SPECIAL

"PICTURING NATURE," a two-hour activity allowing participants to observe nature through a photographic slideshow set to music, or to express individual visions of nature in Makiki Valley's rainforest, through poetry, art or photography, 9-11 a.m. April 25; Hawai'i Nature Center; (for 6 and older); $20/parent /child team; 955-0100.

MAY DAY LEI-MAKING WORKSHOP, 10 a.m.-noon April 25; Foster Botanical Garden; $15, plus garden admission fee; supplies provided (bring own clippers); reservations, 522-7064.

LEI PO'O WORKSHOPS, on using the wili method to make head lei; 10 a.m.-noon, April 25, Foster Botanical Garden; $15, plus garden admission fee; or 1-3 p.m. April 28, Wahiawa Botanical Garden; $15 (no garden admission fee); or 9:30-11 a.m. April 29, Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden; $15 (no garden admission fee); supplies provided; reservations for each, 522-7064.

AMY GREENWELL GARDEN COMMUNITY WORK DAY; 9 a.m.-noon; April 25, Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook, Big Island; (tools, gloves and snacks provided); 808-323-3318.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC CO. "GROW HAWAIIAN FESTIVAL," an eco-conscious family festival in observance of Earth Day, featuring informational booths on local conservation and sustainability; guided museum garden tours, native plants sale, entertainment and keiki events; 9 a.m.-3 p.m., April 25; Bishop Museum Great Lawn; free; 848-4135.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING EDUCATIONAL SERIES, classes on rainwater harvesting, alternative power systems, sustainable gardening and "sustainability applied," 5-7 p.m.; April 30 and May 1, Natural Energy Lab of Hawai'i Authority Gateway Center, Kona, Hawai'i; $10 a class; 808-896-7656.

ORCHID SOCIETY OF MANOA SHOW & PLANT/POTTERY SALE, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. May 2, and 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. May 3, Noelani Elementary School (with free orchid culture lectures, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 2 and 10 a.m. May 3); free; 947-6343.

"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.

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.

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; 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 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.