Calling all pop bottles.
Naturalists with the Summit County Metro Parks are collecting empty plastic 2-liter bottles, which they plan to use to build a greenhouse and discovery area. More than 1,000 bottles are needed for the 8-by-10-foot structure.
Bottles may be brought to the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The Nature Realm is at 1828 Smith Road, Akron.
For more information, call 330-865-8065.
Solar power workshops
Interested in installing a solar power system or starting an installation business? You can learn the basics at one of two solar electric workshops being offered in Ohio in the coming months.
The five-day workshops will be June 16-20 at the office of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association in Columbus and Nov. 10-14 at Local Roots Market and Cafe in Wooster.
The course will offer lectures and hands-on labs on designing and installing photovoltaic systems for homes or farms. Participants will also learn how to integrate a wind turbine into the system.
Cost is $930 for OEFFA members and $970 for others. Space is limited to 10 students. Registration deadlines are June 11 for the Columbus workshop and Nov. 5 for the Wooster workshop.
Details are at www.oeffa.org.
Dream house raffle
Raffle tickets are on sale for the Lake County YMCA 2014 Dream House.
The three-bedroom house at 38067 Euclid Ave., Willoughby, will be raffled off in August. Ticket holders also have a chance to win a 2014 Chevy Cruze.
Tickets are $15 each, or $13 each for three or more. The ticket allows the holder and his or her family to tour the house starting June 21.
This weekend only, buyers receive an extra ticket for every five they buy. The special offer is available only for tickets ordered today or Sunday at www.lakecountyymca.org, or for tickets purchased between noon and 6 p.m. today at the Downtown Willoughby Rib Burn Off.
Starting Monday, tickets will be available both online and at 440-354-5656, but the extra-ticket deal will no longer be offered.
Events, programs
• Plant Expo, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Stark County Fairgrounds, 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Stark County. Perennials, native plants, heirlooms, vegetables and herbs. Cash or check only. Free gardening seminars: Appetizers to Desserts — Herbs in the Kitchen, 9 a.m.; Tips for Successful Vegetable Gardening, 10:30 a.m.
• Spring Plant Sale, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Summit Lapidary Club, 244 Chestnut Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls. Sale of plants from garden clubs that are members of the Garden Forum of Greater Akron.
• Twinbrooks Garden Club 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). Herbs, perennials, grasses, hostas, butterfly garden plants and more. Prices range from $1 to $5.
• RIGHT Committee plant sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Good Neighbors building, 1453 Goodyear Blvd., Akron. Hanging baskets, annual flats, herbs, vegetables. Sponsored by the Residents Improving Goodyear Heights Together Committee.
• May Mart/Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, Portage County Gardeners’ Center, 5154 S. Prospect St. (state Route 44), Rootstown Township. Annuals, perennials, baskets, planters, herbs. Sponsored by the Portage County Gardeners. 330-923-0570.
• Protect Your Trees From Emerald Ash Borer, 10 a.m. to noon today, Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Sugar Creek Township near Wilmot (for GPS directions, use Navarre). Free. 877-359-5235 or www.wildernesscenter.org.
• Holden Arboretum plant sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland. More than 40 vendors selling trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs and garden accessories. Admission: $5 (free for members). www.holdenarb.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 250 varieties of organic vegetables, herbs and perennials, including Slow Food USA Ark of Taste heirloom varieties. Container gardening demonstration, 10:30 a.m. today. www.crownpt.org.
• Eastern Ohio Home Show, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, MAPS Air Museum, 2260 International Parkway, Green (next to Akron-Canton Airport). 19 factory-built homes, 45 exhibitors. Admission and parking free. www.easternohiohomeshow.com.
• Knitting and Crocheting Circle meetings, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and next Saturday, Highland Library, 4160 Ridge Road, Granger Township, Medina County (330-278-4271 or 330-239-2674); 1-3 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Medina Library, 210 S. Broadway (330-725-0588); and 6 p.m. Thursday, Seville Library, 45 N. Center St. (330-769-2852).
• Anna Dean Farm Walking Tour, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, starting at the Piggery, 248 E. Robinson Ave., Barberton. Tour six barns that were once part of Barberton founder O.C. Barber’s farm. Admission and parking free. www.annadeanfarm.com.
• 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.
• We Are Just Wild About Harry Shupe!, Tuesday evening, Shaker Historical Society & Museum, 16740 South Park Blvd., Shaker Heights. Presentation on about 75 homes designed by architect Shupe. Reception at 6:30 p.m., presentation at 7. Free, but donations are welcome. Reservations required by Sunday at 216-921-1201. www.shakerhistoricalsociety.org.
• Secrest AfterHours, 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Secrest Arboretum’s Seaman Orientation Plaza, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster Township. Talk on Selecting and Planting Trees for a Quality Environment by Secrest’s Joe Cochran and Ken Cochran, followed by hors d’oeuvres in the Miller Pavilion. Free. Reservations: cochran.7@osu.edu or 330-464-2148.
Submit notices of classes, programs and events 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. Deadline for submissions is noon Monday.
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 @MBBreckABJ and read her blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/mary-beth.