Tickets are on sale for the annual Dreamscape Raffle, a landscape makeover giveaway that raises money for Keep Akron Beautiful’s Flowerscape public beautification program.
The grand-prize winner will have his or her front yard or backyard transformed in a landscaping blitz Aug. 5-9. The winner will work with landscape designer Nick Roth of Nick’s Landscaping on developing a plan.
Only property in Summit County is eligible.
Tickets are $25 each or five for $100. They can be purchased at www.keepakronbeautiful.org, at the Keep Akron Beautiful office at 850 E. Market St., Akron, or at these garden centers: Dayton Nurseries in Norton, Donzell’s Flower & Garden Center in Akron, Suncrest Gardens in Boston Township, and Graf Growers Garden Center and Paul’s Greenhouse, both in Copley Township.
The winning ticket will be drawn June 6.
Kitchen wax returns
Jubilee Kitchen Wax is back, and we have a local company to thank.
Barberton’s Malco Products Inc. has licensed the product from S.C. Johnson and Son. Right now it’s available in cases of 12 for $45 at www.malcopro.com and by the bottle for $7.99 at www.gracioushome.com. Other retailers are expected to be added and will be listed in the Malco website’s “Where to Buy” section.
The wax can be used for cleaning and shining appliances, laminate countertops, wood cabinets, ceramic tile and enamel.
Help judge contest
Decorating Den Interiors is inviting the public to help judge its International Dream Room contest.
Before-and-after photos of more than 300 rooms are published at www.drvoting.decoratingden.com. Visitors may vote in any or all of the 12 categories.
The public vote will determine the Peoples’ Choice Award, to be presented at the company’s international conference and market May 7-11 in Memphis.
Events and programs
• Guided Bird Walk, 9-11 a.m. today, Secrest Arboretum, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster Township. Meet at Seaman Orientation Plaza. Free. 330-464-2148.
• Pets & Vets Craft Fair, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today, Unity Chapel of Light, 503 Northwest Ave., Tallmadge. Free admission. Event benefits Wags 4 Warriors and Pet Guards of Cuyahoga Falls. http://tinyurl.com/petsvets.
• Cleveland Botanical Garden events, 11030 East Blvd. Ask the Gardener, noon to 4 p.m. today. African Violet & Gesneriad Show and Sale, noon to 5 p.m. today and Sunday. Northcoast Gesneriad Club program, 2:30 p.m. today and Sunday. Rain Barrel Workshop, 11 a.m. to noon April 20 (members $65, others $75, reservations required). Big Spring through April 28, featuring children’s events and more than 3,000 spring flowers in bloom. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. $12; $8 for children ages 3 to 12; members and younger children, free. Tickets and program reservations: 216-721-1600, ext. 100, or www.cbgarden.org.
• Water gardening seminars, Water X Scapes, 1021 E. Caston Road, Green. Spring Pond Opening, 1 p.m. Sunday and 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Rain Barrels/Rain Harvesting, 3 p.m. Sunday. Pondless Water Features, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Free, but reservations are requested at 330-896-9811.
• 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, St. George Fellowship Centre, 3204 Ridgewood Road, Copley Township. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30. Program: Cleveland’s Cultural Gardens. $13. Reservations: 330-336-6269. Information: 330-673-3553 or http://ohiogardeners.org.
• Real Estate and Finance, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Keller Williams Chervenic Realty offices. Seminar on topics including loans, credit reports, private mortgage insurance and foreclosures and short sales. Presented by the realty company and First Federal Lakewood. Free, but reservations are required by calling the offices: 3333 Massillon Road, Green (330-899-1644); 3070 W. Market St., Fairlawn (330-836-4300); 148 N. Main St., Hudson (330-650-0050); 120 W. Aurora Road, Northfield Center Township (330-467-7000); and 3589 Darrow Road, Stow (330-686-1644). Seminar will be repeated at the same time April 25.
• Painting With Panache, 7-8:15 p.m. Thursday, Brunswick Library, 3649 Center Road. Michelle Venus of Funky Junk Boutique in Seville will demonstrate the use of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint for transforming furniture and other items. Free. Registration: www.mcdl.info or 330-273-4150.
• Creating a Nature Play Space: Big or Small, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland. Workshop led by Ken Finch of Green Hearts Institute of Nature in Childhood. $30. Registration: www.holdenarb.org (click on “Nature Play”) or 440-602-3833. Part of the series of programs in Northeast Ohio called The Importance Of Getting Kids Outside.
• Arbor Day Celebration, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20, Ohio State University Wooster campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster Township. Tree plantings, Tree Campus USA dedication, tree walk. http://secrest.osu.edu or 330-464-2148.
• Pansy Pandemonium container workshop, 1 p.m. April 20, Donzell’s Flower & Garden Center, 937 E. Waterloo Road, Akron. Plant pansy pots. $12.99 per pot, or $9.99 each for seniors and children 12 and younger. Registration: 330-724-0505.
• Unnatural Invasions, 9 a.m. to noon April 27 (registration starts at 8:30), lower level meeting room, Professional Building, 120 W. Washington St., Medina. Spring seminar presented by Medina County Master Gardeners. Topics include soil culture and invasive insects and plants. $20. Payment due April 22. Registration form and details at http://medina.osu.edu/events/unnatural-invasions. 330-725-4911, ext. 106.
• Gatsby in the Garden, 6:30-10:30 p.m. April 27, 657 Ridgecrest Road, Akron. Opening event for Designer ShowHouse 2013. Food, cocktails, private tour and auctions. Gatsby-theme attire encouraged. Tickets start at $75. Reservations due Monday at www.JuniorLeagueAkron.org or 330-836-4905.
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.