You can help save native lady beetles.
The Buckeye Lady Beetle Blitz is looking for volunteers across Ohio to collect data on lady beetles, beneficial insects that eat plant pests in gardens and on farms. The information helps researchers track the status of lady beetles, particularly native beetles that are declining in number.
Volunteers collect beetles using sticky traps posted in their gardens and report the results to researchers at Ohio State University. The insects will be collected during a one-week period in June and another in August.
Training sessions for volunteers are being offered Monday in Columbus and Wednesday at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster Township, both from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. An online session is also offered.
The workshops cost $20.
Details and online registration are at http://ladybeetles.osu.edu. Despite the deadline on the website, organizers said registrations are still being accepted.
Report utility lines
If you plan on digging in your yard this spring, don’t forget to call 811 a few days in advance so underground utility lines on your property can be identified.
Information from callers is communicated to local utility companies, which send locators to mark the approximate location of underground lines.
You should call before digging for projects such as landscaping, installing a fence or mailbox, or building a deck, pond or patio.
Sweepstakes
Ace Hardware and the Weather Channel are giving away $15,000 in Ace gift cards plus weekly prizes in May during its Restore Your Outdoors sweepstakes.
Enter at the Ace Hardware or Weather Channel Facebook page, www.facebook.com/acehardware or www.facebook.com/theweatherchannel.
Events and programs
• Plant Expo, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Exhibition Hall, Stark County Fairgrounds, 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Stark County. Locally grown perennials, vegetables, fruits, native plants and herbs. Experts available to answer gardening questions. Programs: Attracting Hummingbirds, Butterflies and Other Pollinators to Your Garden at 9 a.m.; Extending the Growing Season: Cold Frames, High Tunnels and Succession Planting at 10:30 a.m. Free admission and parking.
• Plant sale, 9 a.m. to noon today, Columbia Woods Park Pavilion, 4070 Columbia Woods Drive, Norton (off Greenwich Road, behind the Norton Community Center). Sponsored by Twinbrooks Garden Club. Perennials, herbs, daylilies, hostas, grasses and more, priced at $1 to $5.
• Regional Clock & Watch Show, 9 a.m. to noon today, Lakeland Community College, state Route 306 just south of Interstate 90, Kirtland. Display and sale of clocks, watches and related items, plus seminars and entertainment. $5. www.nawcc28.org.
• Plant sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Gazebo Park, 1406 Malasia Road, Akron. Flats, hanging baskets, planters. Cash only. Sponsored by RIGHT (Residents Improving Goodyear Heights Together).
• Plant sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, Gardeners’ Center, 5154 S. Prospect St. (state Route 44), Rootstown Township. Sponsored by the Portage County Gardeners. Perennials from members’ gardens, herbs, vegetable plants including some heirlooms, annuals, hanging baskets, planters and exotic spring-flowering bulbs. Bake shop, raffles, food. 330-673-0577.
• Plant sale and bazaar, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, on the circle at Leroy and Greenwich roads, Westfield Center. Flowers, herbs and other plants, plus vendor booths, bake sale and rummage sale.
• Plant and garden sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, 244 Chestnut Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls. Sponsored by the Garden Forum of Greater Akron. Annuals, grafted tomatoes, perennials and garden-related items. 330-630-9625.
• Stan Hywet plant sale, starts 10 a.m. today, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. Variety of plants for sale at Stan Hywet’s Garden Shop at Molly’s, including perennials grown from cuttings from Stan Hywet’s Great Garden and containers of plants created by the estate’s horticulture department. Plant sale continues while plants are available. No admission charge to shop. 330-836-5533 or www.stanhywet.org.
• Organic plant sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Crown Point Ecology Center, 3220 Ira Road, Bath Township. More than 230 varieties of organic vegetables, herbs and perennials grown at Crown Point, plus vegetable seeds and organic fertilizer. Sales of breakfast foods this morning and garden supplies both days. Garden design talk by Mari Keating, founder of the Cleveland chapter of Food Not Lawns, 10:30 a.m. today. www.crownpt.org or 330-668-8992.
• Designer ShowHouse 2013, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday, 657 Ridgecrest Road, Akron. Professionally redecorated home is open for tours. $20. www.juniorleagueakron.org or 330-836-4905.
• Ohio City Home Tour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, starting at Market Square Park, West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue, Cleveland. Trolleys will take visitors to six homes and a garden in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. $20. www.ohiocity.org.
Knitty Gritters Knitting Club meeting, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Lake Community Branch of Stark County District Library, 11955 Market Ave. N, Lake Township. 330-877-9975.
• Gardeners of Greater Akron meeting, Monday evening, St. George Fellowship Centre, 3204 Ridgewood Road, Copley Township. Social hour starts at 5:30, dinner at 6:30. Fish fry and plant auction. $13. Reservations: 330-336-6269. Information: 330-673-3553 or www.ohiogardeners.org.
• Liven Up Your Perennial Beds With New Introductions, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Presentation by Jill Manda of Manda’s Plant Farm. Part of the Summit County Master Gardeners’ Meet Me in the Garden series. Free.
• Preservation Alliance of Greater Akron fundraiser, 7:30 a.m. Thursday, University of Akron’s Martin Center, 105 Fir Hill. Breakfast and panel discussion involving architects and community leaders. $50. Reservations due Monday at admin@preservationakron.org.
• Open house, 4-6 p.m. Thursday, John Brown House, 514 Diagonal Road, Akron. Tour the abolitionist’s home and visit the Summit Hall of Honor. Free. 330-535-1120 or www.summithistory.org.
• Secrest AfterHours, 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Secrest Arboretum, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster Township. Socialize and learn about the arboretum’s renewal. Free. http://secrest.osu.edu.
• Homegirl Spring Barn Sale, Thursday through May 25, 2357 Hudson-Aurora Road, Hudson. Sale of vintage and repurposed furniture, accessories and artwork. Hours: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and May 25. www.homegirlshop.com.
• Eleanor Squire Library Spring Book Sale, Friday through May 26, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Sale of used and rare books on a variety of topics, plus other items. Sale hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and May 25; noon to 5 p.m. May 26. Garden admission: $9.50; children ages 3-12, $4; members and younger children, free. 216-721-1600 or www.cbgarden.org.
• Urban Homesteading, 10 a.m. to noon May 25, Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road, Sharon Township, Medina County. $20. Registration: http://medinacountyparks.com or 330-722-9364. Information: http://stonecottagefarmandgarden.com.
• Backyard Composting, 11 a.m. May 25, Donzell’s Flower & Garden Center, 937 E. Waterloo Road, Akron. Speaker: Dan Stefancik of Donzell’s. Free. Reservations: 330-724-0550, ext. 110.
• Spring Garden Tea, 3 p.m. May 25, Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve, 11929 Beech St. N.E., Washington Township, Stark County. Enjoy tea and treats; plant violets and herbs in china containers, one to take home and one to donate to a retirement home. Members $20, others $25. Registration: 330-829-7050.
Submit notices of classes, programs and events two weeks in advance to mbrecken@thebeaconjournal.com or Home and Garden News, Features Department, Akron Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron, OH 44309-0640. Please include name and phone number. All events must be open to the public.
Mary Beth Breckenridge can be reached at 330-996-3756 or mbrecken@thebeaconjournal.com. You can also become a fan on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/mbbreck, follow her on Twitter @MBBreckenridge and read her blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/mary-beth.