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Whether you’re looking to tour some exceptional home interiors, learn some gardening skills or get a firsthand look at electric homes, you’ll find plenty of opportunities on the Peninsula. Check out our October home & garden events calendar.
Interior design tour showcases unique homes, businesses
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12 | San Francisco and Redwood City | General admission is $49.75 | Tickets and more information
Those looking for design inspiration can tour some exceptional interiors on Oct. 12 when five private residences and one restaurant open their doors to the public. Presented by Gray magazine and the Modern Architecture + Design Society, the San Francisco Interior Design Tour celebrates the work of some of the Bay Area’s notable local designers.
During the self-guided tour, which includes stops in Redwood City and San Francisco, visitors can explore the homes room by room and speak with the designers.
One stop on the tour includes a 1920s-era, four-story home in San Francisco’s Sea Cliff neighborhood that was gutted and expanded.
The home features a newly added lower level with a game room and a guest bedroom suite. The top floor, known as “The Crow’s Nest” for its views of the Pacific Ocean and Golden Gate Bridge, pays homage to Boston and San Francisco. A picture wall captures elements of both and includes a needlepoint ship, a New England lighthouse and an oil painting of a family patriarch, commissioned in 1824.
Interior designer Laura Elliott of Refined Interiors, told the tour’s organizers that incorporating the owners’ collection of antiques and centuries-old family heirlooms into the home’s more contemporary design was among the challenges. One such piece, which is referred to lovingly as “the prisoner chair,” is now positioned in front of the living room window. Built in 1665, the chair features the words “Sit and rest” carved into its darkened oak. “It’s a chair fit for royalty … until the seat drops and leg irons descend from the chair’s arms,” she said.
Other stops include a Redwood City home in the Emerald Hills neighborhood that underwent a complete interior redesign that incorporates whites and neutrals throughout the new space. There’s also a classic Victorian townhouse in San Francisco’s Dolores Heights that introduces midcentury modern furniture while maintaining 19th-century architectural elements, including two fireplaces.
Native gardening tips
6:30-8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1 | Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin St. | Registration recommended
Learn about the ecological benefits of using native plants in garden design during this informational talk presented by professional landscaper Shelkie Tao. Native gardens promote biodiversity, support local wildlife and require less maintenance and water than traditional gardens. Seating is limited. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Learn about marsh plants and wildlife
10 a.m. – noon, Saturday, Oct. 5 | Ravenswood Preserve, East Palo Alto| Free | More information
What does it take to live in the marsh? Meander along the boardwalk with docent naturalists Bobbie Riedel and Melissa Hero and discover the plants and animals that make it their home. Participants will observe the rich mosaic of salt marsh habitat, learn about plant adaptations, and look for shorebirds along the way during this 2.5-mile, leisurely paced walk along the Bay Trail.
Meet at the Ravenswood Parking Area (off Bay Road).
Composting with worms
6:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8 | Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin St. | Registration required
Are you eager to compost but have no space and fear the smells? Consider vermicompost made with only paper, food scraps and worms. It takes less space, has little odor, is better for plants and costs almost nothing to make. It can even be done inside the house. Santa Clara County Master Gardener and Master Composter Terry Andre will teach the how and whys of vermicomposting during this one-hour workshop.
How to test your garden’s soil
1:30-2:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13 | Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto| Free | More information
Come get the dirt — on soil. Master Gardener Sharon Erickson will lead a hands-on workshop on soil testing. Participants will learn all about soil and how to use a do-it-yourself home soil testing kit.
Electric Home Tour
11 a.m.- 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 | Various locations throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties | Free | Registration required
Those interested in converting their homes to clean energy can get a firsthand look at how other homeowners have done it during the Electric Home Tour, when dozens of homes along the Peninsula open their doors to the public.
Sponsored by Acterra, the tour provides the public an opportunity to explore a variety of homes that have been retrofitted, remodeled or newly built with electric conversion features, and gain insights about the process and the appliances from the homeowners themselves.
Residents will describe how they chose energy-efficient electric water heaters, furnaces, dryers, induction cooktops and stoves. Some homes have electric fireplaces and electric garden tools, along with other green features like native plants, solar panels and electric vehicles.
This year’s tour includes 23 homes from 13 cities along the greater Peninsula, including Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto and Redwood City.
Tour addresses will be emailed to registrants in the week before the event.
Pollinator Plants Walk & Talk
11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 |Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto| Free | Registration required
Do you want to see more bees and butterflies in your garden? Learn about pollinator plants and how to care for them. This workshop will start with a short presentation, and then participants will walk to nearby pollinator gardens. Light refreshments will be provided.
Making seed balls for pollinators
12:30 – 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20 | Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto| Free | Registration required
Help make seed balls for pollinators at Rinconada Park in this hands-on workshop, The goal is to make at least 500 seed balls for the space behind the community garden. Participants are welcome to take some seeds home to help spread native plants in their neighborhoods.
Fall farm volunteer days
9 a.m. – noon, Wednesdays & Saturdays, Oct. 2, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26,30 | Hidden Villa, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills | Registration required.
Help Hidden Villa’s farm team care for food grown in the fields for the local community. Volunteers are needed to help remove weeds from the farm fields as well as assistance with other tasks. Participants should come ready to get dirty. The farm recommends wearing clothes that you’re okay with getting dirty, sturdy boots and a sun hat. Bring a water bottle and snacks, if you like.
Volunteers meet at the front of the property at 9 a.m. and then head out to the fields from there.
Hidden Villa grows on about 7 acres of land, producing food for the community and donating 25% of the harvest to the food bank at the Community Services Agency of Mountain View. Anyone under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by a guardian.
Orchard Days at Filoli
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.., Saturdays & Sundays, now through Oct. 27 | Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside | Registration and information
Enjoy the bounty of fall in Filoli’s Gentleman’s Orchard surrounded by the jewel tones of autumn, live music, spiced cider and a variety of seasonal activities during Filoli’s annual Orchard Days. Filoli-grown fruit and vegetables will be available for purchase at the farm stand. There will be a hay maze for children, and guests can take a self-guided orchard walk to learn about the historic orchard and fall celebrations across cultures.
Pumpkin sculpting
10 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30 | Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside | Tickets and information.
Design and sculpt your very own bespoke pumpkin, just in time for Halloween. This workshop, led by a renowned carver, takes place in Filoli’s orchard. After the carving session, Filoli’s horticulturists will give participants a tour of the orchard.
How to make your own rain garden
Noon – 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9 | Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto| Free | Registration required
Learn the critical role rain gardens can play in urban stream restoration while also adding beautiful landscaping to your yard. The class will cover how to site, plan and build your own rain garden.
