Spring is bustin’ out all over and most of all at The Maine Flower Show at Thompson’s Point! Thirteen (13) exhibitors have been working long hours since last Thursday to display some of their best work to celebrate spring as well as pick-up some additional customers. This year there are 13 exhibits according to Mark Faunce, chairman of the Show. It is sponsored by the Maine Landscape & Nursery Association. Three of them are new this year, he said this afternoon.
Construction of the new Children’s Museum at Thompson’s Point has necessitated several changes to the Show this year. First, the white tents from Wallace Events are located at the front of the building rather than at the back of the building. Secondly, parking is affected this year by the construction. There is none! That is none on site at Thompson’s Point. Attendees are asked to drive and park at the parking lot across from Hannaford Brothers at the Maine Mall in South Portland. Free busses provided by the Association will take you the short distance to the Flower Show.
One of the three new gardens is a joint venture between Pleasant Hill and The Constant Gardener. (See above left photo).Pleasant Hill built the above greenhouse. Kristina TenEyck, owner of The Constant Gardener, said that inside of the greenhouse there will be vertical gardens, a fountain and scents to enjoy. “We are calling it “The Great Escape,” said Kristina.
A second new garden that was almost complete comes from Jake Audet, 26. A resident of Munjoy Hill, his business Audet Enterprises is four years old and he has twenty employees now. The theme of his garden is birds and he will have bird houses for sale. In the winter, his company turns to snow-plowing. This year Portland had 62ish inches of snow whereas last year there were over 100ish inches. “We have a very good year. We are growing every day. We retain our relationships so that everyone is happy,” said Jake. www.audetenterprises.com 400 Allen Avenue, Portland.
The third new garden and a refreshing one comes from Anna Cudmore, of Freeport. (See above photo). “We wanted to do something simple,” said Ms. Cudmore. The boat that is in the center of the garden is from the Apprenticeship in Rockland. It is a Susan Skiff for sale for $1,800. A plant, lobelia, with blue flowers, will planted around the Skiff to replicate water. This blogger does not recall ever seeing a garden that focuses on a beach scene. This display is located in the back end, on the right, of the tent.
“Holding this Show two weeks later than previous shows makes all the difference in the number of flowers that can be displayed at the Flower Show,” said Mr. Faunce, Chairman of the Show. “We had a couple of beautiful days recently and it got everyone and the flowers happy, thinking spring,” said Nick Cloutier, owner of Willie C. & Sons. Nick bought the business from his father. For the first year, his garden is no longer in the white tent which he was pleased with as well. (See above photo of some of his flowers, including pink impatiens.)
Tickets may be purchased on-line or at the Door. www.MaineFlowerShow.com or at your favorite nursery.