HOME & GARDEN CALENDAR

NATIVE PLANTS: 10 a.m. Friday at the Richland Library Cooper, 5317 N. Trenholm Road. Presentation by the Richland County Master Gardeners. (803) 787-3462

HISTORIC ELMWOOD PARK TOUR OF HOMES + GARDENS: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Elmwood Park (Bryan and Park streets). Thirty-second annual event will feature cooking demonstrations and tastings from Columbia’s premier chefs, artwork and sculpture by visual artists, food trucks and musical performances from bluegrass to bagpipes. Tickets are $15 in advance; $20 on the day of the event. Proceeds will fund further improvement projects in the neighborhood and sponsoring improvement projects in the downtown area. http://www.historicelmwoodpark.org

CREATING A POND GARDEN: 6 p.m. Monday at the Gaston Branch of the Lexington County Library, 214 S. Main St., Gaston. Lexington County Master Gardener John Windham will share his experiences with creating a garden pond – come learn the basics of creating a unique addition to your garden. (803) 791-3208

MIDLANDS SPRING PLANT AND FLOWER FESTIVAL: April 16-19 at the State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Highway, West Columbia. More than 100 vendors will be offering an assortment of plants, flowers, outdoor furniture, lawn and garden decor, specialty items and more. Enjoy lunch from a member of the Palmetto Puddin’ Train Food Truck Association. Free admission and parking, event will be held rain or shine. Hours will be 8 a.m.-6 p.m. April 16-18 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 19. Dress comfortably and bring a wagon if you have one. A limited number of wagons will be available for rent. (803) 331-9504; https://agriculture.sc.gov/divisions/agency-services/state-farmers-markets/plant-and-flower-festivals/

RIVERBANKS COMPOOST SALE: 5-8 p.m. April 17 at the Riverbanks Botanical Garden, 1300 Botanical Parkway, West Columbia Riverbanks comPOOst is all-natural composted zoo poo, effortlessly produced by some of their most famous residents: elephants, giraffes and zebras. $50 per load; go to http://riverbanks.org to order.

RIVERBANKS’ SPRING PLANT SALE: 9 a.m.-noon April 18 at the Botanical Growing Center (enter from Seminole Drive). Plants, flowers and shrubs including more than 60 varieties of plants including a few staff favorites. The Botanical Garden is at 1300 Botanical Parkway, West Columbia. http://riverbanks.org

PALMETTO GARDEN CLUB: Garden Club of America Zone VIII flower show, “Columns, Rivers and Roses,” 2-5 p.m. April 21 at the Hilton Columbia Center, 924 Senate St. Free.

GARDEN LIKE A MASTER PROGRAM: 5:30 p.m. April 23 at the Chapin Branch of the Lexington County Library, 129 N.W. Columbia Ave., Chapin. Lexington County Master Gardeners Mary Jane White and Monica Barnes will share scientifically proven methods from Clemson University to control fire ants in your garden. (803) 345-5479

SPRING AGRICULTURAL TOUR: 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the S.C. Farm Bureau, 724 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce. Daylong event will start with a tour of Satterwhite Dairy Farm in Newberry; followed by a stop at Carolina Pride Pastures, an alpaca farm in Pomaria; a visit to Lever Strawberry Farms (also in Pomaria); and Carter & Holmes Orchids in Newberry. Participant check-in at 7:15 a.m., bus leaves at 7:30. $45, includes lunch, beverages and snacks; tour is limited to 47 people, pre-register by April 21 at (803) 806-3820, ext. 116 or email steve.slice@sc.usda.gov

HISTORIC COLUMBIA GARDENING SYMPOSIUM: “Heirloom Plants in Southern Landscapes,” April 24 and 25. Dr. William C. Welch, horticulturist and author of “Gardening in the South: Yesterday’s Plants for Today’s Gardens,” will give the keynote address from 6-7 p.m. April 24 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 3600 Devine St.; a reception will follow in the private garden of Ron and Hannah Rogers from 7-8:30 p.m. The schedule for April 25 includes hands-on gardening workshops at the Robert Mills Carriage House, 1616 Blanding St.; registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Featured workshops are “Sleuthing in Old Gardens: Hunting Heirloom Daffodils” with Sara VanBeck; “Every Breath You Take: Why Choosing Plants That Don’t Need Pesticides Matters” with Jenks Farmer; and “Home Propagation: Making Your Garden Work for You” with Evan Clements. Registration is $45 for one day, $75 for both days; $40/$65 for Historic Columbia members. Register by calling (803) 252-1770, ext. 23 or at http://historiccolumbia.org

RICHLAND COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS PLANT SALE: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 25 at the Sparkleberry Fair, Clemson Extension Research and Education Center, 900 Clemson Road. Passalong plants grown by Mater Gardeners and local donors and other garden treasures at bargain prices. Visit the new garden at the White Cottage and get answers to your questions about the plants for sale and gardening in the Midlands. Come early for the best selection, bring a wagon. (803) 865-1216, ext. 127; http://richlandmastergardeners.com

USC A.C. MOORE HERBARIUM: The A.C. Moore Herbarium at the University of South Carolina offers free plant identifications. Weeds, houseplants, blooming flowers, trees, shrubs and more. (803) 777-8196; plantman@herbarium.org

SODA CITY MARKET: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday at the 1500 block of Main Street. www.sodacitysc.com

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 1:06 PM with the headline "HOME & GARDEN CALENDAR."