Datebook: Events, classes, exhibits for the week ahead

We've listed select home and garden events below. Suggest your own via reader comments. Submissions must be fewer than 75 words and must be for one-time events with legitimate value to other readers. No store promotions and no frivolous links, please. L.A. at Home staff will determine which submissions will be made public, but we won't edit the comments.

Thursday: The A+D Museum and Syyn Labs present “Syynterstitial (Part 1),” a night of interactive art and music. $10. 5 to 11 p.m. 6032 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. $10. (323) 932-9393.

Thursday: As part of Descanso Gardens' summer concert series "The Evolution of American Jazz," Robert Kyle performs Brazilian jazz under the trees. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Series runs Thursdays through July. Blankets and picnics (normally not allowed) are encouraged. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. Included in regular garden admission of $3 to $8. (818) 949-2400.

Thursday: David MacLaren, curator of Asian gardens at the Huntington, will discuss the horticultural, aesthetic and philosophical differences between Japanese and Chinese gardens, with a particular focus on plants and pruning techniques. A sale will follow the program. 2:30 p.m. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Free. No reservations required. (626) 405-2100.

Saturday: Tree of Life Nursery offers “Replace Your Lawn” workshops every Saturday in July beginning at 9 a.m. Free. 33201 Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano. (949) 728-0685.

July 8: Master gardener Marta Teegan will discuss and sign her new book "Homegrown," a guide for growing your own vegetables in easy-to-tend plots and spaces. 7 p.m. Vromans, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 449-5320.

ONGOING

Brown Bag Tuesdays: The Gamble House, the Arts and Crafts landmark designed by Charles and Henry Greene, continues a weekly lunch program. Visitors are invited to picnic on the rear lawn or terrace of the 1908 estate between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each Tuesday. Twenty-minute docent-led tours will be given at 12:15 and 12:45 p.m. for $5. 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena; (626) 793-3334. Reservations: (626) 449-4178. Tours continue through Oct. 23.

Butterfly pavilion: An interactive exhibition allows visitors to walk among native Southern California butterflies at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through Aug. 1. Entry fee is $2 on top of regular garden admission of $4 to $8. 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont. (909) 625-8767.

L.A. Box Collective: A newly formed group of 12 Los Angeles-based furniture designers and makers committed to environmentally-conscious design and production show their latest works. Fifth Floor gallery, 502 Chung King Court, Chinatown. Ends Aug. 29. (213) 687-8443.

Rohlfs exhibition: The first major exhibition of furniture and decorative art by the American craftsman Charles Rohlfs (1853-1936) features more than 40 pieces from 10 museums and private collections. Through Sept. 6. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (626) 405-2100.

-- Lisa Boone

Photo: Rosemary Barillas, 17, left, and Ivan Mateo, 17, of West Adams Preparatory High School of Los Angeles look at a chalcedon checkerspot at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden's seasonal butterfly pavilion in Claremont. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[Nell Wade]

4th annual TOMATO EXTRAVAGANZA, an edible festival is organized by the UCCE Master Gardeners in SLO county. Event is held August 21st from 10 - 2 at their Demonstration Garden at 2156 Sierra Way in San Luis Obispo. Tomato tasting, basil tasting, mini seminars, children event, apple tree grafting and much more.