Open House Focuses on Wildflowers

Wildflowers are blooming all over the Southland, which makes this an excellent time to visit the Theodore Payne Foundation annual open house Saturday.

Named after a well-known Los Angeles landscaper and horticulturist, the foundation is a nonprofit organization specializing in the native flora of California.

Foundation members will be providing information about native plants and leading tours of the foundation’s nursery and gardens. “Flower Hill,” a hillside full of weeds that was replanted, will be among the highlights of the day. Experts will be on hand to discuss native California herbs.

The foundation also operates a 24-hour wildflower hot line for information on the best areas in Southern California to see blooming wildflowers, (818) 768-3533.

The foundation is at 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley, between the 5 and 210 Freeways, east of Sunland Boulevard. Call (818) 768-1802.

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

* Children can learn about kelp and milk in two workshops offered by the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena on Saturday and Sunday. Those ages 4 and older can explore the products of the sea in “The Kelp Connection: From Ice Cream to Toothpaste,” at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, children of all ages can find out where milk comes from and get some hands-on experience with guests from “The Farm” in Reseda at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Call (818) 449-9144.

MARINE SCIENCE

* Wetland ecology and life above and below the mud will be explored in “Mud Walks and Bird Talks,” a class offered by the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Participants will examine specimens in the wet laboratory, visit the adjacent man-made salt marsh and then caravan to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Orange County. Call (310) 548-7563.

ENGINEERING

* The challenges of creating visual systems for machines will be discussed by Pietro Perona, assistant professor of electrical engineering at Caltech, in the Earnest C. Watson Lecture, “From Biological to Machine Vision,” at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium. Call (818) 395-4652.

ARCHEOLOGY

* Visitors can spend the weekend exploring 9,000 years of Death Valley archeology in a course offered by the Office of Extended Education at Cal State San Bernardino Friday through Sunday. The course will include lectures and visits to archeological sites. Call (909) 880-5981.

ENVIRONMENT

* The fourth annual Eco-Expo will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday. Seminars, workshops and a full schedule of activities for children and adults will provide information on all aspects of the environment. Call (818) 906-2802.

* Award-winning naturalist Martin Byhower will lead participants in an outing sponsored by the city of Rolling Hills Estates along the Stein/Hale Nature Trail at 8 a.m. Saturday. Special emphasis will be placed on birds. Binoculars and field guides are recommended. Call (310) 377-1577.

HEALTH/MEDICINE

* Dr. Kenneth Cooper, founder of the Cooper Clinic for Aerobics Research in Dallas, will discuss his lifelong work in aerobics in a community forum presented by St. John’s Hospital and Health Center at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel at 2 p.m. Saturday. Reservations are required. Call (310) 449-5214.