THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603190101
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Tim, Al and Heidi play it for laughs on ABC's popular sitcom, ``Home Improvement.''
But it's Dean Johnson and Robin Hartl, on public television's long-running show, ``Hometime,'' who serve up serious tips and solid information for homeowners, along with entertainment and their own brand of humor.
The pair will be appearing at this year's Mid-Atlantic Home & Garden Show at Pavilion, Friday through Sunday. Joining them will be Richard Hesterberg, the curator of Cypress Gardens' Butterfly Conservatory near Winter Haven, Fla. These headliners promise to bring a wealth of information sure to educate, inform and amuse the do-it-yourselfer and backyard gardener.
``We'll give them a behind-the-scenes look at `Hometime,' '' said Johnson. ``People watching think things always go as fast and easy as they do on the show, but that isn't the case. It'll be a combination of talking to the audience and showing some outtakes we're bringing along.'' Johnson rattled off examples.
``In one case, we were putting footings in for a deck; they'll see it just doesn't always go as smoothly as it looks.''
Before their current incarnation as television personalities for the serious home improvement set, Johnson was a builder and Hartl was a real estate agent who renovated homes on the side.
They do a lot of appearances the first three months of each year. By April, Johnson said, the travel pretty much dries up. Meeting PBS deadlines, however, is nonstop. It takes about seven days to shoot one half-hour program.
The shooting is done in Minneapolis, although they shot in Williamsburg during the show's first season, and they were in Norfolk for a segment on lighthouses.
Working in Minneapolis this winter supplied plenty of opportunities to show how weather can be a factor.
``We really should fire up a project in the Caribbean,'' Johnson said wryly.
As spring appears to finally be returning to Tidewater, many homeowners are beginning to consider what to do in the garden. Richard Hesterberg can provide appealing ideas for your landscaping.
``Butterfly gardening,'' said Hesterberg, ``is becoming more popular with the advent of butterfly conservatories. There's more butterfly awareness. People ask, `Where are they?' saying, `I used to see them when I was a kid.' Gardening people understand the association of butterflies and plants. I'll be promoting butterfly gardening.''
It starts by putting out nectar plants that attract butterflies indigenous to the area, he said. Next come what are known as host plants. Butterflies are quite particular about where they lay their eggs, he said. The host plants play a key role in butterfly reproduction. Once they start to reproduce, you have it: a butterfly sanctuary.
``I'll personally guarantee it,'' said Hesterberg.
Butterfly gardeners eschew toxic chemicals to protect the delicate insects, Hesterberg said. Some turn completely to bio-control. That is good news for environmentalists, as well as kids and pets. But butterfly gardening is beneficial for other reasons as well.
``Butterflies and moths,'' Hesterberg explained, ``are second only to bees at pollination. They're also an important part of the food chain. A host of other wildlife feeds on caterpillars.''
This will be Hesterberg's third show this month, a heavier than usual schedule as he has been filling in for a colleague who has pneumonia. He promises to bring to Virginia Beach ``lots of visual things,'' including a slide show and butterflies mounted in cases.
Johnson and Hartl will be appearing at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. and 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday. Hesterberg will appear at the Green Thumb Theater at 2, 5 and 8 p.m. Friday, noon, 2, 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Times are subject to change. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Dean Johnson and Robin Hartl, hosts of PBS' ``Hometime,'' will
appear at the Mid-Atlantic Home & Garden Show this weekend at
Pavilion.
by CNB