SPECIAL

BACKYARD KALO (TARO) FARMING WORKSHOP, on propagation, growth and preparation, 9-11:30 a.m. Jan. 23, Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook, Big Island; $15, nonmembers; 808-323-3318.

HOME RAIN BARREL CATCHMENT SYSTEM WORKSHOP, taught by environmental engineer Jeremai Cann, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Jan. 24; The Green House, 224 Pakohana St., Pauoa Valley; $15; required registration, 524-8427, www.thegreenhousehawaii.com.

NATURAL GREEN CLEANING WORKSHOP, on simple, natural cleaning recipes, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Jan. 24; The Green House, Pauoa Valley; $15; required registration, 524-8427, www.thegreenhousehawaii.com.

CHARLES REED BISHOP FREE ADMISSION DAY, including Bishop Museum gardens, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 25; 847-3511; www.bishopmuseum.org.

WORM COMPOSTING WORKSHOP; learn vermicomposting (recycling with earthworms); $30 fee includes mini-bin and starter colony of worms; 1 p.m. Jan. 25, Manoa Gardens Elderly Housing Community Center, 2790 Kahaloa Drive; registration: 382-0432, waikikiworm@hawaii.rr.com.

MANOA HERITAGE CENTER DOCENT TRAINING CLASS, beginning March 16; 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 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 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.

NATIONAL GARDEN HELP: Protect rare plants and ecosystems by volunteering at National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kaua'i; help needed in administration, conservation, education, development and more; 808-332-7324, ext. 228, or volunteer@ntbg.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.