Spring means it’s time for Home and Garden Show

Talk about it

Record high March temperatures have brought about warm weather excitement and what better way to gear up for spring than to enjoy this weekend’s Home and Garden Show in Jamestown.

“There’s going to be a little bit of something for everybody,” said Kimberly Saxberg, executive director with the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce.

Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people will venture through the Civic Center this weekend, Saxberg said, looking for the latest in gardening, home improvement, home décor and more.

This free event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Eighty vendor booths are lined up for the event, with high demand forcing the chamber to put individuals and businesses on a waiting list as of mid-March.

“We have been getting calls every day since we sold out but we’re keeping them in line for next year,” Saxberg said.

Four free seminars will be held in addition to the vendor booths, discussing topics from tree care to canning.

Saturday’s lineup begins at 11 a.m. with a seminar on chainsaw safety and debarking trees, which will be led by the North Dakota State University Extension Service.

“From about 11 a.m. to noon, we’re going to be geared toward those who use chainsaws all the time — homeowners that go out and cut down trees in and around their yard,” said Lance Brower, agriculture agent with the North Dakota State University Extension Service in Stutsman County.

The seminar will then transition to a discussion about debarking trees, or as Brower said, “What do you do now that the tree has been cut down?”

Brower said people storing wood need to be especially careful of emerald ash borers (EAB) and Dutch elm disease.

EAB is an exotic beetle that nibbles on ash foliage and disrupts the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients.

Dutch elm disease is a fungus affecting many populations of elm trees.

“It’s important people know about these and know how to properly remove bark if they’re going to store wood. If you don’t, you’re going to end up killing a lot of trees,” Brower said.

Seminars continue Saturday with “Flap Folding Homes Art Class for Kids” from 1 to 3 p.m., led by the Young Professionals of the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Arts Center.

The arts seminar will be conducted by William Hessian, whom Arts Center Director Taylor Barnes called “a really experienced artist who we have enjoyed working with.”

Hessian, a traveling visual artist also known as “Mr. Billy” will invite students to design their own house.

“Each student will design a bathroom, a living room, a bedroom and a kitchen,” Hessian said. “It’s a fun, informative class for the kids and all the materials will be provided.”

At 3 p.m., White Drug Garden of Jamestown is leading a seminar called “New Beginnings For Your Garden in 2012.”

“We’ll be talking about three things — miniature fairy gardens, tips for planting perennials and new plants for 2012,” said LeRoy Kirschenmann, master gardener at White Drug Garden Shop.

Foundation for Agricultural and Rural Resources Management and Sustainability of Medina, N.D., will host Sunday’s lone seminar at 1 p.m. titled “You Can Can,” which will provide information about farming and gardening.

“We look forward to a great event as everybody is getting ready for spring,” Saxberg said.

Reister Meats and Edgeley Meats will be on site to provide food samples for the public.

Children will be able to enjoy some entertainment as well, with air games provided by Games to Go of Fargo.

“We’ll be offering six different games for the kids from toddlers to teenagers,” said Brian Bach, operations manager at Games to Go.

Bach said some of the inflatable games would give kids a chance to bounce around and do things they normally wouldn’t be allowed to do inside their houses.

“It’s good family interaction as well — some of our competitive games the little ones can enjoy with mom and dad or even grandpa or grandma,” he said.

Admission and seminars are free of charge.

For more information including a complete list of vendors, visit www.jamestownchamber. com or call 701-252-4830.

Sun reporter Brian Willhide can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by email at bwillhide@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, show