SATURDAY Urban Harvest's Starting a Community or School Garden Workshop: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the University of St. Thomas, Jerabeck Athletic Center, Building 30, 3812 Yoakum; 713-880-5540, urbanharvest.org $20. 45th annual Herb Fair: presented by the South Texas Unit of The Herb Society of America. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Judson Robinson Community Center, 2020 Hermann Drive; herb plants, jellies, blends, crafts, bath and beauty products, light refreshments; herbsociety-stu.org. Free. Open Gardens Day: sponsored by Montgomery County Master Gardeners. 9-11 a.m. at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 9020 Airport, Conroe; 936-539-7824, mcmga.com. Free. The Secret Life of Squirrels: with Kelsey Low. 9:30-11:30 a.m.

WASHINGTON - U.S. home sales slid 3.6 percent in December, as rising prices and a declining number of available properties stifled purchases. The National Association of Realtors said that sales of existing homes fell last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million units. Despite the monthly setback, sales totaled 5.51 million in 2017. That was the highest level since 2006, yet it marked a slight 1.1 percent gain from 2016 as the months' supply of properties on the market fell to the lowest level ever recorded by the real estate group. The strengthening U.S. economy helped to lift home sales last year, but homeowners are choosing not to list their properties despite the rising prices and relatively low mortgage rates.

SATURDAY Peckerwood Garden Open Day: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Peckerwood Garden, 20559 FM 359, Hempstead; 979-826-3232; register at peckerwoodgarden.org. Members free, $10 nonmembers. The Foodscape Revolution: with Brie Arthur. 5:30 p.m. at Peckerwood Garden, 20559 FM 359, Hempstead; 979-826-3232; registration at peckerwoodgarden.org. $15. Fruit Tree Class: with Jim Maas and Pat Cordray. 10 a.m. at Maas Nursery, 5511 Todville, Seabrook; 281-474-2488, maasnursery.com. $25. Creating Containers for Holiday Enjoyment with Judy: 10 a.m. at Enchanted Forest, 10611 FM 2759, Richmond, 281-937-9449; myenchanted.com. Free. Monarch Butterflies & Milkweed: with Barbara Willy, executive director, founder of Monarch Butterfly Gateway, Fort Bend County.

SATURDAY, OCT. 21 Dirt into Soil: with Galveston County Master Gardener Jim Gilliam. 9-11 a.m. at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Building, 4102 Main-B, La Marque; 281-534-3413, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston, email registration to galvcountymgs@gmail.com. Free, but registration required. ArBOOretum: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, 4501 Woodway; 713-681-8433, register at houstonarboretum.org. Members free, $15 nonmembers. Pumpkin and Succulent Make and Take: 10 a.m. at Enchanted Forest, 10611 FM 2759, Richmond, 281-937-9449; 2 p.m. at Enchanted Gardens, 6420 FM 359, Richmond, 281-341-1206; myenchanted.com. Prices start around $29.99. Rain Gardens: with Angela Chandler, The Garden Academy. 10 a.m.

Stoneleigh CP Apart-ments has secured a loan to refinance The Cape, a 228-unit apartment complex at 10810 Spring Cypress Road, Tomball. Mark Brandenburg of JLL arranged the loan through Freddie Mac. Built in 2006, the three-story complex encompasses 200,000 square feet across 13 buildings. A subsidiary of Stag Industrial has purchased Stafford Commerce Center, a 68,300-square-foot distribution warehouse at 13720 Stafford Road. The property is leased to Quest Design and Fabrication. Trent Agnew, Rusty Tamlyn and Charlie Strauss of HFF represented the seller, Black Flag Properties. Finial Group has purchased a 49,640-square-foot multi-tenant industrial and office building at 500 Century Plaza.

Sage Plaza, a 25-story office building at 5151 San Felipe between the Tanglewood neighborhood and the Galleria, has landed two new tenants. Insgroup, a privately held property and casualty insurance broker, has leased 43,296 square feet. Legal Access Holding Co., a diversified employee benefits company, has leased 19,816 square feet. CBRE's Jason Presley and Debbie Wilson represented the landlord, Granite Barnhart Sage Plaza, in the deals. David Bale with JLL represented Insgroup, while Jay Kyle of Colliers International represented Legal Access. Recent upgrades to the building, which opened in 1983, include outdoor seating areas and a fitness center.

The Montrose Management District, unable to pay its bills, provide services or keep U.S. 59 bridge lights on, will learn Tuesday whether it will be able to resume operations as the district seeks to fight off a lawsuit seeking its dissolution. After a three-hour hearing Friday, a district court judge said he will rule Tuesday whether to extend a court order that prohibits the management district, whose operations are funded by assessments on commercial property owners, from issuing, collecting or spending those assessments. If the judge extends the order, the district could be shut down until a trial is held on the lawsuit.

Buyers spent less to get into a new house in the Houston area in December.

The average new home sales price in the local market dropped to $358,176 in December, down 3.2 percent from $369,908 in November, according to the HomesUSA.com New Home Sales Index. The index, which tracks price and sales activity in four Texas markets, reflects 12-month rolling averages.

Ashley HomeStore recently opened stores at 9000 San Jacinto Mall in Baytown (33,702 square feet), 3465 Gulf Freeway in Dickinson (17,133 square feet) and 100 Texas 332 West in Lake Jackson (58,324 square feet). Showrooms display packages for living rooms, bedrooms, home office, kitchen, dining and bath, in addition to outdoor furniture, home accents, mattresses and bedding. The company, which has grown to 14 area locations since 2007, has donated more than $1 million in home furnishings to storm victims after Hurricane Harvey.

Meridiana, a development of Rise Communities in the Manvel/Iowa Colony area south of Pearland, has opened its second phase, planned for 300 homes. Chesmar Homes, which will build on 60-foot wide lots, has joined the lineup of builders. Other include David Weekley Homes, Highland Homes, Perry Homes, Plantation Homes, Shea Homes, Taylor Morrison and Trendmaker Homes.

Williams, the lead tenant in its namesake tower by the Galleria, has renewed a lease for nearly a quarter of the space in the 64-story building at 2800 Post Oak Blvd. The Tulsa-based natural gas pipeline company has committed to a long-term renewal for 353,944 square feet in Williams Tower, CBRE announced. Terms were not disclosed. CBRE's Dave Hanusa, Bonnie Kelley-Dienna and Jason Presley represented the landlord, Invesco Real Estate. Ronnie Deyo and Beau Bellow of JLL represented Williams in the renewal. "We are very proud that the Williams Cos. elected to continue their long relationship and identity with the building," Hanusa said in an announcement. "This lease is a very strong endorsement of the building and its ownership.

Investors placed big bets on Houston real estate in 2017, and this year should shape up to be strong too, a panel of experts at BoyarMiller's annual commercial real estate forum said Thursday.

Hertz Investment Group has entered Texas with the purchase of Westchase Park Plaza, a 10-story office building at 11490 Westheimer, from Miami-based Parmenter. The Woodland Hills, Calif.-based company said it paid $24 million for the 232,108-square-foot building. The property, which recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation, is 60 percent leased. Moody Rambin will handle leasing. Richland Cos. has acquired a 74,462-square-foot industrial flex property at 8100 Westpark Drive from Big Houston SW. Houston-based Richland will manage the property, which is fully leased to Hoffer Furniture, Pak Man Supply and DragoArt Tattoo Supply. Houston-based Caldwell Cos.

Katy Ranch Crossing, a 750,000-square-foot retail development of Freeway Properties on 130 acres at the southeast corner of Interstate 10 and Katy Fort Bend Road, is almost fully leased. The center has generated about 150,000 square feet of lease deals annually for the last 5 years, said Lilly Golden, a broker with Evergreen Commercial Realty who represents the landlord. "With only 40,000 square feet of big-box space remaining, I'm expecting 2018 will be the year I lease myself out of a job," Golden said.

Valvoline Instant Oil Change, the nation's second biggest chain of drive-through oil change and automotive maintenance centers behind Houston-based Jiffy Lube, has inked deals for the first company-owned locations in the Houston market. Lexington, Ky.-based Valvoline has secured sites in Grand Parkway Marketplace II, a regional shopping center at ­Kuykendahl Road and the Grand Parkway in Spring near The Woodlands, and at Texas 96 and South Shore Boulevard in League City for its initial locations, according to the Weitzman real estate firm. Valvoline, a motor oil brand that dates to 1866, has operated a plant in Deer Park for 35 years but has not had a big retail presence locally.

The embattled Montrose Management District has stopped providing services to the neighborhood due to "unpaid assessments from some of the commercial property owners within the district," according to a note on its website.

Urban Cos. and InSite Realty Partners plan to develop a large industrial park west of Houston.

Hertz Investment Group has entered Texas with the purchase of Westchase Park Plaza, a 10-story office building at 11490 Westheimer. The Woodland Hills, Calif.-based company now owns and manages 62 retail and office properties throughout the United States, including a recently acquired building in Cheyenne Corporate Center in Las Vegas.

The last of the former Compaq Computer property is being sold, positioning the northwest Houston parcel for a new tenant or perhaps a full-scale redevelopment.

Preferred Shipping has acquired a 63,000-square-foot warehouse in Sugar Land.