schools, Ikebana International, Honolulu Chapter, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. March 23-27, Honolulu Hale courtyard (demonstrations 10-11 a.m. March 24 and 26); free; information, 768-6622.

HONOHONO ORCHID LECTURE, by orchid horticulturist and Advertiser garden columnist Scot Mitamura; 9:30-11 a.m.; Feb. 25; Wahiawa Botanical Garden; free; reservations: 621-5463.

BIG ISLAND POI-POUNDING HANDS-ON WORKSHOP, part of the Grow Hawaiian Festival, 1-3 p.m. Feb. 27; Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook, Big Island; free; 808-323-3318.

MANOA HERITAGE CENTER DOCENT TRAINING CLASS, beginning March 16; 2859 Manoa Road; for times, reservations: 988-1287.

HONOLULU BOTANICAL GARDEN SYSTEM DOCENT CLASSES, 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, through March 17, Foster Botanical Garden (classes require 25 hours of service); $25 refundable textbook fee; 522-7064.

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.

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/non-member parent-and-child team; 955-0100.