By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Dorothy Halak and her daughter, Judy, knew exactly what they were looking for Saturday when they arrived at the 35th annual Fifth Third Cincinnati Home & Garden Show at the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center.

IF YOU GO

• What: 35th annual Fifth Third Bank Cincinnati Home & Garden Show, presented by GMC, the Cincinnati Convention Center. • When: Through Feb. 16 (10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays; closed Monday; 5-9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; noon-9 Wednesday and Friday; 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday). • Where: 300 W. Sixth St., downtown. • Tickets: $10, $3 children 13 and under. • Information: 281-0022 or www.hartproductions.com.

"We came to look at kitchen appliances," said Dorothy, of Montgomery. "We came mostly for the home part."

The mother and daughter weren't disappointed. The last time they attended the show, they found fencing for a home project.

By noon, the aisles, booths and exhibits were filled with families, couples and groups of friends, some strolling through, others stopping. The show features a variety of exhibits and demonstrations with vendors selling everything from greenhouses to handmade soap.

Lisa and Matt Birkley of Fort Thomas, were going stir crazy Saturday. So they bundled up their toddler, Libby, and came to the show looking for ideas for doors and landscaping.

"We just bought a house and completely gutted it," said Lisa.

At the Safe and Sound Systems Inc. exhibit, parents and children can rest in large black leather easy chairs to watch a 61-inch NEC gas plasma wide-screen TV.

Near the front entrance is the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati display, where experts answer gardening questions.

Kari Osbourne, communications coordinator for the CCC, said a frequently asked question was, "Where did that lettuce come from?"

Under grow lights, bright green lettuce, tomatoes and a small herb garden were among the numerous plants catching people's eyes. Osbourne said they were grown by children from 20 Cincinnati Public Schools participating in the CCC's GrowLab program.

There is even an orange tree, which has been growing since 1999, started by students at Pleasant Ridge Elementary.

Osbourne said people attend the show to "see something beautiful in February, when it's so gray outside."

E-mail: kandrew@enquirer.com.