Snowfall marks Springtime...

While the snow on the ground might not indicate it, now is the perfect time to start thinking about Spring! This weekend is Garden Expo at the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center. To tell you more about the wonderful green oasis created in the convention hall, Be more Tuned In has a special message from Shelley Ryan, the host and producer of WPT's The Wisconsin Gardener.

Some might find it strange that as a gardener I look forward to February, but it's become one of my favorite times of the year. The second weekend of the month is when I get together with old gardening friends and meet some new ones at the Garden Expo.

Part of the fun of gardening is the planning and at Garden Expo, not only do I get to talk about gardening for a full weekend, I get to see all the latest gardening and landscaping trends in one place. It's become part on my annual planning process.

This year's Garden Expo -- in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison -- is Feb. 8, 9 and 10. The event will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Stop to chat with me. I'll be spending some time each day at the Wisconsin Public Television booth.

At 11 on Saturday morning, I'll be with Wisconsin Public Radio's "Garden Talk" Host Larry Meiller for the Ask the Hosts seminar. Come prepared to ask us your gardening questions. It's always a fun-filled informative hour.

My friends from UW-Extension and Wisconsin Master Gardeners will have booths where they'll answer questions, and offer tips and advice. It's also a great place to shop and get ideas with more than 400 vendor booths that feature the latest gardening tools, gadgets, lawn equipment and yard art. I always find some new things I just have to have.

The weekend offers a respite for winter-weary Midwesterners and an abundance of things to do and see. Visit wpt.org/gardenexpo on the Web to register for workshops, purchase tickets and to see the seminar and demonstration schedules.

Shelley

Garden Expo is presented by Wisconsin Public Television and the UW-Extension/Cooperative Extension Horticulture Team.

Garden Expo is generously supported by Blain's Farm & Fleet, Green Power Tomorrow from MGE, Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association and Zimbrick Volkswagen.