VALPARAISO | Hundreds of optimistic gardeners ventured out during the coldest day of the year for the fifth annual Gardening Show at Washington Township Elementary School on Saturday.

Browsers strolled past more than 80 vendor booths selling items for creating a sylvan paradise, including plants, seeds and bulbs; tools; wrought iron art; mosaic birdbaths; and birdhouses. Seminars throughout the day talked about small space gardening, color in the garden and designing a home landscape.

"This is a gardener's heaven," said Tracy Nolan, a member of the Porter County Master Gardener Association.

Mary Simon, the show's organizer, said Porter County is home to about 800 master gardeners. Becoming a master gardener involves taking a 13-week course, which covers plant biology, soil pH, turf and other homeowner gardening topics. About 40 people attend the educational sessions, which are usually conducted twice each year.

"You learn a little bit of everything," Simon said. "Then you are supposed to give back to the community. The purpose of the program is to educate other people on gardening."

Part of the proceeds from Saturday's show funds the master gardener program.

Simon said 1,200 people attended last year's show, and the group was hoping for 1,500 this year.

Krista Upthegrove, of Portage, faced the cold to attend the show by focusing on the spring thaw.

"I was really excited when I read about this," Upthegrove said. "I'm trying to get inspiration and ideas. I noticed a lot of the vendors have really reasonable prices, but I know I'm going to spend too much money."

The show was sponsored by Purdue Extension Porter County and the Porter County Master Gardener Association