AUDUBON SOCIETY PROGRAMS

Audubon Society of Rhode Island Programs. 949-5454, ext. 3041; www.asri.org. Advance registration.

•Sept. 6. Map ‘n’ Compass, Powder Mill Ledges Refuge, 12 Sanderson Rd., Smithfield. Family program about the basics of using a compass includes combine the use of a map and compass, instruction on how to navigate over distances, and a trip outdoors to find your way over a short orienteering course. 1-4 pm. $18, children $12; members $12, children 8. Ages. 9+.

•Sept. 6. Prudence Island Nature Journal Workshop, Prudence Island. Discover Prudence Island and learn sketchbook journaling with artist Nan Carey, a drawing/painting instructor at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Meet at the Bristol Ferry for a 30-minute ride to the island. Upon arrival, take a short van ride to the Reserve’s Lab and Learning Center to explore exhibits and Prudence Island art displays. After a short session covering the basics of sketchbook journaling, head out and tour the island by van with stops along the way to sketch and write. Points of interest include an old naval T-Wharf, a one-room schoolhouse, farms, stonewalls, salt marshes, beaches and an abandoned mansion. Ferry ride back to Bristol arriving by 4:30 pm. Bring sketchbook, color pencils, watercolors pencils and/or portable watercolor paints and brushes, pencil and eraser, scotch tape. Folding camp chair, a packed lunch, water, insect and tick repelent, comfortable foot wear and dress for the weather. Bring $7.50 for roundtrip ferry tickets.$20, members $16. 12+.

•Sept. 6. Summer Cruising with the Sea Princess: A Taste of Tuscany Culinary Cruise. Dinner cruise departs from Wickford Town Dock, Wickford. 1:30-3:30 pm. $49, members $42. 21+. Final registration is three days before the program.

•Sept. 6. September Butterfly Walk, Napatree Point, Westerly. Outing includes a 1.5 mile walk to the dunes to observe the migration of monarch butterflies. Van leaves from society’s Smithfield location, 12 Sanderson Rd., at 10 am, with a second pick-up at the Park and Ride, Routes 138 and 95, Richmond, at 10:35 am. Bring a lunch and binoculars. $15, members $12. Ages 10+.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

ASRI Environmental Education Center Programs, 1401 Hope St. (Route 114), Bristol. 245-7500; www.asri.org. $6; $5 ages 65+; $4 children 4-12; children under 4 and ASRI members free. Programs are free with admission unless noted otherwise and are for ages 3+. Advance registration.

•Aug. 31. Nature Tales: Owl Moon. Interactive story about the secret nightlife of owls followed by a presentation with a live barred owl. 11:15 am.

•Sept. 4-5. Preschool Story Time: An Extraordinary Egg by Leo Lionni. Reading of a nature story with hands on activities followed by a nature craft. 10 am, 1 pm. Adults must accompany children. $6, members $5. Ages 3-5.

EXHIBITS

Sept. 2-Oct. 27. Exhibit Opening: Nature Day at Pardon Gray, Tiverton Town Hall, 343 Highland Rd., Tiverton. Works by student photographers of the preserve’s natural wonders. Opening reception Sept. 7, 2-4 pm. Regular run, Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm.

Sept. 7. Exhibit Opening. Coming Home to Nature: Photography by Branden Michaux, Audubon Society of Rhode Island Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope St. (Route 114), Bristol. 245-7500; www.asri.org. Opening reception, Sept. 7, 1-3 pm. On view daily 9 am-5 pm, through Oct. 12. Free with center admission. $6, 65+ $5, children 4-12 $4, children under 4 and ASRI members free.

Through Sept. 1. Flutterby: Butterflies in Bloom, Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence. 785-3510; www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org. New walk-through exhibit is set inside a 2,100-square-foot greenhouse landscaped with butterfly-friendly flowers and nectar plants and featuring about 500 butterflies (North American species), offering visitors a close encounter. Daily 9:30 am-4:30 pm. $3, children 3-12 $2 in addition to zoo admission ($12, seniors $8, children 3-12 $6).

Through Oct. 13. Green Animals Topiary Garden, 380 Cory’s Lane (off Route 114), Portsmouth. 847-1000. 80 pieces of topiary, including geometric figures, ornamental design, 21 animals, birds; fruit and vegetable gardens, plant shop, picnic tables. Victorian toy museum in main residence. Self-guided garden tours daily 10 am-5 pm. $11, children 6-17 $4.

Through Oct. 31. Big Bugs Sculpture Exhibit and Web-of-Life Extravaganza, New England Wild Flower Society’s Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Rd., Framingham, Mass. (508) 877-7630; www.newenglandwild.org. David Rogers’ dino-sized sculptures on 45 acres with 1,500 varieties of native plants. Daily 9 am-7 pm. $8, seniors/students $6, youth 3-18 $4; members/children 2 and younger free.

Through Dec. 31. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Rd., Sturbridge, Mass. Taking Root: The Growing Business of Gardening in Pots in the 1800s, exhibit invites exploration of the art and business of gardening in flowerpots in 19th-Century New England. Daily 9:30 am-5 pm. Free with village admission. $20, 65+ $18, youth $6, children 2 and younger free.

GARDEN PROGRAMS

Sept. 3. Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum Garden Tour. 253-2707; www.blithewold.org. Intimate Garden Tour: Discover Gracious Country Living in Little Compton, tour of the property of Gioia Browne and Jim Marsh. Property features house and barn surrounded by mature trees including a 100-year-old American elms, and a variety of well-established garden rooms. 5:30-7:30 pm. $23, members $18. Advance registration.

Sept. 6. Tranquil Lake Nursery Workshop: Fabulous Foliage and Texture for the Late Garden, 45 River St., Rehoboth. (508) 252-4002; www.tranquil-lake.com. Warren Leach, garden designer and co-owner of Tranquil Lake Nursery presents an assortment of attractive foliage plants for garden settings ranging from full sun to dense shade. Some plants reach their peak in autumn and others perform across the garden season. 11 am. Free. All plants discussed available for sale. Program moved indoors in case of rain. Bring a lawn chair.

Sept. 6-7. Rhode Island Dahlia Society Flower Show (43rd annual), North Kingstown Community Center, Beach Street (off Route 1A), North Kingstown. 294-3486, 294-4734. Sept. 6, 3-7 pm; Sept. 7 10 am-4 pm. Free. Handicap accessible.

Sept. 6-7. Secret Garden Fall Tour 2008. 847-0514; www.secretgardentours.org. Self-guided driving tour through private gardens and estates in the neighborhoods of Bellevue Avenue and Ocean Drive, Newport. 10 am-5 pm. $20 advance, $25 day of tour. Tickets may be purchased at the Newport Visitors’ Center at 23 America’s Cup Ave. and Kingscote Mansion, 253 Bellevue Ave. Benefit for the Benefactors of the Arts.

LECTURES

Sept. 5. Skyscrapers Amateur Astronomical Society Meeting, Seagrave Observatory, 47 Peep Toad Rd., North Scituate. www.theskyscrapers.org. Chasing Shadows: Occultation Surveys of the Outer Solar System, by Federica Bianco of the Center for Astrophysics of Harvard University. Fri7:30 pm. Public viewing Sept. 6, 8-10 pm, weather permitting.

NATURE PROGRAMS

Sept. 4. Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council Canoe/Kayak Trip. 861-9046 or e-mail jsullivan@wrwc.org. 5:30 pm. Trip (3½ miles round trip) through the downtown portion of the Woonasquatucket River. Easy paddle from South Water Street to Atwells Avenue and back. Travels past some old mills, as well as through Waterplace Park and past downtown Providence where the Woonasquatucket River meets the Moshassuck River to form the Providence River. Audubon Society of Rhode Island naturalist Eugenia Marks talks about the wildlife in the lower river and the challenges wildlife faces in this part of the river. Some canoes/kayaks available to borrow; participants encouraged to bring their own. Life jackets provided for borrowed boats but must be brought by the paddler if they use their own boat. Suggested donation of $10 per person for participants use a WRWC boat; other donations welcome. Bring a flashlight for put-in around sunset due to Coast Guard regulations. Advance sign-up required. Part of a series of paddling events called Explore the Woonasquatucket.

Sept. 6. New Dawn Earth Center Program: The Forest’s Invitation to Global Climate Change, 75 Wrentham Rd., Cumberland. 333-1341; www.newdawnearthcenter.org. Nature walk through the center’s woods with discussion on global climate change 9:30 am-noon. Free program funded by the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund. Advance registration.

Sept. 6. Rhode Island Wild Plant Society Program: Easy Paddle, North Kingstown. 789-7497; www.riwps.org. Canoe or kayak to view bidens laevis (tickseed) in bloom. Get close up look of this flower in the Asteraceae family by paddling around Secret Lake and experience the feeling of being in a meadow of sunflowers while being the water.10 am. With leader Sindy Hempstead. $7, members $5. Advance registration.

Sept. 6. Trustees of Reservations Wild Edible Plants Walk, Copicut Woods, Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve, Town Road, Fall River. (508) 679-2115, ext. 11 or e-mail www.thetrustees.org. Instructional walk led by Linton Harrington focuses on edible plants with tips on identification, edible portions and preparation methods for each plant as well as guidelines for safe and environmentally responsible foraging. Tree nuts, wild berries, leaves and roots will be seen and sampled during the walk. 1-3 pm. Free.

Whale Watching. Aboard Frances Fleet vessel The Lady Frances. Trips sail from the Port of Galilee in front of Port O Call Restaurant, Great Road, Narragansett. Tue, Thu-Sun 1 pm. Reservations recommended. 783-4988.

FARMERS’ MARKETS

Aquidneck Growers’ Markets. 848-0099.

•909 East Main Rd. (Route 138), Middletown. Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June-Oct.

•Memorial Boulevard, between Edgar and Chapel streets, Newport. Wed. 2-6 pm. June-Oct.

Armory Park, Parade Street, Providence. www.farmfreshri.org. Thurs. 4-7 p.m. June-Oct.

Algonquin House, 807 Broad St., Providence. www.farmfreshri.org. Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 12-Oct.

Barrington Farmers’ Market, Ace Hardware, 180 County Rd. 635-4274. Tues 2-6 p.m.

Blackstone River Visitors Center Farmers’ Market, Route 295 North, Lincoln. 222-2781. Tue 2-6 p.m. July-Oct.

Block Island Farmers’ Markets. 466-2875. 9-11 a.m.

•Manisses Corner. Wed. June-Sept.

•Negus Park. Sat. June-Oct.

Burrillville Farmers’ Market, Austin T. Levy School, 135 Harrisville Main St., Harrisville. 568-9940. Sat. 9 a.m.-noon. May-Oct.

Brown University Farmers’ Market, Wriston Quad, George and Thayer streets, Providence. 863-6509. Wed. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept.-Nov.

Burnside Park, Washington Street, Providence. www.farmfreshri.org. Fri. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. June-Oct.

Capitol Hill Farmers’ Market, 1 Capitol Hill, Providence (across from State House). 222-2781. Thu. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. July-Oct.

Coastal Growers’ Market, Casey Farm, 2325 Boston Neck Rd., North Kingstown (Saunderstown). 295-1030; www.coastalmarket.org. Sat 9 a.m.-noon. May-Oct.

Colt Park Farmers’ Market, Colt State Park, Route 114, Bristol. 222-2781. Fri 2-6 p.m. May-Oct.

Fishermen’s Memorial Park Farmers’ Market, Fishermen Memorial Park, 1011 Point Judith Rd., Narragansett. 222-2781. Sun. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May-Oct.

Goddard Park Farmers’ Market, Goddard State Park, 1095 Ives Rd., Warwick. 222-2781. Fri 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May-Oct.

Haines Park Farmers’ Market, Haines Memorial State Park, Metropolitan Park Drive (Route 103), East Providence. 222-2781. Wed. 2-6 p.m. May-Oct.

Hope High School, corner of Hope and Olney streets, Providence. www.farmfreshri.org. Sat. 9:30 am-12:30 p.m. June-Oct.

Market at Daggett Farm, Slater Park, Pawtucket. 378-2765. Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July-Sept.

North Scituate Farmers’ Market, Scituate Village Green (Route 116), North Scituate. 647-5547. Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May-Sept.

Pastore Complex Farmers’ Market, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, 1511 Pontiac Ave., Cranston. 222-2781. Fri. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Rain or shine. July-Oct.

Pawtucket Farmers’ Market, Broadway and Exchange Street. 863-6509. Sun. noon-3 p.m. June 10-Oct.

Pawtuxet Village Farmers’ Market, Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston. 751-6038. Sat. 9 a.m.-noon. May-Oct.

Burnside Park, Washington Street, Providence. www.farmfreshri.org. Fri. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. June-Oct.

Hope High School, corner of Hope and Olney streets, Providence. www.farmfreshri.org. Sat. 9:30 am-12:30 p.m. June-Oct.

Richmond Farmers’ Market, Richmond Town Hall, 5 Richmond Townhouse Rd., Wyoming. 339-4282. Sat. 8:30 a.m.-noon. May-Oct.

Sakonnet Growers Market, Pardon Gray Preserve, Main Road, Tiverton. 624-7490. Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July-Sept.

South Kingstown Farmers’ Markets. 294-6306.

•Marina Park, Salt Pond Road (off Route 1), Wakefield. Tue. 3-6 p.m. May-Oct.

•University of Rhode Island, Route 138, Kingston. 294-6306. Sat. 8:30-noon. May-Oct.

Whole Foods Farmers’ Market

•University Heights, 601 North Main St., Providence. 621-5990. Mon. 3 p.m.-dusk. June-Nov.

•261 Waterman St., Providence. 272-1690. Mon. 3 p.m.-dusk. June-Nov.

•151 Sockanosset Cross Rd., Cranston. 621-5990. Tues. 3 p.m.-dusk. June-Oct.

Wickenden Street Farmers’ Market, 65 Brook St., Providence. 635-4274. Tue. 2-6 p.m. June-Oct.

Woonsocket, Precious Blood Church, corner Carrington and Park avenues. www.farmfreshri.org. Mon. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July-Oct.