Gardeners Show Up

Gardeners show up for Spring

Photo: Lisa Blanchette

By Lee Burnett

People thirsting for spring found it in Memorial Gym last Saturday, a day of dismal weather outside.

At Sanford Garden Fair, there was honey to taste, herbs to smell, and flowers to catch the eyes. A variety of speakers were on hand to stimulate people’s gardening imaginations.

“I’m way excited,” said Bridget Salantri, organizer of the event. “The turnout is a big surprise considering the weather. We had people here at 10 a.m. and it’s been a steady stream all morning. Families, young people. They came for the programs, the plants, all levels of support.”

By lunchtime, more than a 100 people had come through the doors, according to admission collectors. By the end of the event, more than 200 adults had paid $5 admission fee for that glimpse of spring.

Salantri pulled the event together in just the past two months. She downplayed her own role in organizing the event, saying vendors eagerly jumped at the suggestion of a garden show. Participating were a variety of vendors, including Eldredge Lumber, Backyard Bee, the horticulture program at Sanford Regional Technical Center and Farmfield Greenhouses. Also participating were mission-driven organizations such as Three Rivers Land Trust, Sanford Trails Committee, and York County Beekeepers Association. Native plant expert Shawn Jalbert gave two talks.

Mike Minnon of Farmfield Greenhouses chats with Art Lamontagne at Sanford Garden Fair.

Photo: Lee Burnett

During the event, Salantri answered the question “will this be an annual event?” with a resounding “Yes!” She also fielded offers from new parties interested in being vendors and/or presenters at next year’s event.

Proceeds from the event are going to support additional landscape plantings at the Gary Sullivan Staircase at Main Street Marketplace. Salantri has spearheaded the rejuvenation of plantings at both Main Street Marketplace and the Route 4/Route109 roundabout through the Sanford/Springvale Beautification Program “working to beautify Sanford/Springvale one project at a time.” This program has just been accepted under the fiscal sponsorship of Strategies for a Stronger Sanford, so anyone interested in making a donation can send it to SFSS at PO Box 958, Sanford, ME 04073 marked for the Beautification Program.