Datebook: Events, exhibits, classes for the week ahead

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Home and garden events are listed 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.

Sept. 5: Inspired by founder E. Manchester Boddy’s legendary parties, Descanso Gardens hosts Boddy’s Big Backyard, a festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Events include kids activities, crafts, music, picnicking and a walk with native plants horticulturist Rachel Young at 10 a.m. Included in garden admission of $3 to $8. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. (818) 949-4200.

Sept. 7: Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden botanist Frank McDonough continues a monthly series on plant science with “Fall Flowering Plants: How Light and Plants Dance.” 1:30 to 3 p.m. 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Included in regular admission of $3 to $8. (626) 821-3222.

Sept. 7: Bonsai expert Thomas Elias lectures on “Penjing: From Its Roots to the Present Day.” Elias explores the evolution of the art form during the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as the relationship between penjing and bonsai styling in the 20th century. 7:30 p.m. Free. Friends’ Hall, Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (626) 405-2100.

Sept. 7: Charles and Norma Johnson discuss cymbidiums and dendrobians at the meeting of the San Fernando Valley Orchid Society. 7:30 p.m. Free. Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino. (818) 349-8677.

Sept. 8: Photographer David Leaser discusses some of the botanical wonders featured in his book “Tropical Gardens of Hawaii.” The lecture is followed by a photography demonstration and plant sale. 2:30 p.m. Free. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (626) 405-2100.

Sept. 9: Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, which showcases California native plants in naturalistic settings, celebrates the anniversary of statehood with free admission for all guests. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont. (909) 625-8767.

Sept. 9: A four-part series begins covering the basics of converting lawn into a sustainable habitat. Workshops start at 9 a.m. and run on consecutive Fridays through Sept. 30. Free. Tree of Life Nursery, 33201 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. (949) 728-0685.

Sept. 10: Stephen Williams leads a class on how to design and install a rain garden and barrel system, shown above right. Williams also touches on soils, plant selection, irrigation, mulching and maintenance. 10 a.m. to noon. $25 to $28. Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Registration requested: (626) 821-4623.

Sept. 10: Dada scholar Francis Naumann lectures on “Not the Mama of Dada: Beatrice Wood’s Early Career in the Arts in New York” at 4 p.m. That is followed by “Wood and Bourgeois,” a lecture by Jenni Sorkin, at 5 p.m. RSVP by emailing rsvp@smmoa.org with the subject line “Wood and Bourgeois.” The lectures are held in conjunction with the opening of “Beatrice Wood: Career Woman — Drawings, Paintings, Vessels, and Objects,” a survey devoted to the noted ceramist, whose work is shown above left. Ends March 3. Santa Monica Museum of Art, 2525 Michigan Ave., G-1. $3 to $5. (310) 586-6488.

Sept. 10: Horticulturist Mike Brown discusses how to rotate and harvest crops, amend soil, compost. 11 a.m. $10 to $15. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. (818) 949-4200.

Sept. 10: Landscape designer John Lyons leads a class on native plant alternatives to turf. 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. $20 to $30. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. (818) 949-4200.

Sept. 10: In this two-part class, Cecilia Garcia and James Adams, co-authors of “Healing With Medicinal Plants of the West: Cultural and Scientific Basis for Their Use,” discuss medicinal uses of California flora. Noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 10 and 17. Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants, 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley. $70 to $90. (818) 768-1802.

Sept. 10: The fall session of Grow L.A. Victory Garden classes for beginners kicks off at Milagro Allegro Community Garden, 115 S. Ave. 56, Los Angeles. Others will be held throughout Los Angeles County, sponsored by the UC Cooperative Extension of Los Angeles County.10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 10, 11, 24 and 25. $20 per class or $75 for the series. (800) 863-5476.

ONGOING

Craft shows: “Ann Weber: Love and Other Audacities” is an exhibition of cardboard sculptures made with a stapler, box cutter and shellac.”Jennifer Angus: All Creatures Great and Small” is a wallpaper-like installation featuring about 3,500 brightly colored insects pinned to the wall. $5 to $7. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Ends Sept. 11. Craft and Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 937-4230.

Life at the Miramar: Rare photographs, documents and other artifacts depict life at Santa Monica’s landmark home-turned-hotel from the late 1800s to the present. Ends Oct. 18. $3 to $5. Santa Monica History Museum, Santa Monica Public Library campus, 1350 7th St., Santa Monica. (310) 395-2290.

— Lisa Boone

Photo credits, from left: Santa Monica Museum of Art, Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

Please send listings at least three weeks in advance to home@latimes.com or Home section, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012