Beverly Hills and Westwood yards open for Garden Conservancy tour

Landscapes designed by Nancy Goslee Power, Sandy Koepke, Schwentker Watts Design, Pamela Volante, and Jim Yoch and Tim Scott are included.

May 8, 2008

SIX PRIVATE gardens in Westwood and Beverly Hills, open to the public during Saturday's Garden Conservancy sponsored tour, offer an opportunity to see the work of local designers. The Open Day tour includes landscapes by Nancy Goslee Power, Sandy Koepke, Schwentker Watts Design, Pamela Volante, and Jim Yoch and Tim Scott. Admission is $5 for each garden, or $25 for six visits, and no reservations are required. The self-guided tours start at Greystone Mansion, where tickets can be purchased starting at 9:30 a.m. on tour day. Tours begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m., rain or shine. Greystone Mansion & Park is at 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills. For more information, visit www.gardenconservancy.org and click on "Open Days."

TODAY

Small landscapes:

A talk by horticulturist and garden writer Lili Singer about gardening in tight spaces and container gardens, where detail and proper scale become crucial. The presentation will include plant suggestions, pruning and care tips, and a potting demonstration. Final segment in the current series Thursday Garden Talks With Lili Singer. 9:30 a.m. to noon. Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. $20. Registration: (626) 821-4623.

Getty Lecture:

Michael DeHart, horticulturist for the J. Paul Getty Trust, lectures on "Behind the Scenes at the Getty's Gardens." The 17-year Getty veteran will explain the design, development and maintenance of these special landscapes. Southern California Horticultural Society, 7:30 p.m. Free. Los Angeles Friendship Auditorium, 3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles. www.socalhort.org or call (818) 567-1496.

Garden talk:

Botanical staff members and volunteers will share "Our Favorite Things" from among the vast selection of plants that will be offered at the Huntington's annual spring plant sale May 18. Many low-maintenance and easy-care plants will be featured at this year's sale because they fit the fast-paced lifestyle of today's busy gardeners. 2:30 p.m. Free. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, Friends' Hall.

SATURDAY

Energy fair:

The third annual South Bay Energy Fair is co-sponsored by the South Coast Interfaith Council, the Sierra Club, Palos Verdes/South Bay Chapter and the Social Justice Committee of Pacific Unitarian Church. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific Unitarian Church, 5621 Montemalaga Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes. Admission: suggested $5 donation (no one turned away). For information, www.southbayenergyfair.com.

Organic gardening class:

Christy Wilhelmi of Gardenerd.com leads "Basics 2 -- Small Space and Container Gardening," which explores bio-intensive and other methods for making the most of your small space. Learn tricks and tips for beautiful container gardens. Discover your options for water-saving irrigation in small spaces. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. $40. www.gardenerd.com.

Rose garden tour:

The Rose Society of Saddleback Mountain tour presents five gardens in Nellie Gail Ranch of Laguna Hills and the Hunt Club of San Juan Capistrano. A rare opportunity to view gated estates not usually open to the public. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets, $25. A portion of the proceeds will go to the horticulture scholarship at Saddleback Community College. For information, call (949) 643-8487 or visit www.rssm.org

CONTINUING

Pasadena show house:

The Pasadena Showcase House of Design. Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.; Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. through May 18. $30 to $40. Shuttle service is available from the Rose Bowl. www.pasadenashowcase.org or call (626) 578-8500.

House of Design

: The 2008 Philharmonic House of Design features 23 spaces created by 27 designers from the Orange County chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. The house is open to the public through May 18. $35. An individual house pass allowing unlimited entries, $45. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, with extended hours Thursdays until 9 p.m. (714) 840-7542; www.asidocc.org.

Neutra tours

:

Richard and Dion Neutra's VDL Research House II, managed by Cal Poly Pomona's College of Environmental Design, will be open to the public 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. 2300 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles. $10. www.neutra-vdl.org.

-- Lisa Boone

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