Exclusive Preview: Colorado Garden & Home Show

We checked in with Jim Fricke, executive director of Colorado Garden Show, Inc., to get the scoop on this year’s Colorado Garden & Home Show, February 12-20, 2011 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. 

What's new and exciting for this year's Colorado Garden & Home Show? 

We have more exhibitors in 2011 than ever before—nearly 700 home remodeling, decorating and landscaping companies will be showing up. It’s the largest home and garden event west of the Mississippi.

Our "Entry Garden" features an "Underwater Adventure" theme, with three museum-quality creatures on display, surrounded by nearly 2,000 flowers. Both kids and adults will love this garden, as well as 13 others. With more than an acre of gardens in this year’s show, it’s a great touch of spring in February. 

What kinds of how-to demonstrations are in the works?

Energy-saving tips, green remodeling, interior design and more than 20 other topics. These 40-minute-long sessions held in our "Presentation Theater" provide expert tips for today’s homeowner. You’ll want to browse the complete schedule of sessions on our website, gardeningcolorado.com, before you go. 

If a homeowner's interested in eco-friendly products or features for their home, what does the CG&HS have to offer?

Virtually every one of our exhibitors can help homeowners with tips on saving energy, or products made of recycled materials. Energy savings and eco-friendly products are hot topics for today’s homeowner—and our exhibitors are experts in these areas. 

How can the CG&HS help gardening gurus get ready for spring planting? 

I would encourage everyone to visit CSU's "Education Garden" at the show. Master gardeners are on hand every day to talk about the latest plants available, plus answer those tricky questions on growing in our high-desert climate. It truly is the most educational garden we have at the event and attendees always walk away with the answers they were looking for.

Also, a fun fact: we rotate out the flowers in the gardens halfway through the show. Those flowers are sold by the Rotary Club on February 16th, and you can purchase perennials for just $2 a pot. It's a great way to stock up on bulbs and plants for your home garden. 

Tell us about some of the crowd favorites. 

I think the biggest benefit to our guests year over year is that the event is a true home and garden marketplace. People come to get ideas, answers, and, if they’re looking for an expert to help with a project, they can find and hire one on the spot. By having all of these companies under one roof, guests can shop around and visit several different vendors to find the right company.

I also know many people love to visit the show each February to get that dose of spring. With more than 10,000 flowers in bloom, the convention center is transformed into a beautifully landscaped paradise in the middle of winter.

Visit gardeningcolorado.com for a schedule of events and for more information.