Outdoors events

For the week of April 8-14

This week

Spring Garden Expo, Gainesville. Hall County Master Gardeners. More than 60 vendors selling plants, garden art and products; activities for kids and "Ask a Master Gardener" information booth. Gardening seminars on Saturday. Expo, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center, 1855 Calvary Church Road, Gainesville. Free admission and parking. 770-535-8293.

Bike ride, Helen. 58-mile ride. Chicken City Cyclists. 10 a.m. Saturday, La La's at Tanglewood, 3318 Ga. 356, Helen. unnoldl@charter.net.

Great America Cleanup, Flowery Branch. Roadside litter clean-up. Bags and gloves provided. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Flowery Branch Depot, downtown Flowery Branch. Free. 770-531-1102 or keephallbeautiful@windstream.net.

Safe Boating Course, Buford. Learn boating skills including how to safely navigate your vessel, legal requirements of boating and navigation. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Coast Guard Auxiliary Operations Center, 6595 Lights Ferry Road, Flowery Branch. $40. 770-904-6340 or auxiliaryclass@bellsouth.net.

Lions 5K Challenge Fun Run, Demorest. Benefits the Habersham County Mentoring Program. 9 a.m. Saturday, Johnny Mize Athletic Center, Laurel Ave., Demorest. $20 registration; $10 for Piedmont College faculty, staff and students. 706-499-4924 or lcunningham0429@lions.piedmont.edu.

Fallen Heroes of Georgia Memorial Run/Walk, Buford. 10K, 5K and 1K races. 2011 Peachtree Road Race Qualifier. 9:10 a.m. Saturday, Lake Lanier Islands Resort, 7000 Holiday Road, Buford. Preregistration $12-$20; day of race registration $15-$25. 678-794-6135.

"Everything Old is New Again," Gainesville. Jeanne Heyser will talk about the latest trends in flower design. Gainesville Garden Club Council. 1 p.m. Monday, Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St., Gainesville.

Spring Plant Sale, Gainesville. Flowering plants, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage and broccoli. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-April 16, April 19-21 and 26-30, North Hall High School greenhouse, 4885 Mount Vernon Road, Gainesville. $1.50-$9. 770-983-7331.

Master Naturalist Program, Gainesville. Learn about the habitats and ecosystems of Georgia. 12:30-5 p.m. Tuesday through May 25, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. $125 for all sessions, field trips and materials. Participants must be 18 and older. 770-535-1976 or elachee@elachee.org.

Lunch and Learn Series, Gainesville. Hall County Master Gardeners. Wednesday, "A Potpourri of Gardening Ideas"; April 21, "Soil Preparation"; April 28, "Open Garden Forum: Annuals, Perennials & More." Free. Hall County Library System's Gainesville branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532-3311.

Plant sale, Oakwood. Lilies, tomatoes and houseplants. Wednesday-April 22, Gainesville State College, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. mmahew@gsu.edu.

Upcoming

Hackers Holiday Golf Tournament, Buford. Golfers needed. 19th hole reception at the clubhouse following the reception. 10 a.m. April 16, Legacy on Lanier Golf Club, Lake Lanier Islands, 7000 Holiday Road, Buford. $150 per player, $600 team of four. 770-532-6206 or rlynch@ghcc.com.

Stray Pet Strut, Gainesville. Benefits the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia. 5K and 1 mile Family Fun Walk. 2 p.m. April 18, American Legion Post, 2342 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. Pets can walk with participants if they are vaccinated, leashed and in good physical condition. Preregistration due by Tuesday, $20; day of race registration $25. 770-532-6617.

Stars Over Elachee at Chicopee Lake, Gainesville. Learn about astronomy and how to use a telescope to view the night sky. For adults and children 8 and older. Bring a flashlight and pencil. Reservations required. 7:45-9:45 p.m. April 18, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. $10 adults, $5 children age 2-12, free for Elachee members. 770-535-1976.

Ongoing

Triathlon Club, Gainesville. No experience necessary. Meets 7 p.m. second Tuesdays, Fit 2 Tri Store, 1292 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville. 770-712-9129 or fit2tri@gmail.com.

ISI Cycling ride, Gainesville. 25-45 mile loop. Three group rides with varying speeds and distances. No ride if in rain or temperature less than 36 degrees. 8 a.m. Saturdays, Corinth Baptist Church, 3590 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville. Free. 678-231-0417.

ISI Cycling ride, Gainesville. 35-45 mile ride. No ride in rain or temperature less than 36 degrees. 1 p.m. Sundays, Kroger Shopping Center, 3630 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville. 678-231-0417.