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Debra Conklin's sunflower garden in St. Albans, Maine.
Spring Dreamin'
By Debra Conklin
Published: March 21, 2006
ALTHOUGH Spring is technically still a few weeks away, the urge to plant
has gotten into my soul. With anticipation I watch the skies become
brighter each morning. I"m excited to see the landscape and skyline for
a few hours longer each day. Even the thawing of my driveway, which
makes for mud tracks throughout my house, cannot dampen my spirits for
the upcoming planting season.
Though my garden is small compared to some others I've seen, just a
patch of dirt corralled by bricks, I still take great pride in the
things I've been able to create in that tiny space. My favorite, so
far, was last years' garden. I really didn't have a plan as to what I
wanted to plant, so my son suggested sunflowers. Big, honking
sunflowers! He had seen them in one of his reading books and loved the
fact that they grew tall, taller even than him. Not having anything
else in mind, I easily agreed, "Why not?" I'd plant them along the
edges and have them surround the rest of my flowers, sort of like a
sunflower fence. To my delight they flourished in their enclosed space and did indeed look like a lanky yellow fence. A
bright background to my smaller flowers. The only thing I hadn't
planned for was that once grown, how heavy they would become and how
prone to tipping over they'd be. So, in an attempt to keep my
sunflowers appearing straight and tall, a few hidden pieces of natural
colored string were used to lash them together and then anchored to some
heavier rocks.
But, as the snow slowly melts and the trickle of water in the streams
can be heard, I'm more than ready to see a more colorful view, green
grass, tiny pink buds and full, lush trees. I'm also ready to dig up
the ground, turn it over and gently place wee little seeds in their beds
of earth. I have a powerful need to feel my fingertips caked in mud,
to see them stained by the soil. The urge to plant seems to run through
my veins and I can hardly wait to embed seeds, annuals and perennials.
To set down an astounding and colorful array of flora. The tending of
my garden, to me is calming and soothing. The routine of watering,
hoeing and weeding for 6 to 8 weeks is an evening ritual as necessary as
watching the sun descend behind the mountains. The thrill of seeing one
of my seedlings push itself up through the earth, makes me oh so proud
of my accomplishments as a weekend gardener. I find myself beaming like
a new mother as my little one reaches towards the sun and opens its
delicate petals for a season of wondrous beauty.
To me planting my spring flower garden isn't just a ritual it's a
reaffirmation of life. A way to rejuvenate my mind, spirit and body.
To bring myself out of the lull that winter has brought on. To spread
my arms and be thankful that I have been given the opportunity to see
Mother Nature do what she does best, to bring the world back to life
after a long winter's nap.
Over the years of searching for the perfect plant-buying paradise, one
of the most inspirational places I have gone to is
The Bangor Garden
Show at the Bangor Civic Center and Auditorium. The show, this year
takes place on April 7-9 with a preview night on April 6. This will be
their 16th year of the hosting the show, but regrettably, only the
fourth one I've attended. For persons who have never attended this
show, it is the opportunity to see extensive exhibits, lavishly and
meticulously set up and displayed. The exhibits are an awakening for
the eyes and fuel for the imagination. Throughout the weekend
there are lectures, demonstrations and hands on experiences for children
and adults. The show promises to get our gardening juices flowing and
our hands ready to get dirty.
* To get to the Bangor Civic Center*
From the North and South, Exit 45A off of I-95, then I-395 to the Main
Street exit.
In May on the 19th, 20th and 21st the
Home, Garden and Flower show at
the Fryeburg Fairgrounds is boasting a bigger and better show this year.
The fairgrounds have been expanded and more room for exhibits has been
created. Offered at the show will be flowers and nursery stock ready for
planting. This in itself is a big plus for those of us who want to
attend a show, purchase our choices and then go home and immediately
sink our flowers into the soil. With over 60,000 square feet of exhibit
space I'm sure to find something I can't resist.
* To get to the Fryeburg Fairgrounds*
From the North, Route 2 into Bethel, then Route 5 South to the Fryeburg
Fairgrounds.
From the South, Route 302 into Fryeburg Village, then Route 5 North to
the Fryeburg Fairgrounds.
Another place that looks to be like a pleasant way to spend a Spring
afternoon is the Gilsland Farm Audubon Center. Just five minutes from
Portland, along the Presumpscot River, this sanctuary has more than two miles of trails that wind through the woods, meadows, orchard and
a salt marsh. Here you can learn about the habitat of birds, eagles,
weasels, fox, deer and black woodchucks. The farm has 2.5 miles of
trails that take you through the homes of these animals as well as along
the shore of the Presumpscot River. But, for flower-lovers, like
myself, the best part of the farm will be drinking in the sight of more
than 400 species of peonies that stretch over seven acres.
*To get to Gilsland Farm*
From the North on I-295, exit 10 and then left on Bucknam Road, then
right onto Route 1 and south for one mile. After the blinking light at
the intersection of Routes 1 and 88, Gilsland Farm Road will be on the
right.
From the South, I-295 to exit 9 then 1.9 miles north on Route 1. Turn
left onto Gilsland Farm Road.
And finally, for those who simply want to learn how to grow and plant,
the Maine Garden Day at the Central Maine Community College in Auburn,
Saturday, April 8th is the place to go. There are over 30 garden
workshops hosted by gardening experts. Some of the workshops included
in the day long seminar will be: What's Wrong With My Plant? Diagnosing
Plant Diseases, Orchids: They're Easier Than You Think, My Weedless
Garden, Getting More Bloom for Your Buck and Walkways, Patios and
Retaining Walls. All classes are either half-day or quarter day and
advanced registration is recommended.
With Spring fast approaching there is no time to lose in planning and
getting our gardens ready for their rehearsals of a full-blown
production to glorious color and beauty! I've got my gardening gloves
ready!
_____
Copyright 2006. Debra Conklin lives in
St. Albans, Maine and besides gardening enjoys spending time with her
family in the Maine outdoors. She is an avid yard-saler and finds most
of her reading material in stuffed boxes under tables. She is the
author of This Ain't Shakespeare ... But It Sure Is Real