Notes about your surroundingsOcean View-- A lecture...

Notes about your surroundings

Ocean View-- A lecture series on the marine environment of Orange County, presented by the Environmental Coordinating Council, begins Wednesday and continues April 16, 23 and 30. Topics in the “Song of the Sea” series include marine life off the Orange County coast, estuaries, sand movement and urban runoff and watershed management. Cost is $5 per session or $15 for the series. The talks run from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Corona del Mar High School auditorium. Information: (714) 548-1438.

Friendly Host--Don Thomas of the Caspers Park Preservation Foundation will speak at the meeting of the Sierra Club, Orange County chapter at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at REI, 1411 S. Village Way, Santa Ana. The meeting is free.

Planting Ideas--The ecological importance of using native plants in landscaping will be explained by Mike Evans of the Tree of Life Nursery when he gives a talk presented by the Orange County Natural History Assn. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Sea Country Community Center, 24602 Aliso Creek Road, Laguna Niguel. Information: (714) 487-9155. And at the April 17 meeting of the California Native Plant Society, Orange County chapter, Susan Jett will discuss favorite native plants and provide tips on design and maintenance. Jett is nursery manager at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Her free presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Irvine Ranch Water District headquarters, 15600 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine.

Mall Scenes--Examine a Madagascar hissing cockroach. Observe an Andes condor. They’re both part of the Westminster Mall’s third annual “Project Earth” event Friday through April 27. Included are exhibits of tropical insects, wildlife photos and an 8-foot globe. Visitors can walk through a 50-ton sand sculpture depicting the rain forests of the world. Bird and wildlife shows are given on the weekends. Free.