PLENTY TO SEE & INSPIRE AT THIS YEAR'S HOME SHOW
Savour `a taste of spring' at Living Landscapes display, tap the experts for tips, enjoy music and more
Spring-like weather may have started early this year, but Mother Nature is fickle and it never hurts to have an extra boost to get us in the mood for the new season — enter the Ottawa Home and Garden Show.
Emphasizing all things outdoors, there will be plenty to see and inspire at next weekend's show, from live music to hundreds of home pros, all anchored by the huge Living Landscapes display by Landscape Ontario.
Living Landscapes has been a staple of the spring show for more than a decade, says Lindsey Ross of Living Green Landscaping, who sits on Landscapes Ontario's provincial board. Billed as “Ottawa's largest professional indoor landscape attraction” on the show website, Living Landscapes takes up almost a full hall at the EY Centre and brings the outdoors in with displays of blooming tulips and other early spring flowers, decks, patios and more.
This year it will see five companies — Hardscape Ottawa, Les Entreprises Marechal, Bernwood Contracting, Bennka Landscapes and Life Long Landscaping Inc. — each create 600-square-foot feature gardens and outdoor living spaces.
“It's a great chance to come and see some really cool garden spaces created by some exceptional landscaping companies,” says Ross. “I think the biggest thing it offers is a taste of spring.”
Show organizer Rob Johnstone of Expo Media calls Living Landscapes “the Crown jewel” of the spring show and notes that, for the first time since 2019, Living Landscapes is returning to a competition format where the feature gardens will be judged by both show visitors and industry experts.
“Alongside these landscape displays will be the Perth Brewery Beer Garden, the Sleep Country Garden Stage and many other outdoor professionals and workshops,” he notes.
In all, there will be more than 350 displays and exhibits, “the most in the history of the Ottawa Home and Garden Show,” he says. “One of the biggest benefits of the show is that we bring all of the experts together under one roof, a one-stop shop to take your home dreams to reality.”
Future Roots Cooperative is a locally focused, not-for-profit, eco-collective of four Eastern Ontario businesses that will have a booth at the show where they will hold workshops, and they will present two stage talks.
The Future Roots workshops will include member business Radical Roots sharing how to craft your own seed bombs (little balls of soil, clay and seeds that are meant to be tossed into any barren or neglected area) and REWILD Landscapes holding one about citizen science.
“We're teaching folks how to care for the new residents of their rewilded landscape and how their knowledge can benefit the greater scientific community,” says REWILD'S Jeff Collins.
Collins will also do a stage talk on replacing lawns with a climate change resilient ecosystem and, with fellow Future Roots business The Box of Life, will talk about improving soil health the natural way.
Along with Future Roots, several experts will share their knowledge on a range of topics in stage presentations. They include:
HGTV personality Chris Palmer on easy trim upgrades for your home.
Designer Sue Pitchforth on creating an outdoor space you'll love.
Renovator Amsted Design-build on universal design.
Master Gardeners of Ontario on multiple topics.
Information resource website All Things Home will moderate a panel of local experts offering tips and advice on how to make the most of your outdoor space.
Other talks will cover gardening trends, secondary dwelling units, using heat pumps and more. In between stage presentations most days, popular home show musician Zachary Martin returns to entertain visitors taking a break at the beer garden, playing well-known songs — and taking requests.
Lana Doss, a garden planner with Ritchie Feed & Seed and a double presenter on the show stage, encourages everyone to check out the show.
“There's just so many industry professionals in one spot, and they have time to talk to you... When you're trying to reach out and ask these questions in the season, their time is very limited. Now is the time to get access to all these professional people and ask questions about what you're planning so that you can get a little guidance.” Johnstone agrees.
“Whether you are a homeowner, condo owner or renter, there is something for everyone at the show,” he says. “Get ideas and information to help plan your new project, be inspired to start a project you haven't dreamed up yet, educate yourself on a different home-related topic or just have fun and enjoy the vibrant displays, listen to the music or enjoy the blooming flowers of the Living Landscapes.”