Realtors Home & Garden Show offers home and yard improvement ideas

Milwaukee area residents can get an early dose of springtime — along with lots of home and yard improvement ideas — this weekend as the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors Home & Garden Show kicks off at State Fair Park.

The main attraction of the annual show is the "Garden Promenade," with 10,000 square feet of landscaped displays constructed by 10 area landscape designers. The spaces will include water features, green spaces and plantings, as well as outdoor kitchens, fire pits, pergolas and pavers. Visitors can meet the teams that designed the displays while they stroll through the area.

The show, presented by Unilock and held in the Wisconsin Exposition Center, will feature more than 350 exhibitors specializing in landscaping, renovating, decorating, gardening, sustainability and more.

“This really is a no-pressure way for homeowners to gather info and get ideas for jazzing up their living spaces — or ‘rock the house’ as we’re calling this year’s show theme,” said Sandi Anderson, director of the Home & Garden Show. “Whether you just purchased your home, have lived in it for decades or are considering putting it on the market, this is the show for you.”

Among show highlights:

• The Callen Cooking Patio will showcase the culinary talents of some of Milwaukee’s top chefs. From grilling tips and pairings to complement favorite cuts, to vegetarian dishes, desserts and cuisines from around the globe, attendees can expect a variety of topics and techniques.
• The Solutions Stage will offer free seminars, demonstrations and question-and-answer sessions by experts. This year’s topics include: trends in water features, new plants for 2018, creating a four-season landscape, patio maintenance and restoration, landscaping to attract songbirds, do-it-yourself wood slab table tutorials, tree and shrub maintenance and more.
• At the Sustainable Solutions Idea Center, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Plumbers Local 75 and landscape professionals will demonstrate how to achieve a showplace yard using eco-friendly strategies, while saving money, water and energy.
• The Garden Market offers tools, gadgets, lawn ornaments and other items.
• The Milwaukee PBS Great TV Auction Art Preview will also be on site, featuring more than 1,000 art antiques and collectibles.  

The show runs Friday through March 31. The show is closed Monday and Tuesday. Hours are: Fridays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 and Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m.

Regular admission to Home & Garden Show is $8 for adults and free for military personnel (with valid military ID). Children 12 and younger are admitted free. A special $2 off admission discount offer sponsored by Weather Tight is available to download at www.mkehgs.com. Parking is available at State Fair Park for $6 per car. Visit www.mkehgs.com or call (414) 443-2171 for more information.