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SPRING GARDENS ... UC Master Gardener Bekah Dubois will teach a class on "Planting a Spring Vegetable Garden" on Saturday, March 13, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto. The free demonstration will deal with selecting suitable warm-season vegetables, companion plantings, raised beds, design, French Intensive method, soil, watering and pests. No registration is required. Information: Call Master Gardeners at 408-282-3105, between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or visit mastergardeners.org.

CHILDREN'S TREE WALK ... Arborist Carole Langston will lead a free neighborhood tree walk on Saturday, March 13, at 10 a.m., leaving from the Junior Museum and Zoo, 1451 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. The walk is part of an Arbor Day Celebration, sponsored by Canopy and the City of Palo Alto. Activities include planting a tree, listening to tree stories, singing tree songs and joining in other kids' tree activities. Information: To sign up, e-mail sharon@canopy.org.

RAINWATER HARVESTING ... Acterra will offer a hands-on workshop on "Rainwater Harvesting and Rain Barrel Building" on Saturday, March 13, from noon to 3 p.m. at a private home in Menlo Park (address supplied at registration). Topics include building a raised platform, assembling multiple barrels, modifying a downspout, mosquito abatement and earthquake safety. Parts and tools will be provided; be prepared to get dirty. Cost is $30 for nonmembers, $20 for members. Information: Visit acterra.org

TOWARDS NET-ZERO BILLS ... Nick Harris, an energy analyst and retrofitter for Energy Beyond Design, will talk about "Toward Net-Zero Utility Bills and Comfortable, Healthy and Sustainable Homes" during the Green Dream Team panel discussion on Tuesday, March 16, at 5 p.m. at Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Information: Call Rich Wingerter at 650-207-8014 or visit www.essentialquality.com.

PLANT PROBLEMS? ... Jim Celeri, of Celeri & Son Nursery in Fort Bragg, Calif., will talk about "Things You Don't Learn in Books" at the next meeting of the DeAnza chapter of the American Rhododendron Society on Wednesday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. Celeri will talk about what to look for, such as bug bites on leaves, and he'll bring samples, as well as talk about proper fertilization. The group meets in Room 12 of the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. Information: Visit www.deanza-ars.com.

BAY-FRIENDLY BASICS ... Brian Debasitis will teach a "Bay-Friendly Basics" workshop on Saturday, March 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. The workshop focuses on design, maintenance and helpful hints at the nursery. The $20 fee includes a Bay-Friendly Gardening book. Information: Pre-register with the Santa Clara County Home Composting Program at www.ReduceWaste.org or call 408-918-4640.