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Home Front for Aug. 24:

CATCH THE SCENT ... Daxin Liu will talk about "Fragrantopia Garden - Catch the Scent" at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28, for the Garden Club of Los Altos. His talk will deal with creating year-round fragrance, as well as a garden he designed with a koi pond and tropical-plant greenhouse. The group meets at Los Altos Lutheran Church, 460 S. El Monte Ave., Los Altos. Guests pay $5. Information: www.gardencluboflosaltos.org

GET RID OF TOXICS ... Palo Alto residents may bring any unwanted toxic household products to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant, 2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31, or 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 1. Samples of what will be accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Event include pharmaceuticals, paint, pool chemicals, pesticides, syringes, mercury-containing thermometers and fluorescent lights. Information: 650-496-6980

AUTUMN AT FILOLI ... Reservations are open for this year's Autumn at Filoli Festival, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, at Filoli, 86 Canada Road, Woodside. The family-friendly harvest celebration includes fruit tastings, a tour of the Historic Gentlemen's Orchard, docent-led hikes and garden docents on hand to answer questions about home gardens as well as Filoli. The day includes children's activities and entertainment, including the Happy Birds Performing Parrots Show. Cost is $25 for nonmembers, $20 for members, $5 for child (age 5-17), free for children age 4 and younger. Lunch tickets, which must be purchased by Sept. 24, are $18 for an adult BBQ lunch or $9 for a child's bag lunch. Information: 650-364-8300 or www.filoli.org

ECO HOME ... The City of Palo Alto's EcoHome will be open for a free tour from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30. EcoHome is located next to the Girl Scout House, behind the Lucie Stern Community Center at 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. The exhibit showcases sustainable building materials, including recycled glass countertops, permeable paving, blue-jean insulation, photoelectric panels and energy-saving appliances. Information: 650-329-2241; pre-registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.