SPECIAL

21st ANNUAL HALAWA XERISCAPE GARDEN/UNTHIRSTY PLANT SALE, hosted by the Board of Water Supply, with workshops, classes, keiki and planting activities; guided tours, free mulch giveaway (with provided containers) and $20,000 Extreme Xeriscape Garden Makeover giveaway; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 1, Halawa Xeriscape Garden; free; roadside parking with provided shuttle; 748-5041, www.boardofwatersupply.com.

'NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY STROLLS IN HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK,' (including along Kilauea caldera rim), camera/binocular/walking tour along easily-navigable paths to capture Hawai'i birds, plants and landscapes, with geographical, biological and ecological background, provided by professional wildlife photographer/biologist/Jack Jeffrey; 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Aug. 7, from Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park; wet/cool weather attire recommended; free with park entrance fee; information: 808-967-8222.

EVENTS

TWILIGHT SUMMER GARDEN CONCERT SERIES (and a chance to roam the gardens), featuring Honolulu Symphony's Manoa Strings; 4:30-7:15 p.m. Aug. 6 (concert, 5:45-6:30 p.m.); Foster Botanical Garden; free; 522-7064.

HAWAIIAN ORCHIDS — PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, 57th annual show, sale and exhibit, with exhibitors and vendors from Hawai'i and the Mainland, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 8, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 9, Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium, Hilo, Big Island; $4; 808-934-0552, www.hiloorchidsociety.org.

"BASIC GARDENING" LECTURE/PLANT DIAGNOSTICS CLINIC, with urban gardener, Isao Kaji, speaking on house/garden plant care (and a chance to have him "doctor" ailing plants); 12:30-1:30 p.m. Aug. 7 and 14, and 9-10 a.m. Aug. 18, Waikiki Community Center; free; information, 923-1802.

DR. HILLEBRAND TOUR of trees planted by the first gardener of Foster Botanical Garden, led by docent Liesel Vander Leeden; 1 p.m. Aug. 8 and Sept. 12; Foster Botanical Garden; requires park admission: $5 general, $3 kama'aina, $1 ages 6-12; reservations: 522-7066.

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.

• Mulch also available from city Department of Environmental Services; 768-3200.

HO'OMALUHIA FAMILY CATCH AND RELEASE FISHING, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, year-long, Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Kane'ohe; recommended: walking shoes, insect repellent, rain protection, barbless hooks and fishing gear; free; reservations, 233-7323.

BOTANICAL DRAWING AND PAINTING, actual rendering of plants, flowers, seeds and pods from the garden; 9:30 a.m.-noon Wednesdays, Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Kane'ohe; recommended: #4 round brush, bristol paper, watercolor set or pencils; free; reservations, 233-7323.

LYON ARBORETUM classes, including workshops on invasive plants, organic gardening, traditional Hawaiian crafts, flower arranging, garden photography, field sketching and nature journaling, and special children's classes, at the arboretum, 3860 Manoa Road; full schedule at www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum; register: 988-0461.

GARDEN TOUR, one-mile (1 1/2-hour) "easy" guided walk; 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily (keiki-focused tour at 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.

MANOA HERITAGE CENTER, discover an old 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.

PLANTS OF PARADISE GARDEN TOUR of the Bishop Museum gardens, 11 a.m. daily (meet at Hawaiian Hall entrance); museum admission required; 847-3511.

GUIDED TOURS, view plants of the rain forest; 10 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays; Lyon Arboretum, Manoa Valley; $5; reservations: 988-0461.

SELF-DIRECTED DRAWING AND PAINTING 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, 10-11:30 a.m., first Sunday monthly, Hawai'i Nature Center; $20/nonmember parent-and-child team; 955-0100.

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.

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. second Saturday of each month; Pearl City Urban Garden Center; free; 453-6050, www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ougc.

FOSTER BOTANICAL GARDEN seeks volunteers to help maintain butterfly garden, including ongoing deadheading, replanting and general maintenance; 373-4200.

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.

WEED AND POT CLUB, Maui Nui Botanical Garden 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.

LYON ARBORETUM WORK DAY, weeding and garden maintenance with arboretum grounds crew, first Saturday monthly; times/information: 988-0455.

NIAULANI FOREST WORKDAY, volunteers needed, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., third Sunday of each month; Volcano Art Center, Niaulani campus, Volcano Village, Big Island; 808-967-8222.

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.

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.