Upcoming class: How to decorate your house using Habitat for Humanity ReStore

A weekly roundup of home and garden classes, tours and more.

Don’t see your event listed here? You need to enter it at triangle.com. If you would like instructions on how to enter your event, send an email to Andrea Weigl, aweigl@newsobserver.com.

In 1979, the N.C. Legislature designated the Eastern Box Turtle as the state reptile. Learn how you can help conserve this valuable state symbol. Meet Lake Crabtree’s adopted turtle, Shel Silverstein, and join park staff on a box turtle survey. Enjoy an opportunity to search for wild turtles in their natural habitat. 2-4 p.m. Aug. 27. $1. Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Pkwy., Morrisville. 919-460-3390, wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree/.

Share a morning of nature discovery with your little one! Explore the plants, animals, and seasonal changes in the Garden with hands-on activities, crafts, and stories. 10-11:15 a.m. Aug. 27. $10 child/adult pair; $8 members. N.C. Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill. 919-962-0522, ncbg.unc.edu/calendar.

Have you ever wondered how to decorate your home on a budget? The owner of MH Designs presents a free hour-long session to answer all your questions, share her photos and network with fellow thrift store shoppers/decorators. Bagels and coffee will be provided, and attendees will receive a 20 percent off coupon to shop in the ReStore. 11-12:30 p.m. Aug. 27. Free. Habitat For Humanity ReStore, 5501 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham. 919-403-8668, restoredurhamorange.org/.

Join one of the JCRA’s volunteer tour docents and learn about the Arboretum’s plants, people, history, future, and mission in a one-hour guided walk through the JCRA’s collections and gardens. 2-3 p.m. Aug. 28, Sept. 4. Donation suggested: $5. JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Rd., Raleigh. 919-515-3132, jcra.ncsu.edu/.

A world of color, shapes, and flavors makes peppers second only to tomatoes in popularity. If you want to know the best sweet, hot, or snacking types for your garden, we’ve got answers from the experts: Alex Hitt of Peregrine Farms and Craig LeHoullier. 6 p.m. Aug. 29. $45. Southern Season, 201 S. Estes Dr., Chapel Hill. 919-929-7133, southernseason.com.

Join bird enthusiast Vernon for an easy walk while looking and listening for our feathered friends. Discover different types of birds and their habitats. 8:30-10 a.m. Sept. 3. Free. Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Pkwy., Morrisville. 919-460-3390, wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree/.

This tour is led by JCRA Director Mark Weathington. The arboretum has been introducing plants since its beginning. Take a look at some of the hits and a few of the misses. 9-10:30 a.m., 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 6. $5; members free. JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh. 919-515-3132, jcra.ncsu.edu/.

Create a unique English stone-like planting trough for your garden or patio. These planters are relatively light-weight and have excellent drainage. All materials are provided. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Sept. 10. $75. Lasting Impressions, 4904 Hermitage Dr., Raleigh. 919-787-6228, lastingimpressionsleaves.com.

Use a real leaf to create a unique concrete leaf for your home or garden. The little details you observe about the natural leaf are reflected in its concrete double. All materials provided. 1-3 p.m. Sept. 10. $65. Lasting Impressions, 4904 Hermitage Dr., Raleigh. 919-787-6228, lastingimpressionsleaves.com.

This festival features displays of gourds from around the world, special gourd workshops, and vendors of dried gourds, gourd seeds, gourd crafts, gourd art, books, and crafting supplies. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded in a variety of competitive categories. Other highlights include a live auction at noon Saturday and a free gourd crafting table for children. See website for details. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 10; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 11. $2; free for under 16. N.C. State Fairgrounds, Holshouser Building, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh. 919-733-2626, ncstatefair.org.

The Triangle Orchid Society will be auctioning a wide array of blooming orchids to help supports society programs and its upcoming Fall Orchid Show. 1-3:30 p.m. Sept. 10. Free. Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Pkwy., Morrisville. 919-460-3390, wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree/Pages/default.aspx.

Join Curtis Smalling, a diligent researcher and a tireless advocate for the birds of our region, and hear an urgent message for all of us about the actions we can take to help our feathered friends in the face of climate change. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Sept. 11. $12; $11 members. North Carolina Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill. 919-962-0522, ncbg.unc.edu/calendar.

This seven week course will provide a series of historical snapshots that help to enhance understanding of "modern-day" gardening. By deepening the understanding and appreciation of where gardening came from, students will, in turn, be better gardeners today and in the future! Unlike many history courses which can be boring, this one is not! First, it’s all about gardening, and second, it’s about fascinating stories of past cultures, events, and people who made gardening what it is today. How did today’s greenhouse come about, and what did a sickly Roman Caesar have to do with it? What did the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans do that contributed to horticulture as we know it today? Who is the Father of American Horticulture and what did he do to launch gardening into the 20th century? 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 12. $215; $175 members. JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Rd., Raleigh. 919-515-3132, jcra.ncsu.edu/.

Take a walk through the Garden for an introduction to common native ferns. Learn about their fascinating life cycle, tips for propagation and uses in the home landscape, and ways to distinguish and remember these graceful native plants. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Sept. 14. $12; $11 members. N.C. Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill. 919-962-0522, ncbg.unc.edu/calendar.

The Piedmont provides a stopover location for northern breeding species headed south to winter feeding grounds. Mid-September is peak fall migration time for our resident warblers. This photo essay and discussion includes tips for locating fall warblers as they pass through Mason Farm and the Botanical Garden. 12-1 p.m. Sept. 15. Free. N.C. Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill. 919-962-0522, ncbg.unc.edu/calendar.

This talk is presented by Michael Papay, NARGS Piedmont Chapter Member. 10-11:30 p.m. Sept. 17. Free for North American Rock Garden Society (Piedmont Chapter) members and Friends of the JC Raulston Arboretum members, otherwise $5. JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Rd., Raleigh. 919-515-3132, jcra.ncsu.edu/.

This story was originally published August 24, 2016 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Upcoming class: How to decorate your house using Habitat for Humanity ReStore."