COEUR d'ALENE - Take 40 yards of sand, 400 square feet of pavers, three dumptruck loads of rock, and mix in some heavy equipment and a few good men.

What you get is one spectacular display - an example of what your yard could become - for the 40th annual Home and Garden Show at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

"It's nice to be in North Idaho, and have a presence over here," said Scott Bucher, project manager with Clearwater Summit Group, a landscaping company based in Spokane that was working on the display Wednesday. "It's just a good show."

The water feature will anchor an array of the possibilities that will be featured during the three-day

around the corner, birds chirping and flowers blooming, an expected 3,000 or so residents are expected to flock to the Home and Garden Show seeking ideas for improving and renovating their homes.

About 120 vendors will be there, showing off services and products sure to spruce up yards, patios, porches, decks, bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms.

Guests can learn everything they ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask about windows, heating, air conditioning, blinds, carpeting, gutters, sprinklers and pest control, too.

Experts will be on hand to offer advice for self-starters, or to take on projects from start to finish for those who aren't so true with tools.

There will also be drawings for prizes, including a front load washer and dryer and a 42-inch plasma TV. The Fun Guy will set up activities outside for kids.

For some, it's the unofficial kickoff to the season of home improvement projects.

"Spring doesn't happen in Kootenai County until the NIBCA Home and Garden Show occurs," said Larry Jeffres, NIBCA executive director.

He said there was strong demand from businesses to be included in this year's show. And that tells him area residents are anxious to get moving inside and outside the house.

"It's amazing. This year we have an extensive waiting list of vendors who tried to get in but we simply didn't have room for them," Jeffres said.

He said the Home and Garden committee worked hard to make this show one of the best.

"We think it's going to be just that," he said.

If you go

• The 40th annual North Idaho Building Contractors Association Home and Garden Show runs noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 to 6 Saturday and 10 to 4 Sunday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Admission is $5. Bring a can of food and receive $1 off. Kids 12 and younger are free.