Home Front for Nov. 12: Home Front for Nov. 12: (November 12, 2004)

SCRAPS INTO GOLD . . . Feeding the soil through worm composting is the topic of Alane O'Rielly-Weber's class at Common Ground tomorrow from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The class will deal with turning kitchen scraps into botanical gold. Cost is $19. For information, call (650) 493-6072 or visit www.commongroundinpaloalto.org. Common Ground is located at 599 College Ave., Palo Alto.

MORE FLOWERS . . . Arborist Ted Kipping will explain how to make trees and shrubs more floriferous at the next meeting of the De Anza Chapter, American Rhododendron Society. The group meets on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in Room 10 of the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. For information, visit www.deanza-ars.com.

A GREEN GIFT . . . Karen Froniewski, owner of Nature's Alley in Palo Alto, will teach a class on "Decorating Topiary for the Holidays" on Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Gamble Garden Center Carriage House, 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto. Fee is $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Materials for creating topiaries, as well as finished ones, will be offered for sale. For information, visit www.gamblegarden.org or call (650) 329-1356.

TIME TO SHOP . . . Kimberley Lee from Carmen Grey Interiors, Menlo Park, is among the interior designers participating in the 16th annual Dickens House - she's done the Lady's Office and Bath (which will appear on HGTV soon), which continues through Nov. 14 at 1740 Crockett lane, Hillsborough. The designer showcase and holiday boutique, a benefit for St. Matthew's Episcopal Day School in San Mateo, is open Friday, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 6-8 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets are $30 at the door. For information, visit www.dickenshouse.org.

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