Calendar of events relating to homes and gardens

South-of-the-James Market: Locally produced meat, eggs, produce, prepared foods and more in a farmers' market opening 8 a.m. to noon today in and around Shelter No. 2 in Forest Hill Park, entrance at New Kent Avenue and 42nd Street. Saturdays through October. (804) 513-3100.

17th Street Farmers' Market: Homegrown, homemade and handcrafted goods for sale at Growers' Bohemian Market 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; Fresh Market 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays; antiques, collectibles and arts and crafts at Vintage Market 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays at the market, 17th and East Main streets. Free. (804) 646-0477. Markets open through October.

Spring Plant Sale: More than 40 vendors selling the familiar and the unusual, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave. Free; regular admission applies for garden visit. (804) 262-9887.

Ashland Farmers' Market: Produce, plants, cut flowers, baked goods and more, opening for the season 9 a.m. until noon today on Duncan Street behind Ashland Town Hall. Free. Saturdays through November. (804) 798-9219.

Window Restoration Workshop: Restoration specialist David Gibney conducts a workshop on restoring historic windows, 9 a.m. to noon today in Petersburg Farmers' Market, 9 E. Old St. Free. (804) 733-2308.

Open House and Rare Plant Sale: Two acres of open gardens, rare plants for sale and Hanover Master Gardeners on hand to answer questions, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. today at Giving Tree Gardens, 8204 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville. www.givingtreeltd.com or (804) 730-8684.

Ashland Walking Tour: Guided walking tour of the late 19th-century railroad town begins at 11 a.m. today and every Saturday in May at the Ashland/Hanover Visitor Center, 112 N. Railroad Ave., Ashland, Free. (804) 752-6766.

Orchid Meeting: Richmond Orchid Alliance sponsors a program with author and orchid grower Arthur Chadwick on "Around the Year with the Cattleya Species," 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Discovery Room, Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. (804) 276-0071.

Williamsburg Gardening Symposium: "Celebrating the American Garden: Bringing People and Plants Together" is the topic for the four-day symposium, tomorrow through Wednesday in Colonial Williamsburg. For schedule, fees and registration, visit www.ColonialWilliamsburg.org/conted or call (800) 603-0948..

Horticulture Seminars: Virginia Cooperative Extension, Chesterfield Office, programs on horticultural topics continue with "Pruning Shrubs for Their Benefit and Yours" at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Central Library, 9501 Lori Road, Chesterfield. Free, but registration is required. For information and schedule, call (804) 751-4401.

Ginter in the Morning: Seasonal guided walk 10-11 a.m. Tuesday through Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave. $14; free to members; registration required. www.lewisginter.org or (804) 262-9887, ext. 322.

"Wetlands and Wildflowers": Dot Field on "Wildflowers of Marshes and Other Coastal Wetlands," 7 p.m. Thursday (reception at 6) at Robins Nature & Visitor Center, Maymont, 2201 Shields Lake Drive. Free; registration recommended. (804) 358-7166, ext. 325.

Garden Club Plant Sale: Wonder City Garden Club hosts a Mother's Day sale of plants, bird feeders, and more 8:30 a.m.-noon next Saturday at Heritage Gardens, 900 E. Broadway, Hopewell. (804) 530-2564.

African Violets: Program for Richmond African Violet Society meeting details repotting African violets, 10 a.m. next Saturday at Overbrook Presbyterian Church, 2605 Dumbarton Road. www.richmondavs.org or (804) 594-0643.

Museum District Tour: 14th annual Museum District Mother's Day House and Garden Tour opens nine homes and gardens, St. Benedict School and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 1-6 p.m. May 11 in the neighborhood around the VMFA, with free parking in the museum's deck on Sheppard Street and free shuttle service among the sites. $20 in advance, $25 day of tour. www.museumdistrict.org or (804) 257-9622, option 2.

--Compiled by Pat Row
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