By Matt Leingang
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Visitors walk past the Civic Garden Center's imaginative and playful display Saturday at the downtown convention center. Mike Simons for The Enquirer

Mark Reinhart of Cincinnati has been coming to the Fifth Third Bank Cincinnati Home & Garden Show for five years.

"You get so many good ideas," said Reinhart, 37. Last year, he talked with the show's experts about remodeling the kitchen in his Eastern Avenue house.

More than 340 exhibitors are at the 38th annual show, which opened Saturday at the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center at Fifth and Elm streets downtown.

There are 20 major garden installations, allowing landscapers, designers and contractors to display their creations and enabling visitors to pick up ideas.

IF YOU GO

What: Fifth Third Bank Cincinnati Home & Garden Show When: Continues through March 14. Hours: Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 5-9 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, noon to 9 p.m.; closed Monday. Where: Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center. Tickets: $10 adults, $3 for ages 13 and younger. $7 through Friday at Fifth Third. Information: 281-0022; www.hartproductions.com.

"People come because they have a home improvement project or they just enjoy getting a taste of spring," said show manager Doug Hart, pointing to the flower and garden displays.

Fans of Paige Davis, the spunky host of TLC's Trading Spaces, can have their photo taken with her today. Master gardener Paul James, host of HGTV's Gardening by the Yard, 13 will conduct a series of seminars March 13.

Exhibitors pay up to $12,000 to set up their displays here - money they hope to earn back in new sales.

David Underhill, owner of Underhill Landscaping in Cincinnati, has participated for the past five years.

"I don't get a tremendous amount of new business directly from this show, but it's good exposure for us. It validates who we are," said Underhill, 46, whose landscaping company rehabs sidewalks, driveways, patios and lawns.

Jeremy Simon and Jennifer Fuller of Florence came Saturday because they needed ideas on how to finish their basement.

"I try to do a new project each year, and this helps me get started," Simon, 29, said.

E-mail mleingang@enquirer.com