Five things you can find at the Home & Garden Show at State Fair Park
Spring is just around the corner. At Wisconsin State Fair Park, visitors can find gardening and outdoor inspiration in time for the season.
The annual Home & Garden Show, hosted by the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors, opens Friday and runs through April 2 at the park's Exposition Center.
Since the pandemic, people are taking on more home projects, especially in their backyard spaces, said Mike Ruzicka, president of GMAR.
"People are investing in their house. They're spending a lot more time there. They're decorating a little differently," Ruzicka said.
At the show, guests can meet contractors and find inspiration for their homes, both inside and out. Here's a look at a few exhibitors.
Flowers, foliage and a succulent bar
At the Forrest Farms succulent bar, visitors can pick out decorative pots, succulents, mosses and rocks.
Jackie Bell and Danny Forrest founded Forrest Farms last year, using their extra bedroom to house their plants.
At this year's show, they'll be teaching classes showing how to care for, and arrange, succulents. For the greener-thumbed visitors, Forrest Farms will also be selling houseplants, including orchids, African violets, ferns and palms.
Water features help liven up landscaping
Aquatica, one of this year's sponsors, built up a "treasure beach" inside the Expo Center, featuring treasure chests, gold bricks and a central waterfall
"Water is that one thing that can make your landscape come alive," said owner Dean Pipito, also know as The Pondfather.
During the pandemic, more homeowners wanted to transform their backyard spaces, Pipito said. Aquatica installs water features that can survive Wisconsin winters. In the warmer months, Pipito said, the water features attract butterflies, dragonflies and songbirds.
Food, drinks and, of course, grilling
As the weather warms up, it's almost grilling season. At the show, grilling enthusiasts can fine-tune their technique.
Mad Dog and Merrill of Midwest Grill'n will be doing seven grilling shows — and passing out samples. The meat featured is all locally sourced, the duo said.
There are beverages available at the show, too. PRP wines is hosting a wine tasting bar.
Backyard entertainment options include a special pool display
The show features seven landscaping displays, showing off outdoor entertainment features. Visitors can browse outdoor kitchens, bars, fire pits. Loomis Landscaping built a pool just for the show.
Excel Custom Contractors will be showing off its deck hub, which features a fridge, stereo, and gas-fired fire pit all in one.
"In the last couple years, the deck business has just taken off," Excel owner Rob McDonald said.
Healthy home tips, projects
Step Beyond Green will be offering classes on healthy home projects.
Many homeowners have sensitivities — including asthma, allergies, migraines and sinus infections — said Jonathan Synovic, executive director of Step Beyond Green.
Poor ventilation or toxic building materials, can exacerbate those problems, he said. Step Beyond Green is a nonprofit that trains contractors in "healthy home" methods and materials.
On Friday, the organization will be hosting a class on mold safety. On Saturday, they'll be talking about energy efficiency solutions.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Home & Garden Show opens this weekend, with grilling, wine, plants
