Garden and Patio Show coming up March 15

By By Steve Strong / area horticulture extension agent
Jan. 29, 2003
The Lauderdale County Agri-Center will be the site this spring for the Home Builders and Master Gardener Expo.
The event is scheduled for March 15 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. It promises to be an exciting combination of educational seminars and product information for homeowners and "avant-gardeners" alike.
Area businesses will exhibit the latest in home dcor, including kitchen and bath wares, lighting, appliances, interior design, roofing and exterior treatments just to name a few.
Local garden centers and nurseries from a multi-county region will also feature the newest garden plants and equipment to make your home the "Southern Living" showplace you've always dreamed about.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service is teaming up its Master Gardener volunteers with members of the Meridian Homebuilders Association to deliver educational programs throughout the day. Experts will present a variety of gardening topics and home improvement tips, and information booths will provide free publications on how to plan that backyard patio project.
Want to take part?
Any vendor or local businessperson wishing to participate in the Meridian Home Builders and Master Gardener Expo can call Rob Seal, director of the Lauderdale County Agri-Center, at 482-8498.
The admission charge for the event is $3 for adults, children 12 and under admitted free. Separate charges will be assessed for vendor booths.
Food vendors will provide several choices for lunch and snacks during the Saturday Expo, making the event a great option for a family outing.
Nearby Bonita Lakes offers expo-goers a chance to exercise and relax between the garden and home improvement seminars, but you don't want to miss the chance at winning a bundle of valuable door prizes given away throughout the day. I hear a 4-wheeler or riding mower may be in the works.
Whether the next spring project involves constructing a new deck around the swimming pool, or the addition of flowerbeds and fruit trees to the home landscape, the Expo is the one-stop place to shop.
Businesses plan to sell both plants and home building products at the event, so be sure to empty the trunk and back seat before you come.
For more information about the Home Builders and Master Gardener Expo, call the Lauderdale County Extension office at 482-9764.
More spring events
Other spring programs are also planned for nearby towns, like the Garden and Patio Show at the fairgrounds in Jackson March 7-8, and the show in Gulfport in Feb. 22-23.
Last but not least, the MSU Extension Service is helping to sponsor another Garden and Patio event on April 12 at the DeSoto County Convention Center in Southaven. So come if you plan to travel in that direction at the right time or if you know someone in other parts of the state who would be interested, give them a call.
For more information about gardening events and activities, check out the MSU Extension Web site at www.msucares.com. The Internet source provides events calendars, and publishes free consumer tips on gardening and agriculture that can be printed at the touch of a finger.
If the answer cannot be found via the computer or the telephone, try the old-fashioned way with a personal visit to the Extension Service office nearest you.
The agents are not always in the office when you come by, although we do make a special effort to be available if we know you are planning to visit.