Datebook

SATURDAY

Home tour: Four historic homes in Pasadena will be open to the public in this tour hosted by the San Marino League. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $35. Will-call location: 277 S. Grand Ave., Pasadena. (626) 578-8510; https://www.sanmarinoleague.org.

“Botanica” lecture: Photographer Jonathan Singer and his collaborators, W. John Kress, curator of botany at the Smithsonian Institution, and Marc Hachadourian, curator of Glasshouse Collections at the New York Botanical Garden, come to the Huntington Library for a lecture and book signing for “Botanica Magnifica: Portraits of the World’s Most Extraordinary Flowers and Plants.” 7:30 p.m. Free. No reservations required. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (626) 405-2100; https://www.huntington.org.

SUNDAY

Tomato plants: Ocean View Farms Community Garden opens its gates to the public for its sixth annual Tomato-Bration Heirloom Tomato Plant Sale and free seminar from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Barbara Spencer of Windrose Farm will present “Secrets of Growing Delicious Heirloom Tomatoes” from 9 to 10 a.m. Eastern side of South Centinela Avenue at Rose Avenue, south of the Santa Monica Airport and north of Palms Boulevard. Send inquiries to: educationchair@oceanviewfarms.net.

TUESDAY

Met lecture: Amelia Peck, curator in the American decorative arts department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, will give an illustrated lecture titled, “A New Look at Old Rooms: The Renovation of the American Period Rooms at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” In 2009, the Met unveiled its renovated American period rooms after years of research. 7 p.m. $15 to $20; free for students with ID. Brown Auditorium, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Reservations: Call (323) 857-6528 or e-mail decartscouncil@lacma.org.

WEDNESDAY

Architecture lecture: Architect Michael Kubo traces the influence of architectural publishing and the books produced by architects and critics in the last century. Part of the Southern California Institute of Architecture spring lecture series. 7 p.m. W.M. Keck Lecture Hall, SCI-Arc, 960 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles. (213) 613-2200; https://www.sciarc.edu.

Tomato talk: Steve Goto shares his top 25 picks for 2010 in his annual “Tomato Talk.” Learn tricks to planting and harvesting. Sale follows. 10 a.m. Included in regular admission of $3 to $8. Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. (626) 821-4623; https://www.arboretum.org.

1960s architecture: The Los Angeles Conservancy and the Cultural Landscape Foundation present a panel discussion as part of the conservancy’s “The Sixties Turn 50” campaign. Charles A. Birnbaum, founder of the foundation, and architectural historian Alan Hess will discuss the history and preservation of 1960s landscapes. 7:30 p.m. Proud Bird Restaurant, 11022 S. Aviation Blvd., Westchester. $20. Reservations required: tclf.org/event/history-and-preservation-1960s-landscapes.

THURSDAY

Garden series: Curator of historic collections Mitchell Hearns Bishop will describe the succession of crops and livestock raised on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden and will share historic photographs and agricultural equipment. Part of the Thursday Garden Talks With Lili Singer lecture series. $20. 301 N. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia. 9:30 a.m. to noon. (626) 821-4623; https://www.arboretum.org.

MARCH 27

Berry basics: Certified nurseryman Marc Hall leads a class on how to grow strawberries, blueberries and cranberries. 10 a.m. to noon. $22 to $25. Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Reservations: (626) 821-4623; https://www.arboretum.org.

Poppy Day: The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers & Native Plants holds its annual spring sale with discounts of 10% to 15%. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley. (818) 768-1802; https://www.theodorepayne.org.

Edible gardening: Learn how to create an organic, edible garden in this three-part series led by Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne, authors of “The Urban Homestead.” 9 a.m. to noon, March 27, April 3 and April 10. The class will cover planning, planting, maintaining and harvesting. $130 to $145. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Registration: (626) 405-2128; https://www.huntington.org.

Bonsai show: The California Bonsai Society presents its 53rd annual show featuring more than 100 specimens created by bonsai masters. Traditional trees such as Japanese black pine and California juniper will be displayed alongside examples of non-traditional bonsai. 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 27 and 28. Free. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Registration: (626) 405-2128; https://www.huntington.org.

CONTINUING

Billboard series: Artists look at the medium and their role in the urban landscape in the exhibition “How Many Billboards? Art in Stead.” Sponsored by the MAK Center for Art and Architecture, this project includes 21 newly commissioned artworks for billboards throughout L.A. Participating artists include Michael Asher, Jennifer Bornstein, Eileen Cowin, Allan Sekula, Susan Silton and James Welling. Watch the project unfold at https://www.howmanybillboards.org.

Ceramics show: The 66th annual Scripps College Ceramic Annual 2010 features works by Peter Voulkos, Betty Woodman, Claire Hedden, Guozhen Zhou and others. Free. Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, 11th Street and Columbia Avenue, Claremont. Ends April 4. (909) 607-4690; https://www.scrippscollege.edu/dept/gallery.

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

— Lisa Boone

Please send listings at least three weeks in advance to home@latimes.com or to the Home section, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., CA 90012.