Home and Garden Show opens today, goes through Sunday

COEUR d’ALENE — It’s about time to throw open the doors and let in the sunshine.

Or, even better, go out into it and spruce up that place you call home.

“Everybody’s ready to get out of the house and think about working in the yard and think about what they’re going to do," North Idaho Building Contractors Association executive officer Leslie Streeter said Thursday.

The 48th annual NIBCA Home and Garden Show opens at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds today, and it's just the place to find inspiration for those springtime projects.

"This is a great way to kick it off and get great ideas," Streeter said.

With more than 125 vendors of everything from hardscape supplies to fences, bathtubs and construction materials, this year's show is the biggest yet. Visitors will find friendly experts and carefully crafted exhibits in five buildings with even more to see outside on the lawns.

“You talk to a lot of people,” said Sam Salsbury, an employee of Yochum Landscaping in Post Falls.

He and his team have installed a flowerbed in Building 7 where they’ve also built an outside patio space beneath a pergola to give visitors a visual for how they can transform their own backyards into something more fun and functional.

Yochum Landscaping has participated in the Home and Garden Show for several years and is a familiar face for show-goers.

“It’s one of the first weekends that it’s nice," Salsbury said. "It’s a signal that spring and summer’s coming. We’re coming out of winter, everybody’s looking at their yard wanting to do something, so they’re coming out here to get some ideas and some business cards."

First-year vendor Veritas Stone of Hayden will be found at the entrance of Building 3, where show guests will have opportunities to chat with co-owner Bryce Lund about pavers, retaining wall blocks, masonry supplies and manufactured natural stone veneers. Lund said they're excited to provide a resource for homeowners and landscapers.

“This is a new venture for us,” Lund said. "We heard there was a need for a locally owned company that was really focused on customer service. Veritas is Latin for ‘truth,’ that’s what we’re based on. We want to be a good strong supplier for landscapers and masons."

As well as fueling D-I-Y dreams, the Home and Garden Show is adding some fun with a scavenger hunt and a drawing. The lucky scavenger hunt winner whose form is selected will receive a $500 gift certificate to Home Depot. In addition, admission tickets dropped at the NIBCA booth will be placed in a drawing for a Fred's Appliance washer and dryer, a Stihl lawn trimmer and a spring gift basket.

Also, the first 250 people to visit Building 19 each day will receive free flowers to take home to plant.

The 48th annual Home and Garden Show hours are from noon to 6 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $6 per person. Children 12 and younger can attend free with a paying adult. Bring a can of food to the ticket booth and receive $1 off admission. Food collections will go to the local food bank.

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Info: www.nibca.com