Outdoor living featured at this year’s 67th Annual Kansas City Home Show

Landscape designs play a major role in any overall living environment. From spacious patios, to meandering flower and plant beds, to alfresco kitchens, homeowners are constantly looking for more ways to beautify their outdoor spaces and make them more welcoming for entertaining friends and family.

At this year’s 67th Annual Kansas City Home Show, held March 20-22 at Bartle Hall, attendees will find nearly 250 exhibitors including landscapers, builders, remodelers, interior designers and contractors offering a bevy of cutting edge decorating, design and building trends and construction materials for spring and home garden projects.

Located at the center of the exhibit hall, the Landscaping Square is home to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (KCHBA) Build Zone feature “The Scout Shack,” a 700-square-foot cabin featuring the latest design and construction trends, plus a Boy Scout climbing tower for all ages to try their climbing ability, and a 25-foot tall tipi visitors will want to explore.

Hermes Landscaping, family-owned and operated since 1965 and active in both commercial and residential landscape design in the Kansas City area and beyond, will lend its talents and expertise to help create a special, eye-catching outdoor display in the Landscaping Square.

“We’ve teamed up with the KCHBA to bring the outdoors inside by creating a native prairie woodland feel, a walking trail, and other features around those structures,” said Mitch Benjamin, builder/developer sales with Hermes Landscaping. “There is such an emotional connection to the outdoors, and what we do is show people how to tap into that with much more than just grass and a couple of trees.”

According to Benjamin, landscape designs encompassing native plant materials are becoming more popular.

“They are more drought tolerant and don’t need as much water for times when we don’t have a lot of rain,” he said. “People are increasingly becoming more water conscious, and taking note of their watering needs and how to use it more efficiently. It could be as simple as using a rain sensor or installing climatic controls that detect soil moisture and automatically adjust your irrigation system for certain times of the year. These types of plant materials definitely help with that.”

Hermes Landscaping offers a full range of commercial and residential services including landscape design and installation. Hermes also offers landscape maintenance, sprinkler service, seasonal color, snow removal and specializes in hardscapes like patios and retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, lighting and more.

“Whether for a residential customer or homebuilder, every landscape design is 100 percent custom,” said Benjamin. “We first meet with clients to determine their likes and dislikes, what’s unique to their situation, their budget and any other factors, then everything is tailored to meet their particular needs and desires.”

“We strive to provide the best plant materials that are generally bigger and fuller than what most people specify, at the best costs,” Benjamin said. “This really gives the property an established landscape look, rather than putting in small plants that take a few years to fill in. This mature look works great for individual homeowners, and helps builders be more successful and make their houses more beautiful on the outside.”

Among the companies featured in the Landscape Square are Brummel Lawn & Landscape highlighting the area around the Scout Shack; and Extreme Landscapes of Kansas displaying outdoor entertaining areas in a variety of price points. Visit Monumental Lawn & Outdoor, Stonehenge Landscape and Design, and Rolling Meadows Landscape for inspiration in creating your own spring outdoor oasis.

In addition to the Landscape Square, shoppers will delight in the Pop-up Cash and Carry Market offering Zum products; spices, salts and sweets; and custom reclaimed wood pieces. Pet lovers will have the opportunity to find a new four-legged friend from Furry Kids’ Refuge or the Greyhound plus have a finger-painted pet portrait by artist Thom Richart of Hands All-Over.

The Pub in the Park beer garden returns this year for show visitors to relax and enjoy a Boulevard beer with a view of all the beautiful lawn and garden displays, or watch a little basketball on TV.

This story was originally published March 18, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Outdoor living featured at this year’s 67th Annual Kansas City Home Show."