FARM TOURS, PLANT SALES AND MORE

THROUGH NOV. 1

San Diego Botanic Garden Fall Festival includes events from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 23 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 31. Live music, crafts and other activities, including a Día de los Muertos ofrenda. Free with admission to the gardens; otherwise, $18 for adults, $12 for students, seniors and active military, $10 ages 3-17. sdbgarden.org

OCT. 24

Start an Herb Garden or Expand an Existing One is offered by George Pessin, curator of the Greystone Demonstration Garden at Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Drive in Beverly Hills, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Bring a 6-inch to 8-inch pot and take home an herb plant. $15 ($12 for Beverly Hills residents). beverlyhills.org

OCT. 26-NOV. 6

The Theodore Payne Foundation’s Fall Plant Sale offers a selection of California native plants, expert advice and activities for children. Admission is free, but attendees must RSVP. 10459 Tuxford St. in Sun Valley. theodorepayne.org

NOV. 4

Sherman Library & Gardens Holiday Gift Faire & Volunteer Cookbook Launch offers seasonal plants and handmade items and copies of “First Monday Coffee.” Admission to the gardens is free during the fair. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 2647 E. Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. thesherman.org

NOV. 5-6

Fullerton Arboretum California Native Plant Sale at 1900 Associated Road in Fullerton offers native plants grown at the arboretum in addition to more than 50 other varieties of flowering shrubs, trees, vines, grasses and succulents. The Nov. 5 sale from 2 to 5 p.m. is open to arboretum members and Cal

HE R E I T I S , late October, so everyone should have a pumpkin or two on their porch or balcony, waiting to be hollowed out and carved, right? Just don’t carve them too early. In SoCal’s fall heat, jack o’ lanterns don’t last more than a day or two before they start to decay. In the meantime, our garden calendar is chock full of plant-related events, especially if you’re in the market for native plants or learning about growing food organically. Make a day of it by touring farms and ranches in Ventura County or sign up for a class in starting plants from seed or creating an herb garden.

Email garden- and plant-related events to jeanette.marantos@latimes.com at least three weeks before the event. State Fullerton card holders. The sale on Nov. 6 is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. fullertonarboretum.org

NOV. 6

Ventura County Farm Day features free, selfguided tours of farms, ranches and agricultural organizations. 10 a.m to 3 p.m. The event features tours of an apiary, alpaca ranch, berry and fruit farms, Oxnard Historic Farm Park, and several organic farms. ventura countyfarmday.com

Native plant sale sponsored by the San Gabriel Mountains Chapter of the California Native

Plant Society in partnership with the city of Monrovia will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Monrovia Historical Museum, 742 E. Lemon Ave. A list of the sale’s plants and seeds is available at cnps-sgm.org.

“Who’s Eating Your Garden?” A workshop in organic pest and disease control at the Cook’s Garden from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 1033 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice. $35. thecooksgarden.com

Habitat Restoration at the Los Cerritos Wetlands is a volunteer event hosted by the Aquarium of the Pacific to restore 66 acres of wetlands by collecting seeds from rare plants, planting varieties native to the region and removing invasive nonnatives. First Saturday of every month through Dec. 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. aquariumof pacific.org

NOV. 9

“All About Strawberries” with the Orange County Organic Gardening Club at 7:30 p.m. in Centennial Farm at the OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. Sustainable gardening teacher Lucie Galvin goes deep about strawberries and how to successfully grow them at home. Admission is free, and masks are required. Email ocogclub @gmail.com.

NOV. 14

Garden Plant and Sip Workshop at the Cook’s Garden, 1033 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. This workshop by owner Geri Miller will teach participants how to plant an herb garden in a biodegradable pot they can take home. They’ll also get to sample two glasses of wine and a selection of cheese, dried fruits and chocolates. Participants must be 21 or older and present a COVID vaccination card. $65. the cooksgardenvenice.com

NOV. 20

Garden Seed and Sip Workshop at the Cook’s Garden, 1033 Abbot Kinney in Venice, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Owner Geri Miller will help participants plant seeds in a coir seedling tray with seed starting mix and an assortment of seeds. They will also get to sample two glasses of beer or wine with a selection of cheeses, dried fruit and nuts. Participants must be 21 or older and present a COVID vaccination card. $65. thecooksgardenvenice .com