A flurry of green freebies are in the works to mark Arbor Day — the tree-planting holiday.

• Hawaiian Electric Co. and its partners will pass out 2,600 free trees and shrubs this Saturday, including patio plants and flowering and shade trees — one-third of the batch will be fruit trees. Certified arborists and volunteers will also be on hand. One tree per household. The giveaways across Oahu will get under way at 7 a.m. at the University of Hawai'i's Urban Garden Center in Pearl City and HECO's Kahe Power Plant, Ward Avenue facility and Koolau Base Yard in Kailua; they start at 9 a.m. at Wahiawa Botanical Garden and Waimea Valley. For more information, call 543-4441 or visit www.arbordayhawaii.org.

• The Urban Garden Center will offer a tree giveaway, mini plant sale, plant "clinic" and an on-site certified arborist; 7 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Saturday at the center, 955 Kamehameha Highway, Pearl City; information, 453-6050.

• Waimea Valley's second annual Arbor Day event includes free trees and mulch (bring bucket) and a plant sale, including heliconias, gingers, bromeliads, hibiscus, exotics and anthuriums, herbs, orchids, vegetable starters and native ferns; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, 59-864 Kamehameha Highway (near Waimea Bay). For more information, call 348-0057.

Create your own natural products

Although Lauren Cox is just a freshman at UCLA, she has written a book that makes economic and Earth-friendly sense. "EcoBeauty" (Ten Speed Press, $20) offers 100 easy, tested recipes for toners, lip glosses, scrubs, masks and hair conditioners, to name a few. Using common ingredients such as bananas, espresso, apple cider vinegar and wasabi, she creates salon-quality products. A few: Middle Eastern Hummus Mask, Sushi Body Scrub, Cupcake Bath Bombs and Under the Sea Hair Rinse.

The photos feature packaging ideas, perfect for DIY budget-friendly Christmas gifts.

— Paula Rath