As a sustainable alternative to cut Christmas trees, Our City Forest is renting out live trees to Peninsula residents during the holiday season. Residents can choose between 5-gallon (4-5 feet) to 15-gallon (5-7 feet) trees to take home, decorate and keep for a month. Trees can be picked up at the environmental nonprofit’s nursery between now and Dec. 21 and returned between Jan. 4-13. More information and online rental agreement.
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Filoli Historic House & Garden, shown here decked out in lights in 2020, will kick off its holiday festivities on Nov. 18. Photo by Jeff Bartee.
Holidays at Filoli
10 a.m. – 9 p.m., daily, now – Jan. 7 | Filoli Historic House & Garden, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside | Tickets required. Prices vary.
The historic Filoli estate will be decked out in a wonderland of color and charm throughout the holiday season. Festivities include 3,600 strands of lights that stretch more than 25 miles, a 210-foot-long light tunnel and more than 7,000 ornaments decorating the property, as well as a variety of special activities on various days, including visits from Santa.
See Filoli’s calendar of holiday events.
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Learn how to transform plain living spaces into beautiful and functional rooms during a six-week interior design course offered by Palo Alto Adult School. Photo courtesy Getty Images.
Introduction to Interior Design
Wednesday, Dec. 13| Palo Alto Adult School, online | $129 enrollment fee. Registration and more information.
Learn how to transform plain living spaces into beautiful and functional rooms during this six-week course that guides participants through the interior design process from start to finish: Participants will learn how to design every aspect of a room while taking into account color theory, industry trends, special arrangements, floor plans, design ideas and interior design basics. The class also covers sustainable designs and how to modify designs for people with special needs.
Interior designer Sara Smallwood, whose work includes everything from designing for residential homes to large international hospitality chains (such as Marriott International), will lead this course. Participants can choose to either enroll in the instructor-led course or the self-paced course, which offers multiple start dates.
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A trail cuts through the trees at Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve. Photo courtesy Getty Images.
‘Signs of Winter’ guided hike
9:30 a.m.- noon, Wednesday, Dec. 13 | Pulgas Ridge Preserve, 167 Edmonds Road, Redwood City | Free. More information.
Explore the area’s winter flora and fauna with docent naturalists Liz F. and Lina Mesa during this hike along the Blue Oak and Dick Bishop trails. Participants will view dusky-footed woodrat nests, as well as trees and bushes displaying berries and nuts. Enjoy views from the top of the ridge on this moderately-paced loop outing. This guided hike is about 4.2 miles and includes a 600-foot elevation gain.
Meet at the Pulgas Ridge Parking Area on Edmonds Road.
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Volunteers can help Hidden Villa’s farm team tend to the organization’s farmland. Courtesy photo.
Farm volunteer day
9 a.m. – noon, Wednesday, Dec. 13 | 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.
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A selection of succulents, holiday center pieces and other plants will be available to purchase starting at $5 during the Succulent open house & plant sale. Photo courtesy Getty Images.
Succulent open house & holiday plant sale
9 a.m.- noon., Saturday, Dec. 16| Martial Cottle Park, 5283 Snell Ave., San Jose | Free. More information.
UC Master Gardeners will be holding a succulent open house and plant sale in the demonstration garden at Martial Cottle Park. Visitors can pick out holiday gifts or treat themselves to a selection of succulents and other plants starting at just $5. Custom centerpieces are available.
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Mountain View’s Housing and Eviction Help Center will be at the Mountain View Library on Dec. 21 to connect landlords and tenants with legal resources and other housing assistance. Photo courtesy Getty Images.
Housing and Eviction Help Center clinic
6-8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 21 | Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin St., Mountain View (1st floor program room), | Free. Walk-ins welcome.
A representative from Mountain View’s Housing and Eviction Help Center will be available to answer questions and connect landlords and tenants with legal resources, information on rental assistance and tenant protections, mediation services and other support services aimed at reducing evictions.
More information and list of services.