Events

LEHS TOUR: The Lake Elsinore Historical Society hosts its seventh holiday home tour from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, with three historical and three elegant locations in and around the city of Lake Elsinore. Refreshments served at Main Street Museum, 106 S. Main St. Tickets are $20 and available at the museum; at Mrs. 144 (the former Crescent Bath House), 201 W. Graham Ave.; and at Remember When, 169 N. Main St. Call (951) 678-1537 or (951) 217-7637.

BEACHFRONT TOUR: Four beachfront homes will be on display in full winter holiday decor from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday to benefit the Friends of the Oceanside Public Library. Tickets $20 in advance or $30 the day of the tour. One house is a beachfront getaway originally owned by legendary film stars Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. Tickets may be purchased at the Civic Center Library, 330 N. Coast Highway, the Mission Branch Library at 3861 Mission Ave. in Oceanside, or from any Friends of the Oceanside Public Library Board member. Call (760) 435-5560.

VCC CLINIC: The Vista Community Clinic hosts its 20th annual Holiday Home Tour with four homes plus a stop at the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. It's from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday and tickets are $20 in advance or $30 day of tour. The tour benefits the Kare for Kids Fund, which covers the cost of essential medical care for children, regardless of ability to pay. Maps will be provided and docents will be stationed in each home to answer questions. To buy tickets, call (760) 631-5000, Ext. 1139. Cost is $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event, when tickets will be available at the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe.

VINTAGE WONDERLAND: Santa Claus is coming to town and to Architectural Relics in Escondido from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 16 as part of the "Grand Holiday Downtown" events sponsored by the Escondido Downtown Business Association. The store, at 158 E. Grand Ave., is decorated for the holidays, and is hosting free "Decor Challenge" consulting sessions. Call (760) 746-5969 or visit www.architecturalrelics.com. The schedule:

6-8 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 16: Serving hot mulled cider and roasted chestnuts

6-8 p.m. Dec. 16: Santa Claus Comes to Architectural Relics

ORCHID SALE: The San Diego County Cymbidium Society hosts "Meet the Breeders!" an orchid educational event and plant sale, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Woman's Club, 3320 Monroe St., Carlsbad. Terry Root (The Orchid Zone, Castroville), Frank Smith (Krull-Smith Orchids, Apopka, Fla.); Fred Clarke (Sunset Valley Orchids, Vista); and Loren Batchman (Casa de las Orquideas, Solana Beach) will each give a 45-minute Power Point talk on his own plants and breeding program. Specimen plants, plants in flower, NBS, seedlings, and flasks will be available for sale. Cost is $7. E-mail to sdcymsoc@yahoo.com or reserve to Bruce Kidd at (951) 600-1393.

Meetings

MiraCosta Horticulture Club: Meets at noon Saturday at the MiraCosta College student Center, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, for annual Christmas lunch and Chinese auction of gifts. All are invited to join club members for a potluck lunch and garden gift exchange. Exhibition of spectacular new poinsettia hybrids that will be raffled. Special offering of items for holiday gift giving. Short business meeting on the coming year. Call (760) 729-8172 or (760) 721-3281, or visit www.gardencentral.org/californiagc/miracosta/.

Ramona Garden Club: Meets at noon Wednesday at the home of Sherry Wilson, 17156 Woodson View Lane, Ramona. Bring your favorite dish and a nonperishable food for a donation to a local charitable organization. Call (760) 787-1563 or (760) 789-8880 or visit RamonaGardenClub.com for directions.

Carlsbad African Violet Society: Meets 10:30 a.m. Dec. 18 at the Vista Public Library, 700 Eucalyptus St., for

Christmas party and potluck luncheon. Auction, prizes, violet bingo and Mystery Plant Show. Call (760) 433-4641.

San Diego Horticultural Society: Meets at 6 p.m. Jan. 8 in the Surfside Race Place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar. Dr. David Kellum will discuss "Bugs: the Good, the Bad and the Invasives." Come learn about the bad guys and how they get here, then meet some good guys: the beneficials who help police the world of insects. Plant Forum, opportunity drawing. Call (760) 295-7089 or visit www.sdhortsoc.org.

Classes

At Walter Andersen nurseries: These free classes are offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at the Poway location, 12755 Danielson Court. Call (858) 513-4900 or visit www.walterandersen.com.

Saturday: Pruning roses (first class)

Dec. 16: Caring for poinsettias, living Christmas trees and cut trees

Dec. 30: Fruit tree pruning

Jan. 6: Rose pruning and bare root roses

Jan. 13: Fruit tree pruning

Jan. 20: Rose pruning

Jan. 27: Fruit tree pruning

At Home Depot: These free how-to clinics are offered in December. Register at your local store. Call your local store for details or visit www.homedepotclinics.com:

9 a.m.-noon Saturday: Kids' Workshop -- Treasure Box

7 p.m. Thursdays: Window Coverings

10 a.m. Saturdays: Creating an Inviting Foyer for the Holidays

1 p.m. Sundays (except Dec. 24 and 31): Make Your Own Picture Frames and Chair Rails

At Lowe's: These free how-to clinics are offered in December. Register at your local store or online at Lowes.com/Clinics. Contact your local store for details:

10 a.m. Saturday: Build & Grow: Castle

Noon Saturdays: How to Install Laminate Flooring

1 p.m. Saturdays: How to Select Tools for Projects and Gifts

Send Home & Garden items to Features Editor Laura Groch, North County Times, 207 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Escondido, CA 92025, fax to (760) 745-3769, or e-mail to features@nctimes.com.