Home and Garden Show caters to lots of interests

Ginny Allen is busy getting ready for next weekend's Home and Garden Show at the James Brown Arena. As a master gardener, she's helping to prepare a master gardener booth for the fifth annual show sponsored by Show Technology Productions.

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"We will probably use some of the plants and items from our gardens," she said of herself and co-organizer Sue Norman. "There will also be plants from others and lots of brochures."

Visitors to the home and garden show can peruse booths and displays Friday from 2-7 p.m., again on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and next Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Martinez resident Sally McCall said she has been to the home and garden show several times and has always found the information useful.

"This event is definitely worthwhile," she said. "You can get ideas, literature and compare vendors. We have gone ... with something specific in mind and as a general fact-finding mission."

Show Technologies is billing the event as a place where you can "turn your home and garden dreams into reality" with "lots of exhibitors to help you find the best in home building and improvement products."

Guests also will find information on builders, contractors, decks, pools, spas, entertainment systems, storage, plants, landscape displays and materials, kitchenware and more.

Paul James from HGTV's Gardening by the Yard will make appearances at the show on Saturday at noon and 3 p.m., and on Sunday at noon and 2:30 p.m. James will offer tricks and tips to keep the landscape looking beautiful, and participate in a question-and-answer session.

Children will enjoy arts and crafts time in the Kid Zone and adults will enjoy free wine tastings. Garden art, furniture and dcor, as well as art, gift and gourmet products, will be on display.

The Augusta Rose Society will also have a booth and will present several seminar topics regarding arrangements with dried roses and a simple approach to growing roses. Other seminar topics include orchids, container gardening and plant-growing tips. For a complete list of seminar topics, visit Show Technology's Web site at www.showtechnology.com.

Tickets will be available at the door and cost $7.50 for adults, $5 for seniors 65 and older and active duty military and free for children 16 and younger.