Butterfly backyards

CREATING a butterfly-friendly garden will be the topic of a Saturday talk by Connie Vadheim as part of the ongoing lecture series “Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden.” She will focus on the best native plants for attracting swallowtails and other butterflies. The class will include a walk in the Madrona Marsh Preserve to see the featured plants. 10 a.m. to noon, Madrona Marsh Nature Center, 3201 Plaza Del Amo, Torrance. The lecture will be repeated Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is free both days. For information, call (310) 782-3989.

SATURDAY

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden specialty tour series continues with this docent-led walk focusing on summer wildflowers in bloom. 2 p.m. Admission, $8. 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara. (805) 682-4726.

Naturalist Ray Jillson leads the monthly bird walk through the grounds of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, where more than 200 different species have been spotted. Meet in front of the rotunda at 8 a.m. Wear comfortable walking shoes, a hat, dress appropriately for the weather and bring bottled water and binoculars. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Free with garden admission of $7. Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. (626) 821-3222.

SUNDAY

The Japanese Star Festival is based on the ancient legend about two stars, Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair), that are separated by the Milky Way and can only meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month. Children are invited to write their wishes on strips of colored paper and tie them to bamboo, the idea being that the wind can carry them to the sky. Origami crafts will also be offered. 1:30 to 3 p.m. Japanese Garden. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Free with general admission ranging from $6 to $20. (626) 405-2100.

TUESDAY

Stephen D. Davis of Pepperdine University discusses “Freezing Temperature Influence on Chaparral Shrub Distribution in the Santa Monica Mountains” at a talk sponsored by the California Native Plant Society. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino. Free. www.lasmmcnps.org or (818) 881-3706.

WEDNESDAY

Arborist and landscape designer Darren Butler continues to demonstrate how to use drought-tolerant plants to design colorfully themed landscapes in several styles in the series “Fancy Drought-Tolerant Gardens.” This second session will cover Japanese and Chinese gardens; the third will cover English Cottage gardens. 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through July 16. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. $50. To register, call (818) 949-7980.

JULY 10

Debra Prinzing will present a slide lecture and sign copies of her book “Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways.” 2:30 p.m. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Friends Hall. Free. (626) 405-2100.

The Southern California Horticultural Society hosts botanist Stephen Ingram, who will discuss his recent book, “Cacti, Agaves and Yuccas of California and Nevada.” A book-signing will follow. 7:30 p.m. Friendship Auditorium, 3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles. Free. (323) 650-2209. www.socalhort.org.

CONTINUING

“Living Flowers: Ikebana and Contemporary Art” exhibits works of contemporary artists alongside ikebana created by masters of the Ikenobo, Oharta and Sogetsu schools of ikebana. Through Sept. 7. Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. 1st St., Little Tokyo. (213) 625-0414, www.janm.org.

Architect Greg Lynn creates the site-specific installation “Blobwall Pavilion” by transforming the basic brick into a lightweight object made of colorful plastic and crafted into modular elements. Through July 13. Free. Southern California Institute of Architecture, SCI-Arc gallery, 960 E. 3rd St., downtown Los Angeles. (213) 613-2200, www.sciarc.edu.

The Assn. for Women in Architecture, Los Angeles presents the work of 34 designers in the fields of architecture, interior design and landscape. The exhibit features plans, renderings, models and photographs of notable projects as well as the work of historic preservation architect Brenda Levin. Through July. Free. Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. www.awa-la.org.

– Lisa Boone

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