Time to tap into your inner Clark Griswold: Henderson’s holiday decorating contest is just around the corner.

City officials will accept entries for their 2012 Holiday Decorating Contest through 5 p.m. on November 28, but entry is limited to the first 50 received. Printable entry forms are available at cityofhenderson.com (type ‘decorate’ in the search box). The annual contest is sponsored by the Henderson Commemorative Beautification Commission (HCBC) and there is no cost to take part.

The outdoor decorating contest is open to any residential single-family home within the city. Participants can choose from several categories: children’s theme; Griswold, which includes homes with extravagant decorations such as those seen in the movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation;” 500 to 1,000 lights; street/neighborhood (minimum of three homes); best holiday theme; and most innovative.

Gramly Construction recently completed a 26-month remodel project of a Green Valley home that earned the first LEED Silver certification for a residential property in the state.

Working with a team that included Michael Del Gatto of Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects and Leslie Paraguirre of Colours, Inc., company president Mike Gramly facilitated the project that installed photovoltaic solar energy panels on the roof, as well as improved insulation, weatherization and ventilation. The home also now includes drought-efficient landscaping, sustainable and recycled materials, on-demand water heaters and energy-efficient thermostats.

A total of five custom homes in Nevada have achieved any level of LEED certification, and another 50 production homes are LEED-certified.

Unusual, desert adapted plants including a large selection of agaves and cacti will be among those offered for sale as the Springs Preserve hosts its annual Spring Plant Sale Saturday, March 26, from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

The sale will feature limited quantities of about 5,000 native and drought-tolerant plant species, including seasonal perennials. Plants will be sold in container sizes ranging from 2 inches up to 5 gallons. Springs Preserve garden staff experts will be on hand to answer customers’ questions about how to care for their new plants.

New at this year’s event will be a silent auction to bid for cactus and succulent container gardens, and “table top” garden displays also will be offered for sale.

Springs Preserve members will have exclusive access to the sale from 7-8 a.m. The sale will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.