Saturday, March 3, 2012

"We've had a very mild winter this year but people still have spring fever coming on," said Pam Garcia, retail manager for Treescapes.

With the fever came sales for vendors at the Outdoor Living and Landscape Show at Century II this weekend.

"Spending's been up this time. We've had very, very good traffic through here and people are buying, so I think it's a good sign the economy really is coming back," said Garcia.

In previous years, this weekend's activities would have included the Wichita Garden Show. Last year, that show phased out, but this year a new show took its place.

"I was just thrilled. They said it wasn't going to be as big. I said, 'Okay, as long as I can get in there and see something growing and smell the earth,'" said Roselea Monroe, visitor.

Although the new show was scaled down, visitors were glad to see mid-size gardens that gave visitors reasonable inspirations.

"This is something you can actually see doing in your own backyard or landscaping around your house. It's more realistic. The price is more achievable," said Kyle Kelley, visitor.

The show will continue Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $4 for children 5-12, and free for children 4 and under.