Akron landscape architect John S. Vittum has been honored with a Garden Club of America Club Horticulture Commendation.
The award recognizes a nonmember for excellence in horticulture. It was presented in June at the annual meeting of the Akron Garden Club.
The club commended him for sharing his knowledge and creating “beautiful and sustainable gardens that showcase native plants and enhance the community.”
Vittum’s work includes projects for the Justin T. Rogers Care Center, F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Keep Akron Beautiful and Judith Bear Isroff Park.
Rain barrel workshop
Registration is open for a rain barrel workshop Sept. 20 that’s part of the Tinker’s Creek Watershed Festival and Hudson’s Green on the Green Day.
The workshop starts at 10 a.m. on the Hudson green. Cost is $75.
Each participant will make a 55-gallon barrel with an overflow connection.
Space is limited. To register, call 330-963-6243 or email babette@tinkerscreek watershed.org.
Knitting retreat
Early bird registration is open until Thursday for Knittreat, a knitting retreat Nov. 13-16 at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford Springs, Pa.
The early bird price per person ranges from $694 for a triple room to $989 for a single. After Friday, the price range is $744 to $1039.
The fee includes three nights’ accommodation, a reception, all meals and classes, a fashion show, goodie bags, taxes and tips.
Details are at http://knittreat.com.
Events, programs
• Parade of Ponds, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 11 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Self-guided tour of ponds and other water features throughout the area. Tour booklets $10, available at Water X Scapes, 1021 E. Caston Road, Green; Biggins’ Big Dip, 197 Portage Lakes Drive, Coventry Township; Graf Growers, 1015 White Pond Drive, Copley Township; and Mock Property Services, 37 S. Cleveland Ave., Mogadore. Proceeds benefit the Akron Children’s Hospital burn unit. http://waterxscapes.com/events/parade-of-ponds.
• Akron Arts Expo, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Hardesty Park, 1615 W. Market St. Juried fine arts and crafts show with more than 160 artists, food, entertainment and children’s activities. Free admission and parking on the grounds or at Firestone High School (shuttle provided). www.akronartsexpo.org.
• Knitting and Crocheting Circle meetings, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and next Saturday, Highland Library, 4160 Ridge Road, Granger Township (330-278-4271 or 330-239-2674); and 6 p.m. Thursday, Seville Library, 45 N. Center St. (330-769-2852).
• Homemade Beads, 6 p.m. Monday, Lodi Library, 635 Wooster St. For ages 10 and older. Free. Register at the library or at www.mcdl.info/events.
• Scrapbooking, 6 p.m. Monday, Brunswick Library, 3649 Center Road. Create four pages. $8. Bring adhesive. Register at the library or at www.mcdl.info/events.
• Caring for Your Collections Workshop V: Ceramics & Glass, 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Shaker Historical Society & Museum, 16740 South Park Blvd., Shaker Heights. Members $5, others $10. Class size limited. Registration: 216-921-1201. Information: www.shakerhistoricalsociety.org.
• Keeping Critters Out of Your Garden, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, community garden at Kenmore Boulevard and Ira Avenue, Akron. Part of the Talking in the Garden Series, sponsored by Akron Summit Community Action Inc. and Little Mike’s Corner Store. Free. Bring a chair. 330-572-8304.
• Making Your Own Rain Barrel, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, North Park Pavilion, 7660 Fulton Road NW, Jackson Township. Part of the township’s Gardening With Zest educational series. Free. 330-832-2845 or www.jacksontwp.com.
• Ask a Master Gardener, 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, Barberton farmers market, Third Street Northwest between West Tuscarawas and West Park avenues. Summit County master gardener volunteers will be available to answer questions.
• Bead Break, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Seville Library, 45 N. Center St. Learn beading basics, show off creations and swap leftovers. Registration: www.mcdl.info or 330-769-2852.
• Growing Hope Summer Celebration, 6-8 p.m. Friday, Crouse Community Learning Center, 1000 Diagonal Road, Akron. Presentation on late-season planting, tour of the Crouse school garden, salsa contest. Bring a healthful snack to share. Presented by the Summit Food Policy Coalition. http://summitfpc.wordpress.com.
• Antiques in the Alley, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday, Millersburg. Antique and craft vendors throughout downtown. www.starlightantiques.com or www.historicdowntownmillersburg.com.
• Make it Rain: Smart Garden Designs for Homeowners, noon to 2 p.m. next Saturday, Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E. (state Route 172). Presentation on rain gardens by Jen Brumfield of Cleveland Metroparks. Free. No registration required. 330-833-4061 or http://massillonmuseum.org.
• Go Native, Bee Friendly, 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 7, Coventry Oaks Pavilion, 40 Axline Ave., Coventry Township. Symposium geared toward educators and volunteers interested in promoting pollinators and native plants. $30, including lunch and materials. Registration deadline is Monday. Presented by Ohio State University Extension and the city of Twinsburg. Information and mail-in registration form at http://summit.osu.edu/topics/horticulture.
• Nature Connects, through Aug. 24, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Family-oriented event includes 14 giant Lego sculptures and nature-related activities. Ask the Gardener, noon to 4 p.m. today. Garden hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed Mondays. $11; children 3 to 12, $6; members and younger children, free. www.cbgarden.org or 216-721-1600, ext. 100.
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 www.facebook.com/MBBreckABJ, follow her on Twitter @MBBreckABJ and read her blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/mary-beth.