HOME-GARDEN

Annual Daytona Spring Home Show wraps up another year

Patricio G. Balona
patricio.balona@news-jrnl.com

The 30th annual News-Journal Spring Home Show had something special for Maggie Grubic and her husband Roger — they got ideas on how to pretty up their yard from someone famous.

The Grubics were part of a large crowd that attended the gardening and landscaping show presented Sunday by Chris Lambton at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.

Lambton, 41, of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is host of DIY Networks’ “Lawn and Order” and “Yard Crashers” television shows. Lambton and his wife Peyton also appear on HGTV’s “Going Yard,” where they transform backyards. The show highlights Lambton’s landscaping skills and gardening know-how as he creates outdoor living spaces and features like patios, pergolas, fire pits and water features.

The Grubics, residents of Ormond Beach, only knew Lambton by watching him on television but on Sunday they got to see and hear him in person as he shared ideas on how to improve gardens and lawns.

“There were a couple of really good examples he gave us, especially cutting trunks to use them for planters,” Maggie Grubic said. “I love that idea.”

“Plus the canned plants, the plants in the containers,” chimed in Roger Grubic.

The Grubics said it was interesting to learn how to prepare and arrange plant containers so as not to make them heavy so they can easily be moved around.

Lambton was the highlight of the weekend show that wrapped up Sunday.

Over 100 vendors displayed their products for the home, both inside and outside, said Jamie Brown, regional events director for GateHouse Media.

Several vendors were happy they participated.

A car dealership from Ritchey's sold several cars this weekend and a bathfitter mentioned that the traffic was light, however, the quality of the attendees has been great, Brown said,

“We had a fully packed stage for our Chris Lambton from DIY networks' 'Yard Crashers' and 'Lawn and Order,'" she said. “The celebrity guest always helps to drive traffic.”

Brown said events like the Spring Turkey Run and Spring Break slowed down attendance but overall it was a big success.

Kaitlyn Stier, The News-Journal’s events manager, agreed with Brown.

“This year’s 30th annual Spring Home Show was filled with a variety of exhibitors,” Stier said. “Attendees were able to fine tune their home project ideas.”

“Attendance was on the lighter side but those who attended were happy to have quality one on one conversations with our exhibitors, which is harder with larger crowds,” she said.

For Doug Davidson, of Aquatic Spas of Florida in Holly Hill, the weekend show was great for business. He said he developed a lot of business leads.

“It’s been pretty good, really good,” Davidson said.

Lambton said he enjoyed his Daytona Beach audience for paying attention and asking "wonderful questions."

"When people ask thoughtful questions that means they are interested in the subject," Lambton said. "They paid attention to it and they want to learn more.

"So, getting great questions after a presentation, to me, just shows the knowledge base of this area and that they do love to get outside and landscape."