Master composters from the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation teach free workshops at these locations. Register at www.solanacenter.org or call (760) 436-7986, Ext. 216.

10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad

1-2:30 p.m. Thursday: Dove library, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad

1-2:30 p.m. April 28: The Flower Fields, Palomar Airport Road at Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad

10-11:30 a.m. May 2: The Flower Fields, Paseo del Norte, just north of Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad

6-8 p.m. May 23: Solana Center, 137 N. El Camino Real (on Via Molena, just east of El Camino Real, at top of hill past recycling bins), Encinitas.

Events

GARDEN FESTIVAL: The third annual Encinitas Garden Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Olivenhain, featuring walking tours of more than 25 private gardens, a marketplace with more than 30 vendors, and opportunities to learn about birds and other garden wildlife. Reserve ticket by calling Allyson at the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, (760) 753-6041. Tickets will also be available at nurseries and other retail outlets. Cost is $20 for adults in advance, $25 day of the event and $5 for children (up to age 10) in advance, $7 day of the event. Visit www.encinitasgardenfestival.org.

HIDDEN TREASURES TOUR: "Hidden Treasures in the Valley of the Elves" is the theme for this year's Elfin Forest Garden Festival, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Cost is $20. Tour award-winning gardens, some never before open to the public; shop from specialty vendors, meet Steve Brigham, author of "Ornamental Trees for Mediterranean Climates," who will sign his books, and visit the community's acclaimed fire-safe garden. Contact (760) 471-7224; visit www.elfinforestgardens.info.

RAMONA TOUR: The San Vicente Valley Club Home and Garden Tour is part of several events Saturday starting at the San Vicente Inn, Ramona. Cost is $10. Tickets are available at the Inn, Ramona Chamber of Commerce or through the club. Four homes in the area will be viewed. Also, drawings for baskets containing golf packages, time shares, fine art/crafts, jewelry, tools, bicycle and gear, bottles of cheer and goodies, theme park tickets, etc. An arts and crafts, antiques and collectibles, and bake sale will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the San Vicente Inn. No-host luncheon and fashion show from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; wine tasting from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Inn. Reserve for luncheon. Call (760) 788-4840 or (760) 440-0047.

FLOWER SHOW: "Travel to Adventure" is the theme for the Dos Valles Garden Club's 27th annual standard flower show and spring plant sale. Each display section will be named after a region of the world, such as Tuscany or Amazon Rain Forest. The free show will be from 1:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 31020 Cole Grade Road, Valley Center. Refreshments, opportunity drawing. Also, a plant sale featuring tomato plants, proceeds of which will go to the Dos Valles Garden Club scholarship fund. Contact (760) 742-0481 or (760) 742-4645, or visit www.dosvallesgardenclub.org.

CARLSBAD TOUR: "The Art of the Garden: Carlsbad's Garden Treasures" is the theme for this garden tour from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, starting at Buena Vista Elementary School, 1330 Buena Vista Way, Carlsbad. Cost is $30 in advance (deadline Monday) or $35 at door. Leave your name and number at (760) 434-6216. Pick up advance-ordered tickets or buy (cash and checks only) at Garden Tour Headquarters from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. day of tour. Proceeds benefit the Carlsbad ArtsPartnership. Gardens include the California native garden and vineyard of Peder and Julie Norby and the English-inspired garden of designer Ingrid Rose, the city of Carlsbad's Sculpture Garden, the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center's California native garden, and the award-winning Buena Vista Elementary School Garden. Flat shoes required. Rain or shine. No refunds. Call (760) 434-6216.

PET GARDEN: The Escondido Humane Society offers "Gardening With Your Pet in Mind" from 1-4 p.m. April 28 at the society offices, 3450 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido. Come learn about pet-friendly landscaping from a master gardener. Remedies for "chewers" and "diggers" and "negotiating with the yard terrorist" will be covered as well as safe plant choices and ways to naturally discourage animal intruders in your yard. Cost is $25. Call (760) 888-2240.

OPEN DAYS PROGRAM: The Garden Conservancy Open Days Program returns to San Diego County to share six private gardens with the public from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 28 in Poway. The tour starts at 16291 Martincoit Road, Poway. Admission to each garden is $5, rain or shine. Call (888) 842-2442 or visit www.opendaysprogram.org.

GARDEN TOUR: The Assistance League of Inland North County hosts a garden tour from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 28 in Escondido and Valley Center. Notable features include an 8,000-square-foot garden that has sculptures of Earth Angels by Thomas Baugh of Sutter Creek; a three-acre garden with several different areas; and a garden with a lake-size koi pond. Also, demonstrations of container gardening; homemade jams, jellies and pickles; bird houses, gift tags, potted succulents and more. Cost is $25; proceeds benefit the chapter's community service projects. Buy tickets at Assistance League Bargain Box Thrift and Consignment Shop, 2068 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido, or at any participating garden the day of the event. Call (760) 741-9229.

REMODEL TOUR: The American Society of Interior Designers hosts the ASID 2007 Remodel Tour of five homes on April 28. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The self-guided tour covers homes in Del Cerro, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Poway and Solana Beach. Design teams will be at each home and available to answer questions. Buy tickets at the ASID office through April 27. Call (858) 274-3345. Day-of-event tickets are $25 and available at all tour sites. Address of tour homes will be posted on the Web site the week before the tour. Information at www.ASIDSanDiego.org and on the ASID information line: (858) 646-9896.

ARTISTS' TOUR: The Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild hosts its Artists Home Studio and Garden Tour from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 28 with a minimum of four private artist studios in the Rancho Santa Fe area. The Rancho Santa Fe Gallery will also be open, with the exhibit "For the Love of Art" on display. Cost is $25. Proceeds support arts outreach and San Pasqual Academy and ARTS (A Reason To Survive), both nonprofit organizations that serve young people in need with arts and educational programs. The tour will begin at the Gallery, where maps will be provided. Light refreshments; raffles. Car-pooling recommended. Visit www.ranchosantafeartguild.org.www.ranchosantafeartguild.org. For tickets, call (858) 759-3545.

LANDSCAPE CONTEST: Ten area water and conservation agencies sponsor the fourth annual California-Friendly Landscape Contest with more than $3,500 in prizes awarded this May. Judges will be scouting for the best professionally designed and do-it-yourself landscapes. Winners will be announced at the Spring Garden Festival on May 19 at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College. For more about the contest and entry forms, call your local water agency: for Olivenhain, (760) 632-4641; San Dieguito, (760) 633-2676; Santa Fe Irrigation, (858) 756-2237, Ext. 29; Vallecitos, (760) 744-0460; Vista Irrigation, (760) 597-3160: city of San Diego, (619) 533-4202) or visit www.landscapecontest.com.

FARM CLASSES: Tierra Miguel Farm invites the public to attend a series of classes from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost is $60 each. The farm is at 14910 Pauma Valley Drive, Pauma Valley; call (760) 742-4213 or visit www.tierramiguelfarm.org. The schedule:

April 28: Creating Soil

May 26: The Biochemistry and Microbiology of Composting

June 30: Plants and the Cosmos; also, Field to Fork: new ways to cook vegetables. The course concludes with a meal created by all.

Meetings

Carlsbad African Violet Society: Meets 10 a.m. Monday at the Vista Public Library, 700 Eucalyptus St., Carlsbad. Election slate presented; show and tell. Culture Class: Show Pre-Entries / Classification. Program: "Proper Grooming of Plants," by Hans Inpijn. Bring in a plant and tools. Auction. Bring lunch; hot beverages and desserts furnished. Business meeting at 12:30 p.m. Call (760) 433-4641.

Ramona Garden Club: Meets at noon May 9 at the Ramona Women's Club, 524 Main St., Ramona. Herb enthusiast Karen England of Edgehill Farms in Vista is guest speaker. Refreshments, door prize, plant swapping, opportunity drawing. Call (760) 789-8880 or visit RamonaGardenClub.com.

San Diego Horticultural Society: Meets 6 p.m. May 14 at the Surfside Race Place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar. Horticulturist Gisele Schoniger will discuss "Healthy Soils Equals Healthy Gardens." Plant Forum, opportunity drawing. Admission and parking are free. 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 12755 Danielson Court. Poway. Call (858) 513-4900 or visit www.walterandersen.com:

Saturday: Two-part Fairy Furniture class, one adult/one child, $20 materials fee per person, includes both classes. Make item during first class, paint at second class on May 5.

April 28: Staghorn ferns remounting and care

May 5: Fairy Furniture, second of two classes. Painting the furniture

May 12: Building ponds and waterfalls with Aquascape Designs. Experts will build an actual waterscape at the nursery. Class will last longer than one hour.

May 19: Summer flowers

May 26: Herbs in the garden with Carol Fuller

At Home Depot:

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

10 a.m. Saturdays: Learn Ways to Be More Green: Organic Gardening and Composting

11 a.m. Saturdays: Tiling Floors and Walls

7 p.m. Thursday: Stacked Stone Accents: Raised Beds, Retaining Walls and More

7 p.m. April 27: Enhance Your Outdoor Room With Lighting and Furnishings

10 a.m. April 28: Simple Ways to Manage Your Lawn

At Lowe's:

These free how-to clinics are offered Saturdays in April. Register at your local store or online at Lowes.com/Clinics. Contact your local store for details:

10 a.m. April 28: Build and Grow: Squirrel and Bird Feeder

11 a.m.: How to Paint and Update the Exterior of Your Home

Noon: How to Build Retaining Walls and Decorative Walkways

1 p.m.: How to Install Hardwood Flooring

- 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.