Charlotte, N.C.: The curtain is soon to go up for the 54th annual Southern Spring Home Garden Show, and organizers are planning for one spectacular show – and betting on rave audience reviews.
For the first time ever, the event will be spread over two big weekends – the equivalent of a Broadway show’s run being extended. This year’s theme, “Better Living: Home. Garden. Life,” will be woven throughout all the exhibitions and presentations on Feb. 21 through 23 and again on Feb. 28, March 1 and 2.
“Charlotte is fortunate to have lots of local experts in the home and garden arena, and those folks will be among our exhibiting companies,” said Mardee Woodward, the show’s manager. “We’re also bringing in nationally known gardening pros – a garden editor with Southern Living Magazine and a garden scout for Better Home and Gardens, and stars from HGTV, DIY and the Cooking Channel, for instance. Our talent line-up is truly impressive.”
Gardening Stage, including special guests
The Renegade Gardener, also known as Don Engebretson, is one of the big stars. A landscape designer, editor, author and garden scout for Better Homes and Gardens, Engebretson also spent four seasons as gardening guru on HGTV’s show, TIPical Mary Ellen. The Minnesota-based gardening expert speaks – often humorously – all over the country about how to become a better gardener. He believes irreverence is essential in gardening.
Carmen Johnston is a garden designer, garden lifestyle expert and founder of the garden event company, Nectar and Company. In her work as garden lifestyle expert for The Southern Living Plant Collection, Johnston demonstrates how to incorporate the love of gardening into daily life.
The Fabulous Beekman Boys will take the stage twice. Their popular documentary series on The Cooking Channel features their adventures as professionals (Brent Ridge is a Manhattan doctor and Josh Kilmer-Purcell is an award-winning journalist) as they make the transition from urban to country living. Before becoming lifestyle gurus, they won the 21st season of TV’s The Amazing Race. The “Boys” have recently published their first cookbook, The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Desserts Cookbook.
Robert “Buddy” Lee invented the Encore Azalea®, the only azalea to bloom in spring, summer and fall. He has more than 30 years’ experience in nursery management, breeding, propagation and new plant development. He is past president of The Azalea Society of America.
Local experts at the Gardening Stage will offer sessions on composting; how to create an edible and drinkable landscape; how to attract butterflies and other beneficial insects; how to make healthy, kid-friendly snacks from the garden and much more.
Cooking Stage
Every hour of every day during the show will feature prominent chefs sharing their tricks of the trade. From Italian to Southern and from gourmet to grilled cheese, the Southern Spring Home Garden Show covers the full spectrum of the culinary arts. Guests will leave with new recipes, new techniques and renewed enthusiasm for cooking.
Highway to Health Stage
Sponsored by heart surgeon and Emmy-winning host Dr. Mehmet Oz and his wife, Lisa, this intimate stage offers sessions geared to combating childhood obesity. In 2003, the Ozes founded HealthCorps®, a nonprofit aimed at implementing an innovative in-school model that inspires teens to make healthier food choices. Experts will lead sessions on topics ranging from team sports for all ages to empowering students to eat healthy, be active and make a difference.
Home Ideas Stage
Bring pad and pencil, and pull up a front seat to absorb all the expert advice on home improvement and design you could hope for – and it’s FREE! An impressive array of skilled authorities to instruct, demonstrate and counsel will be there and they’ll be eager to talk to you about all kinds of special projects: from keeping your landscaping equipment maintained, to finding the perfect rug for any room to organizing, decorating and everything in between. This must see schedule is brought to you by The Home Mag of Charlotte.
For further information, visit www.southernspringhomeandgardenshow.com
Sponsors: The Charlotte Observer, Belgard Hardscapes and The Carolina Chevy Dealers
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