Whats at the home shows for gardeners?
This weekend marks the first of the two big home and garden shows in the Twin Cities. Starting Thursday at noon, the River Centre in St. Paul will host the Minnesota Home and Patio Show, which ends Sunday. Beginning March 4-8, the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show will be underway at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Minneapolis show is generally the larger of the two but there’s a lot of charm to St. Paul’s home show. You may have to pick your way around hot-tub purveyors and window manufacturers, but both shows have plenty for gardeners. In addition to booths from landscapers, stone masons and a few garden centers, you’ll find regular programs and demonstrations on the Northern Gardener stage. These are expert gardeners talking about the plants and projects they love and are well-worth a half hour of your time. Top picks for this weekend: • Master Gardener Mimi Hottinger on Square Foot Gardening at 6:30 p.m. Thursday; • Tips on Tree Care from Certified Arborist Karen Zumach at 2:
