Datebook

MAY 2

Garden show:

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden’s annual L.A. Garden Show will focus on edible gardening. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 2 and 3. 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. (626) 821-3243; www.arboretum.org.

Bauer sale:

Bauer Pottery hosts its monthly sale of seconds on dinnerware, garden orbs, pitchers and other designs marked down as much as 60%. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2 and 3. Bauer Showroom, 3051 Rosslyn St., Atwater Village. (818) 500-0666; www.bauerpottery.com.

Heath Ceramics:

Heath’s open studio and sale will feature tile glazing, a talk with potter Adam Silverman, a slip-casting demonstration with owners Catherine Bailey and Robin Petravic, a raffle, barbecue and store discounts of up to 20%. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2 and 3. Free. 7525 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 965-0800; www.heathceramics.com.

Venice tour:

Venice Garden and Home Tour. Nearly 30 stops. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starts at 804 Broadway Ave., Venice. $70. www.venicegardentour.org.

Modernism:

More than 90 exhibitors specializing in 20th century art and furniture converge for the annual Los Angeles Modernism show and sale. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 2, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 3. $15. Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Pico Avenue and Main Street. www.lamodernism.com.

Garden tour:

The Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour, “Real Gardens by Real People,” features more than 30 gardens from Long Beach to San Clemente. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2 and 3. Donation. (714) 566-4800, www.heardsgardentour.com.

Gift show:

Unique Los Angeles will feature works by more than 200 local designers and artists including housewares, clothing and accessories, stationery, jewelry, toys and books. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 2, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 3. California Market Center, 110 E. 9th St., Los Angeles. www.uniquelosangeles.com

Architecture symposium:

A panel of academics and professionals consider extreme conditions, new technologies and diverse lifestyles in Tokyo in the symposium “A/cute Tokyo.” 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Billy Wilder Theatre at the Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. Free. (310) 267-4704, www.aud.ucla.edu.

MAY 3

AIA tour:

The American Institute of Architects Los Angeles chapter’s spring tour will include homes by Michael Lee Architects, John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects, Jennifer Wen Architecture and Jennifer Siegal. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Will-call located at 1517 Ashland Ave., Santa Monica. $75. www.aialosangeles.org.

Glendale gardens:

Walking tour of Glendale gardens includes six private properties around the Verdugo Adobe. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tour begins at the Verdugo Adobe, 2211 Bonita Drive, Glendale. $25 in advance and $30 at the door. (818) 409-8100; www.glendaleadventist.com/garden.

Forest walk

Wen Wang leads a walk through a forest of live oaks and other conifers located on the grounds of Descanso Gardens. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. Free with regular admission of $3 to $8. (818) 949-4200; www.descansogardens.org.

MAY 5

Chinese Garden lecture:

Yang Ye, professor of comparative literature at UC Riverside, will give a slide lecture examining the aesthetic role of plants in gardens, such as the 450-year-old Yu Yuan (Garden to Please) in the heart of Shanghai. Free. No reservations required. Friends’ Hall. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (626) 405-2100, www.huntington.org.

MAY 6

Chinese flower arranging:

Rosa Zee of the Chinese Floral Foundation leads this three-day class on the classical art of Chinese flower arranging. 9 a.m. to noon. May 6 to 8. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. $85 to $95. Registration: (626) 405-2128, www.huntington.org.

MAY 7

Arboretum series

:

Steve Sandalis, owner of Mystic Water Gardens, discusses “Creating Eco-Friendly Water Gardens” as part of the “Thursday Garden Talks With Lili Singer” series. 9:30 a.m. to noon. Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. $20. (626) 821-4623, www.arboretum.org.

Design walk:

Elle Decor presents the Legends of La Cienega Design Walk, a three-day celebration of the more than 40 galleries and shops along La Cienega Boulevard. Includes design vignettes, seminars, book signings and tours. For schedule: www.lcdqla.com/legends.

MAY 8

Public Gardens Day

: National Public Gardens Day will be marked in Los Angeles at places such as Descanso Gardens, the Huntington Botanical Gardens and the Los Angeles County Arboretum. They will extend their hours and provide materials on conservation and environmental education. www.publicgardens.org.

Alt Build Expo:

The Alternative Building Materials and Design Expo highlights green building materials, sustainable landscaping alternatives, water conservation products and green furnishings. Includes seminars and building tours. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 8 and 9. Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica. Free. (310) 390-2930; www.altbuildexpo.com.

MAY 9

Open Days:

The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program tour of six private gardens in West Hollywood, Carthay Circle and Windsor Square. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to each garden is $5. Tour begins at the Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. (888) 842-2442; www.opendaysprogram.org.

CONTINUING

Ackermans

:

“Masters of Mid-Century California Modernism -- Evelyn Jerome Ackerman” includes more than 200 examples of ceramics, tile mosaics, wood carvings, textiles and other crafts from the Culver City couple. Through Jan. 10. $4 to $7. Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego. (619) 239-0003; www.mingei.org.

Japan show:

“The Subtle Beauty of Japanese Craft” features metal, textile, wood and clay works from the Mingei International Museum’s renowned collection of Japanese folk art, craft and design. 1439 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, through June 28. $4 to $7. (619) 239-0003, www.mingei.org.

Neutra tour

:

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.neutravdl.org.

Pasadena Showcase:

Twenty-five interior designers transform a 1917 Italian Renaissance Revival style home on more than 2 acres in San Marino at the 2009 Pasadena Showcase House of Design. Entry hours: 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Through May 17. Not handicapped accessible. Children younger than 12 not admitted. Parking and shuttle service available at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. $30 to $40. (626) 578-8500, www.PasadenaShowcase.org.

-- Lisa Boone

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