I need some Home and Garden Show advice

16 years ago

I have never been to a home and garden show before and need some advice. I see that there is one in Fort Worth this weekend. But, then there is also one in Arlington at the end of the month. I think that there are a few others, just don't remember. Since I could get some info on all of them from the same website, are they all put on by the same people? Does it make a difference when and where I go if they are all the same (in other words, would I be wasting time and money going to all of them?). There is one with Neil Sperry (I think the one in Arlington). Would that be better than the fort worth one? Is it just better if I don't go at all (I'll spend too much money, of which I don't have much)? Also, are they more home than garden? I need to do stuff in the house, but at the moment I'm more concerned with my garden. Any advice, tips or previous experience would be greatly appreciated.

Alison

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Comments (14)

srburk
16 years ago
I don't know about Fort Worth, but here in Houston, the show is mostly home, and not so much garden. You might be better served by a garden tour or a class from local master gardeners or a local nursery. Tickets for the one here can get pricy when you figure in parking money or public transportation (or both).
carrie751
16 years ago
Check out the post in the "conversations" section !!
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alley
Original Author
16 years ago
I think I found the conversations thread (everytime I get on here, I find some hidden treasure). All I could find was shows done in an individual's home (unless I missed something) I'm very familiar with those. I'm talking about the kind at the convention center with tons of vendors and they want to show you all the new great stuff for your home and your garden. I know the point is to get you to buy their product or service, but I've also heard that they can be good for getting ideas. I'm just wondering if I need to go to any or all of them (and yes, it does seem like it can get pricey--$8 just to get in for one person).
garden_fool
16 years ago
I went to the one in Houston years ago and I was very disappointed. I agree not much on gardens. I won't go again.
carrie751
16 years ago
The ones in this area are much more geared to gardening. I get some great ideas there and can see what the latest and greatest is even if I am not interested in buying. Alley, the conversations section is located at the top of this GW forum --- it will have: conversations, gallery, exchanges, etc --- just click on one of these, and you have the info.
PKponder TX Z7B
16 years ago
The Neil Sperry show in Arlington is more garden than home too. I got the most beautiful daylily there last year.

Pam
mgmic
16 years ago
I recommend attending the Neil Sperry Show on the last week-end of this month primarily for the lectures! There
are excellent speakers on garden topics, such as native
plants, using color in your landscape, successful plants
used at the Arboretum, and others. I haven't missed it in
years!
mikeandbarb
16 years ago
We went to the home and garden show in fort worth last year and it was mostly for thing's inside the home. With a few things for outside, pool cleaner's, garden tools, back yard makeovers type of stuff. Not many plants I think there was one guy with plants and then some free package of seeds.
I went to the Neil show in Arlington, there they have plants everywhere. Good place to pick up some roses from the ARE as well as many other plants.

I'll not be going to another home show unless I am looking for something for the home. They did have some beautiful things but then they are $$$$.
ronij
16 years ago
I really enjoy the Neil Sperry show. Great lectures and good garden items. I got alot of "fairy garden" items there last year.

Roni
sylviatexas1
16 years ago
don't know if they still do it, but they all used to charge parking fees, too.

I just hate to pay parking to go into what amounts to a retail store;
can you imagine the grocery store charging a parking fee???

Be sure to check out our gardenweb Swaps:

On the Exchanges Page, there are threads for the Ft Worth & Denton Swaps.

Swaps are the best:
no parking fees & you don't need a dime!
alley
Original Author
16 years ago
They had a home and garden show in Arlington a few weeks ago, and when I was looking things up online, I found the Neil Sperry one. I thought that would be the one to go to.

I am planning on making the fort worth (and hopefully Denton) swap. Between that and all the garden savvy people here, I am learning quite a bit (plus, I just found out one of my neighbors is a master gardener. Guess whose brain I'm going to be picking? I've already been eyeballing her yard. Time to make friends :)

At the moment, my yard is essentially a blank slate. I have pictures of it, and if I can figure out how to put them in a post, I'm going to ask for some advice on the landscape design forum. I bought a house on an acre of garden wasteland. Apparently, none of the previous owners have been gardeners of any sort. I have been pouring over pictures of yards to get ideas. I was thinking that going to the home and garden show would give me more ideas. I'm fairly sure that I can't afford anything there.

I saw a picture of a fairy garden the other day. I thought about doing one for my daughter.
sylviatexas1
16 years ago
A blank slate is the most fun!

& you don't have to wait for spring.

In fact your garden will thank you if you start improving your soil now, & you'll have far less backbreaking work to repeat if you sketch out your design beforehand.

SOIL:

Our DFW soils are usually heavy alkaline clay, & a lot of it has been depleted from cotton-growing days & 60 or so years of chemical-dependent agriculture/landscaping/lawn care.

Soil needs nitrogen like coffee grounds, grass clippings, & kitchen scraps, & carbon like autumn leaves.

You can pick up used coffee grounds at most Starbucks;
just ask them if they have some "Grounds for the Garden".
Occasionally you'll find a franchise shop, like the ones inside Kroger stores, that doesn't participate in the corporate program, but don't let it discourage you;
just go to another Starbucks!

I've been picking up other people's bagged leaves (OPBL) for years now.

Just look along the curbs or alleys of wooded neighborhoods on the nights before trash pick-up, & you'll find tons of wonderful leaves, all bagged up foryou.

& feeding the soil doesn't have to be rocket science;
just sling that stuff all over the place or pile it all up, & nature will do what she's been doing since the beginning.

You might get a soil test just to be sure there aren't any weird conditions like lead or something;
other than things like that, your soil analysis is likely to be "alkaline clay, would benefit from the addition of compost".

DESIGN:

One summer when I couldn't sleep at night, I kept a spiral notebook in my bedside table.

Around midnight or so, I'd turn the lamp on & draw out landscape plans for the back yard.

I haven't actually *done* the landscape back there (I'm waiting for the dogs to finish digging it all up, snork!), but I have a much better grasp of how the space lies, what "proportion" means, & how different features relate to each other.

FAIRY GARDENS:

Lucy Harrell (Harrel?), of Ladies of the Garden, says that all fairy gardens need a dead tree, so you can grow vines over it & a little girl can slip into the secret green space inside.

Have fun creating your garden on that blank slat!

& keep an eye on the swap thread & let me know if you see anything on my list that you'd like!
carrie751
16 years ago
Alley, there is a group of us meeting on Saturday at 11 AM to go to the Neil Sperry show. If you are interested in joining us, please post on the thread on "conversations".
vwplantbug
16 years ago
The one in Fort Worth is great if you want siding or storm windows. The Arlington one is great for gardeners, but don't forget about the one on Saturday March 8 in Cleburne. It is sponsored by the Johnson County Master Gardeners. There will be wonderful speakers, plants for sale and it is only $3.00 to get in.

Here is a link that might be useful: Johnson County Master Gardener Association

I need some Home and Garden Show advice

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