Garden calendar

Meet the growers: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Gardeners will have the chance to pick the brains of two garden experts at Lowe's on James Island. The store is hosting a "Meet the Grower" workshop with Costa Farms to answer gardening questions and demonstrate techniques. The store is at 770 Daniel Ellis Drive.

Bamboo Talk: Charleston Horticultural Society meeting, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Charleston Museum auditorium, 360 Meeting St. Topic: "Bamboo: Designs on the Future," with Robert Tornello, founder and president of Tornello Nurseries. Free for CHS Members, $10 for nonmembers. Details: 579-9922.

Japanese flower arrangement: Charleston Horticultural Society program, "Ikebana: An Introduction to Japanese Flower Arrangement" by Robert Earnest, 10-11 a.m. Friday at CHS headquarters, 46 Windermere Blvd.

Overview and demonstration of three basic arrangements. Participants may bring a low bowl, a tall narrow vase or a Japanese flower basket to learn how they can be used. Advance registration required; call 579-9922. CHS members $15, others $30.

Hampton Park Plant Swap: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Hampton Park Cafe, 30 Mary Murray Blvd. Bring a plant to take a plant. Sponsored by the City of Charleston Garden Club. Details: 958-6434 or bremerj@ci.charleston.sc.us.

Gardens of I'On: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, the I'On neighborhood, Mount Pleasant. Ten private gardens open for tours; six demonstrations (topics include container gardening, attracting birds and butterflies, water gardens, integrating herbs and vegetables into an ornamental garden, "wine gardening" and Southern architecture and the gardens of the Deep South. Cost: $15 in advance, $20 on the day of the tour. Advance tickets available at I'On Realty, Sweet Olive, Abide-A-While, Charleston Visitor Center, and Hyams Garden and Accent Store. Ticket includes reception after tour. Map will be provided at admission. Details: 881-7541 or www.theiontrust.org.

Landscaping with Trees and Shrubs: 6-9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, May 19-21, Trident Technical College, North Charleston. Cost: $70. Registration: 574-6152 or www.tridenttech.edu (click on the Registration link). More information: 574-6022 or www.tridenttech.edu/ce.htm.

Native Plant Society Lecture: 6:30 p.m. May 20, Biology Auditorium, 101 Duckett Hall, The Citadel. Free. Topic: "Threats to Biodiversity: Coastal Plain Carolina Bays and Piedmont Forest Reservoir Islands." Native plant giveaway as well. Reception following lecture. Details: cdegarady@tnc.org or 937-8807, ext. 15.

Native Plant Society Field Trip: May 24, Peach Tree Rock Heritage Preserve. Travel to the preserve near Columbia for a look at sandhill rosemary, sand myrtle, galax and the rare Raynor's blueberry among the xeric longleaf and swamp tupelo-evergreen shrub bog communities. Meet in the Wal-Mart parking lot behind the Hardee's in Summerville, at the U.S. 17A exit, at 8:15 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. departure. Wear field clothes and boots. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Will return before 4 p.m. Details: cdegarady@tnc.org or 937-8807, ext. 15.

Advanced Landscape Design: 6-9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, June 2-9, Trident Technical College, North Charleston. Designing hardscapes, as well as costing out materials and labor. Cost: $85. Registration: 574-6152 or www.tridenttech.edu (click on the Registration link). More information: 574-6022 or www.tridenttech.edu/ce.htm.

Ponds & water gardens: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 7, The Charleston Showa Koi Club will host the fifth annual Koi Pond and Water Garden Tour, followed by a finale and cookout at 5 p.m. The tour, featuring 40 ponds and water gardens, is self-guided but pond owners will be at each site.

A portion of the proceeds benefits the Charleston Animal Society. Bring a donation of food, towels, toys or treats and receive a free raffle ticket for a special prize. To see the list of items the society needs, visit www.charlestonanimalsociety.org/spca_wish_list.htm.

Tickets are $10; children 12 and under free (must be accompanied by an adult). Limited tickets available. Contact Robert Lewis at 830-7677 or Beth Lisenby at 556-1541 or e-mail www.charlestonshowakoiclub.org

Tree care class: 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, June 16-25, Trident Technical College, North Charleston. "Got Trees? The Care and Nurturing of Trees" covers tree anatomy and physiology, climate and environmental factors for successful growth and nutrition. Cost: $110. Registration: 574-6152 or www.tridenttech.edu (click on the Registration link). More information: 574-6022 or www.tridenttech.edu/ce.htm.

Bird Walk: 10 a.m.-noon the second Friday of each month, Folly Beach County Park. Audubon South Carolina and the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission will lead the beach walk. Participants will see many of South Carolina's shorebird species. Audubon S.C. Director of Bird Conservation Jeff Mollenhauer and PRC Interpretive Naturalist Keith McCullough will lead the walk. Cost: $7 to enter the county park. Free. Registration (required): www.ccprc.com or 795-4386; reference course No. 18605.

Notices must include event/organization, topic, time, address, cost and contact. Include name and daytime phone number. E-mail homes@postandcourier.com or post to Ann Mitchell, The Post and Courier, 134 Columbus St., Charleston, SC 2940