Smith County Master Gardeners will have its ninth annual Spring Garden Tour from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1.

The five gardens that were chosen for this year’s tour are all within the city of Tyler.

“The tour is a unique opportunity to view five private gardens and landscapes,” Jean Smith, tour co-chairman, said. “This year’s gardens showcase a varietyof landscaping styles and methods — ranging from a woodland setting to an intimate garden planned for the wheelchair gardener.”

The five gardens are: Breedlove Garden, 1216 E. Dulse St.; Gary Garden, 3601 Flagstone Drive; Rentfro Garden, 3811 Long Leaf Drive; Bourns Garden, 3819 Broadmoore Court; and Anderson Garden, 2880 Brighton Creek Circle.

SUNDAY

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH: 11 am.-2 p.m. Sunday at the Seibels House and Garden, 1601 Richland St. Brunch buffet includes classic breakfast foods and pastries, salads and light fare. After brunch take a stroll through the gardens and either a tour of any of Historic Columbia Foundations historic house museums or a spot on the Second Sunday Stroll guided walking tour of Cottontown at 2 p.m. (meet at the North Columbia Fire Station No. 7, 2622 N. Main St. Tickets for brunch are $30; HCF members, $25; children, $5. Brunch reservations required; call (803) 252-1770, ext. 24 or email reservations@historiccolumbia.org

“BAMBINO”: 3 p.m. Sunday at Drayton Hall Theatre, 1214 College St. Richard Maltz baseball opera in one act, revisits the relentless calamities inflicted on the Boston Red Sox, directed by Ellen Douglass Schlaefer. $15; USC faculty and staff, seniors, military, $10; students, $5. (803) 777-5369

MONDAY

CAROLINA WIND SYMPHONY: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Riverland Hills Baptist Church, 201 Lake Murray Blvd., Irmo. Concert program will feature the first South Carolina performance of John Mackey’s “Sheltering Sky”; the premiere performance of “Castlerigg Stone Circle” by Larry Shackley, who dedicated the composition to the bands of Irmo and the late Bruce Dinkins, longtime Irmo High School band director; other pieces will be “O Waly Waly,” “Down a Country Lane,” “In the Shining of the Stars” and “Courtly Airs and Dances.” Free. http://www.carolinawindsymphony.org

TUESDAY

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Road. Good exercise and fun. (803) 345-0158 or email billmac85@yahoo.com

BEGINNER’S SQUARE AND ROUND DANCE LESSONS: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Yellow Rock Hall, 2211 Platt Springs Road, West Columbia. $20 per month. (803) 740-1344; http://www.yellowrockhall.com

COLUMBIA CHORAL SOCIETY SPRING CONCERT: 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 1529 Assembly St. The Ridge View High School Advanced Chorus will team up with the CCS in celebrating the 100th birthday of Benjamin Britten. Tickets are $12; seniors age 55 and older, $10; students, $5. (803) 933-9060; http://www.columbiachoralsociety.org

THURSDAY

COLUMBIA GREEN 2013 FESTIVAL OF GARDENS: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursday. Event will feature nine diverse gardens and landscapes throughout the Kings Grant neighborhood. New gardens, old gardens and evolving spaces will highlight the tour. Advance tickets are $40; $30 for members; day of the tour, $45/$35. A 3:30-5 p.m. garden party with artists and refreshments included in the ticket price. Proceeds will provide major funding for Columbia Green’s mission of promoting the beautification of the Columbia area through gardening, landscaping, horticulture, education and conservation. http://www.columbiagreen.org

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS: The City of Columbia is accepting applications for two vacancies on the Accomodations Tax Advisory Committee. The tax is charged to patrons who stay in hotels and motels. The two applications must be from the hospitality industry and reside and/or work within Columbia city limits. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Thursday. (803) 545-4268; http://columbiasc.net/boards

INSTITUTE OF REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT GOLF TOURNAMENT: 11 a.m. Thursday at Golden Hills Golf Country Club, 100 Scotland Drive, Lexington. Captain’s choice format, $75 per person; four-member team, $300; includes beer, non-alcoholic beverages, snacks and box lunch on course. Proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House, SC IREM Chapter 72 and the SC IREM Foundation Educational Scholarship Fund. (803) 744-7513; email admin@iremsc72.org

OLDER AMERICANS MONTH CELEBRATION: Lunch and Learn, the Palmetto Senior Care program, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lourie Center, 1650 Park Circle (Maxcy Gregg Park). Joe Taylor, community education coordinator at Palmetto Health will share information about the adult day healthcare center where members receive any necessary medical care while enjoying the companionship and social interaction with other seniors and staff. (803) 779-1971; http://www.louriecentersc.com

“THE ART OF GIVING: WILLS OF FAMOUS WOMEN”: 2 p.m. Thursday at the Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Doris Duke were extremely private women in life. Yet after their deaths, their wills became public documents. Join Michael E.S. McCarthy of U.S. Trust for coffee and pastries as he reviews the anatomy of a will using those famous examples. Free; call (803) 799-2810 or email frontdesk@columbiamuseum.org to reserve a spot.

RHYTHM AND BLOOMS, MUSIC AND ART IN THE GARDEN: Mississippi Kites (country, blues and early rock and roll), 6-9 p.m. Thursday at Riverbanks Botanical Garden, 1300 Botanical Parkway, West Columbia. New this year, guests will have an opportunity to visit with and watch local artists dig into their work. Cash bar and food will be available for purchase. $5; members, free with valid membership card and picture ID. http://www.riverbanks.org

FIVE AFTER FIVE CONCERT: Bryson Jennings, 6:30-10 p.m. Thursday at the fountain in Five Points. Free and family activities such as bubbles and decorating Saluda Avenue with sidewalk chalk for children. http://www.fivepointscolumbia.com

FRIDAY

S.C. BOOK FESTIVAL: Special ticketed events include writing classes, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, $30 each; an opening night reception 7-10 p.m. Friday at the Hollings Special Collections library, 1322 Greene St. (enter through the Thomas Cooper Library), $65. http://www.scbookfestival.org

“REVIEW REVUE”: 6 p.m. Friday, second level, Richland Mall, 3400 Forest Drive. Fundraising gala to benefit the Columbia Children’s Theatre S.T.A.R. program, a newly formed philanthropic group. Refreshments, cash bar, silent auction and surprise guests. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at http://www.columbiachildrenstheatre.com or by calling (803) 691-4548

MUSIC AT SANDHILL SPONSORED BY GROW FINANCIAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION: 6-9 p.m. Friday at Town Center Common, Village at Sandhill. Free rides, games and balloon artist Nick Propst at 6 p.m. Concert will begin at 7 p.m. with beach/party band Right to Party. http://www.villageatsandhill.com

“ARSENIC AND OLD LACE”: 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Sundays, May 17-26 at Village Square Theatre, 105 Caughman Road, Lexington. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $17; seniors age 60 and older, students and military, $15; age 12 and younger, $13. (803) 359-1436; http://www.villagesquaretheatre.com

SENSATIONAL EPICS DANCE CONCERT: 7:30-11 p.m. Friday at the Lourie Center, 1650 Park Circle (Maxcy Gregg Park). Age 21 and older, open seating, casual dress; BYOB and snacks; sodas and snacks will be available for sale. Advance tickets, $15; at the door, $20 (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Reserved tables available with the purchase of six or more tickets. (803) 779-1971

SATURDAY

SEE SPOT RUN: 5K run/walk to benefit the Humane Society, 7:30 a.m. Saturday starting at Earlewood Park (Parkside and Earlewood drives). 1K-9 fun walk begins at 9 a.m.; $10. Separate starting corrals for runners, runners with dogs, walkers and walkers with dogs; pets should be on leashes. Register at http://www.strictlyrunning.com, $30; race day registration opens at 6:30 a.m. and will cost $35.

PET PAWTY: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Red Bank Horse Arena, 1159 Nazareth Road, Lexington. Pet-friendly fundraiser and pet food drive to benefit seniors and their pets, sponsored by the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission. Registration for the Pet Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. Other activities include pet contests, entertainment, agility dog demonstrations, food, vendors, Cow-A- Dunga Bingo, pet portraits and caricatures, children’s activities and a Blessing of the Animals. People admission is a cash donation or pet food items (no bags larger than five pounds, please). Pet admission is $5 per pet. (803) 356-5111; http://www.lcrac.com

IRMO FARMERS MARKET: 9 a.m.-noon the first and third Saturdays monthly at Irmo Town Park on Carlisle Street. Yoga for children and an outdoor exercise class for families. (803) 315-4648; email karen@irmofarmersmarket.com or email@brownboxveggies.com

NATURE DISCOVERY: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Road, Hopkins. Walk with a park volunteer to look and listen for animals in the forest. Free. (803) 776-4396; http://www.nps.gov/cong

VICTORIAN LADIES TEA PARTY FOR GIRL SCOUTS: 10 a.m.-noon or 12:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Historic Columbia Foundation’s Seibels House Garden. Girls will learn about Victorian customs, crafts, table manners and etiquette. $8; adults, $5. Reservations required. (803) 252-1770, ext 36 or email jquint@historiccolumbia.org

FAMILY HEALTH FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at North Hope Park, 904 N. Main St., Sumter. Free event for children and families, featuring health exhibitors, games, prizes, food and activities for all ages. Sponsored by Palmetto Healthy Start. (888) 788-4367

COLUMBIA GREEN 2013 FESTIVAL OF GARDENS: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday. Event will feature nine diverse gardens and landscapes throughout the Kings Grant neighborhood. New gardens, old gardens and evolving spaces will highlight the tour. Advance tickets are $40; $30 for members; day of the tour, $45/$35. A 3:30-5 p.m. garden party with artists and refreshments included in the ticket price. Proceeds will provide major funding for Columbia Green’s mission of promoting the beautification of the Columbia area through gardening, landscaping, horticulture, education and conservation. http://www.columbiagreen.org

S.C. BOOK FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; noon-4 p.m. May 19 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St. Presentations by national and local authors, book signings, antiquarian book fair, book sales and appraisals, self-publishing information, storytelling and performances for children, summer reading station for children; free admission. The Literary Vine, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Richland Library main branch, 1401 Assembly St., $40; Richland Library Friends, $30. http://www.scbookfestival.org

ART IN THE PARK: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the West Columbia Community Center, 754 B Ave., West Columbia. Free event will feature local artists displaying their works and a bake sale. Sponsored by the Guignard Neighborhood Association.

BARK IN THE PARK: 2 p.m. Saturday at Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Road, Hopkins. Join a park ranger for a 2.4 mile, dog-friendly hike to learn how people and animals have interacted with the forest over time. The best behaved dog will take home an official “Bark Ranger” bandana. Free; limited to 10 participants; reservations required. (803) 776-4396; http://www.nps.gov/cong

COLUMBIA CLASSIC CHEVY CLUB CRUISE-IN: 5-9 p.m. Saturday at Woodberry Plaza, 3254 Augusta Road, West Columbia.

BLYTHEWOOD BEACH BASH: 5-10 p.m. Saturday at Cobblestone Park, 5 Links Crossing Drive, Blythewood. A night of beach music featuring The Sensational Epics and DJ Gene Lee; lawn chairs welcome. $15; couples, $25. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Questions? Email info@bravoblythewood.com

RHYTHM ON THE RIVER: The Blue Iguanas, 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater, 120 Alexander Circle. Free admission, food and beverages available for purchase; no coolers, please. http://www.rhythmontheriversc.com

“A TASTE OF CAMDEN”: 6-10 p.m. Saturday at the Town Green, 1015 Market St. Participating restaurants nclude Choice, DeBruh’ls, Ginza, La Fiesta, New Horisons, Old Armory, Palmetto Tea Room Coffee Shoppe, Salud! and Sweet Carolina Cakes. There will be performances by the 2012 Kershaw County’s Got Talent finalists along with Jim Hayes, Josh McCaa and Landslide. Tickets for food and drink vendors will be available for purchase at the event. Rain location is the Jim Pat Watts Performing Arts Wing at the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, 810 Lyttleton St. . (803) 425-7676; http://www.fineartscenter.org

“PLANETS FOR THE PEOPLE”: Sidewalk telescope viewing season finale, 6-10 p.m. Saturday at the Hunter Gatherer Brewery and Ale House on South Main Street. Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn and the moon will be visible. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the State Museum and the Midlands Astronomy Club. (803) 898-4921; http://www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org

MUSICAL SALUTE TO VETERANS: 7 p.m. Saturday at Union United Methodist Church, 7582 Woodrow St., Irmo. 1940’s big band style concert will feature the Blue Serenade Orchestra and Southern Bronze Handbell Ensemble. Free Armed Forces Day event will also feature music of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, as well as patriotic selections.

CONTRA DANCE: 7-10:30 p.m. Saturday in the Arsenal Hill Park Building, 1800 Lincoln St. (Lincoln and Laurel streets). Live music featuring BonneTerre; caller will be Dean Snipes. New dancers workshop, 7-7:30 p.m. No partner necessary; bring clean, soft-soled, non-marking shoes. $78; students with ID, $5. Sponsored by Columbia Traditional Music and Dance. (803) 760-5881; http://www.contracola.org

“ARSENIC AND OLD LACE”: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Village Square Theatre, 105 Caughman Road, Lexington. (803) 359-1436; http://www.villagesquaretheatre.com

MOONLIGHT CREATURES: 8 p.m. Saturday at Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Road, Hopkins. Take a walk on the wild side during this special evening program. Free, reservations required. (803) 776-4396; http://www.nps.gov/cong

UPCOMING EVENTS

S.C. BOOK FESTIVAL: Noon-4 p.m. May 19 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St. Presentations by national and local authors, book signings, antiquarian book fair, book sales and appraisals, self-publishing information, storytelling, performances and summer reading station for children; free admission. http://www.scbookfestival.org

WESTON LAKE WILDERNESS HIKE: 1:30 p.m. May 19 at Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Road, Hopkins. Take a 4.5 mile trek into Congaree’s Wilderness with a park ranger. Free. (803) 776-4396; http://www.nps.gov/cong

WILD NEIGHBORS WALK: 2 p.m. May 19 at Sesquicentennial State Park, 9564 Two Notch Road. Ninety-minute program for age 5 and older is a casual stroll along Sesqui’s half-mile Jackson Creek Nature Trail. Participants will see furs, skulls, scat and more while learning about wildlife native to South Carolina. $5; age 15 and younger and seniors, $3. Adults must accompany children 15 and younger. Free for Park Passport Plus holders. Pre-registration required; deadline is Saturday. (803) 788-2706 or email sesqui@scprt.com

“MISS SAIGON”: 3 p.m. May 19, 26; 8 p.m. May 22-25 at Town Theatre, 1012 Sumter St. $25; seniors, 65 and older, active duty military and full time college students, $20; youth, age 17 and younger, $12. (803) 799-2510

“ARSENIC AND OLD LACE”: 3 p.m. May 19, 26; 7:30 p.m. May 24, 25 at Village Square Theatre, 105 Caughman Road, Lexington. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. (803) 359-1436; http://www.villagesquaretheatre.com

THE LOURIE CENTER: Storytelling/oral history workshop led by Julia McKinney, 10-11 a.m. Thursdays, May 23-Aug. 1 (except July 4) at 1650 Park Circle (Maxcy Gregg Park). Lunch and learn, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 23, “Eat This, Not That,” Mary Katherine Benya, a gerontologist at USC will speak on restaurant and nutritional pitfalls, what to eat and what to avoid when dining out. West African drumming workshop, 1 p.m. May 23. Dick Moons of the Next Door Drummers will lead a rousing yet easy group drum lesson, followed by a drumming session. All skill levels are welcome. These programs are free and open to the public. (803) 779-1971; http://www.louriecentersc.com

SUMTER IRIS FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. May 24-26 at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens, 822 W. Liberty St., Sumter. Concerts, parade, arts and craft show, flower show and contests. The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will open with a special ceremony at 5:30 p.m. May 24; the wall will be open the same hours as the festival. (803) 468-0251; http://www.irisfestival.org

“ARSENIC AND OLD LACE”: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, May 24-26 at Village Square Theatre, 105 Caughman Road, Lexington. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $17; seniors age 60 and older, students and military, $15; age 12 and younger, $13. (803) 359-1436; http://www.villagesquaretheatre.com

RHYTHM ON THE RIVER: Randall Bramblett and Danielle Howle, 6-9 p.m. May 25 at the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater, 120 Alexander Circle. Free admission, food and beverages available for purchase; no coolers, please. http://www.rhythmontheriversc.com

JAILBREAK 5K RUN/WALK: 8 a.m. May 25 at the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, 421 Gibson Road, Lexington. Packet pick-up and late registration begin at 6:15 a.m. Entry fee is $25; $30 race day. Sponsored by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation, proceeds will purchase equipment, materials, training and supplies for the department not otherwise provided for in the annual budget. Register at http://www.strictlyrunning.com

PALMETTO CONCERT BAND: Memorial Day concert, 4 p.m. May 26 at the Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St. Free.

Learn how to achieve a beautiful chemical-free lawn or garden that is safe for children and pets, has healthy plants and also conserves water. It’s less work, costs less money to maintain and is eco-friendly, too.

The Lake Gardner Improvement Association and the Amesbury Public Library will sponsor “Greenscapes 101,” a free presentation by The Greenscapes Coalition, on Tuesday, May 14.

Cynthia Ingelfinger, outreach coordinator of Ipswich River Watershed Association, will discuss landscaping practices that have less impact on the environment, particularly with regard to irrigation and chemical use.

“I saw this presentation two years ago at the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library,” said LGIA treasurer John Brucker. “Greenscapes basically does educational outreach for best practice for landscaping so it will have less impact on the environment. People can act as environmental stewards in their own backyards.

“What we’re concerned about is keeping Lake Gardner clean. This is about people caring for their yards in a certain way to minimize water run-off and fertilizer run-off.”

The LGIA is an association of residents formed to advocate for Lake Gardner and its surrounding open and wooded spaces known as the Powow Conservation Area. Its goals are to see that:

The health and features of the lake are both restored and protected.

The water quality is monitored and improved.

The lake’s value as an educational and passive recreational resource is promoted.

The LGIA was organized by Mary Schuberth to repair the Lake Gardner dam after the flood damaged it in 1996. Once the dam work was completed, the group went on to lobby to keep the Lake Gardner Beach gates open for year-round access. The group didn’t stop there.

Committed to promoting recreational use of the beach, lake and trails that comprise the green space along the side of Powow, the LGIA includes members and volunteers from the community who view the Lake Gardner green space as an important asset to Amesbury and are working to improve and extend its accessibility to all.

“Anyone who uses the lake on a regular basis will have seen a dramatic increase in the vegetation in the lake in the last few years,” said Bruce Georgian, an LGIA member and chairman of the Amesbury Lakes and Waterways Committee. “This vegetation crowds out boating, swimming and fishing opportunities. It’s caused by excessive nutrients in the water that come from run-off containing fertilizer.”

It’s very simple. When a homeowner or farmer uses fertilizer, that same fertilizer ends up in Amesbury waterways fertilizing the weeds that clog the lakes, streams and rivers.

“When water runs off, it goes somewhere,” Georgian said. “Sometimes people think they don’t live near a river, but storm drains empty directly into the nearest stream.”

How homeowners care for their lawns or backyards has a direct impact on the water quality in Lake Gardner and the Powow River, Lake Attitash, and ultimately the Merrimack River.

“In place of the lawn, use plant native plants that need little or no chemical fertilizers and require less watering,” Brucker said. “You’ll be creating an ecosystem more suitable for the climate than a lawn.”

Create a greenscape.

“Greenscapes are beautiful landscapes that protect our water,” states

The Greenscapes Massachusetts program, a collaborative education and outreach effort sponsored primarily by the Greenscapes Massachusetts Coalition.

The Greenscapes Massachusetts program seeks to:

n educate citizens and professionals about landscaping practices (particularly irrigation and chemical use) to have less impact on the environment;

n create an informed and proactive citizenry that acts as environmental stewards in their own backyards; and

n generate broad support for the responsible public management of water resources (quality and quantity).

Today’s Greenscapes Massachusetts is based on the successful program originally developed on the South Shore in 2002 by the North and South Rivers Watershed Association and the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program.

“Greenscapes 101” will cover the basic steps homeowners can take to create eco-friendly lawns, gardens and backyards, including how to decrease the size of their lawns, increase the number of native plants, and use less water, which will save money.

“The perception is that irrigation is good,” Brucker said, “but in reality 80 percent of it is run-off that goes into the catch basin rather than into the lawn.

“You will learn how to make rain an asset by redirecting run-off from the roof and driveway, building a rain garden, and using a rain barrel. She will also talk about fertilizer alternatives that are less expensive than chemicals and better for the environment.”

Using native plants and avoiding invasive plants is an important part of creating a greenscape. Ingelfinger will discuss the various types of native trees, perennials, shrubs, and ground covers, and avoiding invasive species such as purple loosestrife and bittersweet.

Now that spring is finally here, homeowners are getting outside and working in their yards. The time is now to create a greenscape and “Greenscapes 101” is a good introduction.