Art by Angie Martorana, Aunt of Justina Marcisso
By Carol McCracken (Post # 1,724)
Spring? It’s coming. At least it has every year that I can remember and that’s a long time! But if you can’t wait for the fragrance of flowers and the soothing sound of running water in fountains and over falls, take heart. There is a short-term fix coming soon that will help break up the monotony of cold temperatures and snow storms that Portland is currently experiencing. It’s the annual Portland Flower Show that runs from Wednesday, March 5th – through Sunday, March 9th at 5:00 pm. The Portland Flower Show is located at 58 Fore Street, the Portland Company Complex, on the Portland waterfront. It’s the same property sold to Jim Brady and his investment group for development in the future for $15 million last year.
“Storybook Gardens” is the theme of this year’s 17th annual Flower Show – a theme that 14 exhibitors will interpret with creative displays of stone, trees, shrubs and flowers that have been forced into bloom months ahead of their normal time. The show will also feature numerous education exhibits and a wide array of national caliber speakers focusing on a range of gardening topics, according to a press release issued by Joanna Sprague, show organizer. “Our exhibit hall will be full with 14 landscapes and our vendor area has over 80 vendors and non-profits to educate you on the latest in the green industry,” said Sprague. “This winter has been hard on all of us, so a taste of spring in March is a much-needed break Come see and smell “spring” and take some home with you.”
Advance purchase tickets will be available until March 5, 2014 at Allen Sterling & Lothrop, O’Donal’s Nurseries and Skillins Greenhouses, Harmon’s & Bartons, Letterpress Books, Minot’s Garden Center, Nonesuch Books & Cards, Rosemont Markets, Sawyer & Co. and on-line at www.portlandcompany.com/flower. Advance purchase tickets are $13. $12 for seniors 65 and over. All tickets are $15. at the door, except children under 12 who are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Wednesday evening Gala tickets are $30 in advance purchase and $40. at the door.
Volunteers are needed. Please contact Kerry Ratigan: ratigankerry@gmail A free shuttle bus picks passengers up along Commercial Street, where the Flower Show signs are displayed and drops attendees off at the show front door.
The Opening Night Gala & Awards Ceremony runs from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. The next four days the show opens at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm with the exception on Sunday when it ends at 5:00 pm.
For more information, please call 207 – 775-4403.