Spring
Bangor Daily News, Saturday/Sunday, April 6-7, 2019 D1
2019
LANDSCAPE & DESIGN
Savor these beautiful (and edible) flowers Cultivating beautiful blooms is a popular pastime for gardeners near and far. While gazing at a yard full of vibrant colors or enjoying the aroma of freshly cut blooms is enough for many gardeners, others may want to embrace a long-enduring tradition: growing edible flowers. Cooking with edible flowers is a trend that has endured for centuries. According to Fleurs Gourmandes, the first recorded history of edible flowers occurred in 140 BC. Use of calendula in salads dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Victorian-era candied flowers and flowerencrusted sweets took edible flowers to new heights. Today, nothing may make a meal seem more gourmet than the inclusion of flower petals in the recipe. Of course, before delving into the expanded world of cooking using edible blooms, some notes of caution should first be mentioned. Avoid flowers that may have been sprayed with fungicides, herbicides or insecticides. To verify safety, only use edible flowers grown specifically for this purpose, not flowers picked from roadsides or from landscapes. Secondly, remember that not all flowers are edible. Some can be poisonous or
cause severe gastrointestinal upset when consumed. That means all flowers should be carefully researched prior to experimenting with them in the kitchen. To begin growing (and eating) edible flowers, refer to this list of varieties deemed safe and be careful to doublecheck against allergies and any interactions with medications prior to use. Allium: These are blossoms from the allium family, which include garlic, chives and leeks. These flowers can be used to add flavor to foods. Basil blossoms: It may be customary to pinch off the blossoms of basil, which come in colors from white to lavender in order to stimulate growth of the leaves of the plant. However, the blossoms, which are more mild than the leaves, can be tasty as well. Calendula: Sometimes known as “poor man’s saffron,” this yellow flower in the marigold family can taste like saffron when it’s sauteed. Uncooked, calendula can have spicy notes that add variety to salads and garnishes. Chamomile: This plant features small, daisy-type
flowers that can be used in treats and teas. Cilantro: The flowers from the cilantro plant can be eaten, just as the leaves and the seeds that form the spice coriander. Fennel: Just like the plant itself, the flowers of fennel have a subtle licorice flavor. Hibiscus: Hibiscus blooms are famously used in hibiscus tea, which is tart and cranberry-like. Lavender: The sweet, perfumed taste of lavender works in cocktails and desserts. Marigolds: These tiny flowers may be used in vegetable gardens to repel animal and insect pests. Blossoms have a fresh citrus taste that can be used in cooking. Pansies: These vibrant early bloomers can take on a wintergreen flavor and look beautiful when glazed on cakes and other desserts. Roses: Beautiful to behold, rose petals can lend a subtle, fruity flavor to many different foods as well. Zucchini: The blossoms from this squash, which have a slightly sweet taste, can be enjoyed in many different ways. Some people batter and fry the blossoms, while others may stuff them with herbs and cheeses.
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Get ready:
Early spring landscaping tips
During the cold months of winter, many people stare longingly out of the window dreaming of spring and time spent outdoors. For those with green thumbs, images of tending to the garden and other aspects of their landscapes no doubt dominate such daydreams. Draw inspiration from those budding crocuses and daffodils pushing through the last remnants of snow and employ these tips to prepare for the upcoming gardening season. One of the first steps is to apply a pre-emergent weed killer to get a head start knocking out weeds that can plague the lawn during the growing season. Killing weeds at the roots early on can mean far fewer hassles in spring and summer, and may prevent new generations of weeds from cropping up each year. While it may be tempting to take a prematurely warm day as a sign that spring is in full force and purchase a bunch of annuals, it’s better to know the last of the possible frost dates (check “The Farmer’s Almanac�); otherwise, you may waste time and money planting flowers or vegetables only to have them zapped by another frosty day. Amend the soil so that it is the right consistency—just crumbling when lifting it. Soil that is too muddy after spring thaw can harden, making it difficult for plants to flourish later on. Speak with representatives at a local lawn and garden center about which types of amendments you can add to the soil in your particular area to enrich it. Many lawn and garden experts suggest filling in bare patches of lawn now by mixing a few shovelfuls of soil with grass seed. Then apply this patch to the bare areas, water, and continue to care for the area until the spot fills in. Spend a day in the garage or shed tending to the lawn mower and other gardening equipment. Clean all tools and ensure that everything works, repairing parts as needed. Give outdoor entertaining spaces a good scrubbing, clearing away dirt and grime that may have accumulated over the winter. Use a leaf blower to blow away any leftover leaves. Check if the front porch, railings or decking need painting and/or staining. Tackle these projects when the weather is cooler so everything will be ready for those peak spring days. Think about any annuals you might want to plant in the landscape this year that will complement any existing shrubbery or perennials. Come up with a theme so that the entire yard is cohesive. Before homeowners know it, winter is gone and it is time to once again enjoy long days spent outdoors. Get a jump start on spring lawn prep as soon as you can.
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D4 Saturday/Sunday, April 6-7, 2019, Bangor Daily News
Here comes the bloom: 2019 Flower and Garden Show promises flowers, fun BY JOSHUA ARCHER
If you're still suffering from the winter blues, perhaps receiving a free rose on your way into this year's Flower and Garden Show in the Queen City will put a spring in your step. The Bangor Flower and Garden Show will make its return to its marquee location at the Cross Insurance Center April 12-14. "The show is going to be exciting!" said show promoter Dean Appleman. "It's picked up steam again, which is important. I want it to be a beautiful presentation for the Bangor area." New to this year's show is a theme: "From this point on, we'll be theming the Flower
and Garden Show. This year's theme is 'Outdoor Dreams,'" he said. Already rooted for the spring show are almost a dozen landscaped exhibits and close to 100 artisans will have work on display. Seminars are seeded throughout the weekend for interested green thumbs looking to grow their garden greenery. Attendees should make time for seminars by The Maine Orchid Society, The Garden Clubs of Maine, Penobscot Garden Clubs, and more. Appleman, who also promotes the annual Bangor Home Show at the Cross Insurance Center, said those attending the Home Show have the chance at free tickets
for the Flower and Garden Show. "If people are lucky enough when they go to the Home Show and they pick up a show bag on the way in, they're going to get a free ticket in there also," he said. The 2019 Bangor Flower and Garden Show will take place at the Cross Insurance Center, Friday, April 12 from 3–8p.m.; Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; and Sunday, April 14 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. General adult admission is $10. Children 12 and under are free with adult supervision. For more information, call The Bangor Flower and Garden Show office at 800-237-6024 or visit homeshows.com.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday April 12th 3pm-8pm
Saturday April 13th 10am-6pm
Sunday April 14th 10am-4pm
4pm Veggie Gardening- What’s More Local Than Your own Backyard? with Spragues Greenhouse
11am Redi-Scape Retaining Walls and More with Wayne Danforth
11am Container Gardening with Stephanie Burnett
12pm-3pm Meet and Greet with Tim Sample
12pm Live Birds of Prey with Birdsacre
4pm All About Orchids with the Orchid Society
1pm Blue Star Program Honors Veterans with the Garden Club Federation of Maine
5pm A Female Entrepreneur in the Greenhouse Industry with Amy Hutchins
5pm All About Medicinal Mushrooms with the Mushroom Revival
2pm A Female Entrepreneur in the Greenhouse Industry with Amy Hutchins
Children's Activities (by The Horticulture Club) Friday 4pm - Flower Seed Necklace Workshop Saturday 11am - Herb & Seed Potting Workshop
Exhibit B:
Saturday 2pm - Flower Seed Necklace Workshop
UMaine Landscape Class
Sunday 11am - Herb & Seed Potting Workshop
Exhibit I:
Sunday 2pm - Flower Seed Necklace Workshop
UMaine Horticulture Club
MEET THE 2019 FLOWER SHOW JUDGES Lindsey Robbins - Lindsey is a graduate of the University of Maine in the Landscape Design concentration. She has many years of hands on experience working on estates in the MDI area designing and maintaining gardens. Lindsey possesses a very strong knowledge of plants and an excellent eye for proper planting practices.
Tyler LeBlanc - Tyler has years of hardscape and softscape experience under his belt through his work experience with Street’s Landscape & Lawn Care. He is a graduate of the Landscape Design concentration at the University of Maine. Tyler knows his way around a job site and has a very strong knowledge of skilled hardscape work.
Mike Palonis - Mike is the owner of The Maine Cut Landscaping. In business since 1997, The Maine Cut Inc. is a full-service landscaping (all 4 seasons), exterior construction, hardscaping, and handyman services company.
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vendors list Allenfarm Fence Co., Inc. American Frozen Foods American Sleep Therapy Analytical Lab Another Look Bailey's Lawn Care & Landscape Bangor Daily News Bath Fitter Capt. Mowatt's Central Maine Stone Works Cutco Dog Not Gone Dorr's Equipment Co. Eastern Maine Orchid Society Eastern Plant Specialties Everyday Jewelry & Wearable Art Flagstones Forever Boards Gagne & Son Gibraltar Pools Granville Stone & Hearth Handel Silver and Goldsmith Hawaiian Moon Hickory Dickory Decks Hill View Mini Barns Home Heat JL Landscape Just Grass, Inc. Lakonia Greek Products LeafFilter North, LLC. M & E Sales Maine Sea Salt Maple Crest Lily Bulbs
Marshalls Magnetic Jewelry MMJ Promotions Mushroom Revival Nagy Sales Nelson Candies & Fudge Northeast Ag Sales-Detroil ME Northland Bark Mulch Old Tyme Kettle Corn Patriot Landscaping Pete's Landscape Supply Prairie Blossom Silver Quality Home Products Queen City Equipment Rand Hill Farms Redi-Rock of Central Maine Renewal by Andersen of Greater Maine Riverside Landscaping Sam's Club Scentsy Shipwreck Galley Salsa Simply Prudence Creations Softub of New England Sparkle Plenty Sprague's Nursery & Garden Center Summersweet Landscaping Sunrise Composting Superior Fence The Woodshaper Shop of Maine To the Queen's Taste UMaine Horticulture Club University of Maine Cooperative Extension Wild Walkways Yankee Clipper
2019 Flower and Garden Show floor plan
Early-blooming spring flowers
D6 Saturday/Sunday, April 6-7, 2019, Bangor Daily News
Budding flowers are among the harbingers of spring. Spring flowers can revitalize winter-weary people just when they need it most and provide reassurance that brighter, warmer and longer hours of sunlight are just around the corner. Cold-tolerant flowers are hardy enough to start blooming before the last frosts have dissipated. Other flowers will begin to fill in as days warm a little bit more, according to Better Homes and Gardens. Home gardeners looking to warm up their gardens with early blooms can use these flowers in their early-season containers, window boxes and planting beds.
Go green in your lawn and garden this spring Green is certainly a color that’s synonymous with spring. Gardening enthusiasts can find a way to make spring even more green by embracing several eco-friendly gardening practices as they bring their lawns and gardens back to life in the months to come. Create a compost pile. Composting is an eco-friendly way to enrich lawns and gardens. Composting helps to conserve water because compost promotes moisture retention in soil, reducing homeowners’ need to water their lawns and gardens while also helping them to save money on their water bills. Composting also helps homeowners avoid the need to use potentially harmful chemical fertilizers because compost is a natural, slow release fertilizer. In addition, according to Canada’s Green Action Centre, compostable materials make up 40 percent of residential waste. So composting can dramatically reduce the amount of waste homeowners ultimately send to landfills.
Pansy: Pansies prefer cool weather, which can make them one of the best flowers to plant in early spring and late fall. Pansies come in a variety of colors, so there’s bound to be an offering that will blend with any homeowners’ landscape design. Creeping phlox: Also known “moss phlox,” creeping phlox is a short ground-cover that is a herbaceous perennial. Phlox produces small, fragrant flowers in dense clusters, which can attract wildlife, such as butterflies, to their mats across the soil surface. Snowdrops: Snowdrops can peek out even when there is snow still on the ground— sometimes as early as January and February. But their name is actually a reference to their appearance, as snowdrops have three white petals that hang down like drops dripping off the stem. Violets: These flowers are closely related to pansies and, as a result, prefer cool seasons. Violets are generally slightly smaller than pansy blooms, but they can be just as beautiful. But as with pansies, violets will start to fade when the heat arrives. Crocus: Crocus plants are relatively small, only reaching three to six inches in height. However, their grass-like leaves are some of the first sprouts that can be seen among bulb and corm plantings. Preferring full to partial sun, these gold, purple, lavender, white, or yellow flowers can be enjoyed during the earliest days of spring. Daffodil: Daffodil bulbs produce cheerful, yellow flowers in early spring. They’re one of the most recognizable flowers thanks to their familiar shape and fragrant aroma. Lenten rose: Hellebores, also called the Lenten rose or Christmas rose, can tolerate light frosts. These blooms get their name from the time of year when they bloom, which is typically around the Christian Lenten season. Despite their name, these delicate flowers are not actually related to roses, however. Early-blooming flowers give winter-weary gardeners hope that spring has arrived.
Replace gas-powered mowers with reel lawn mowers. Reel mowers may seem like relics from simpler times, but today’s reel mowers, while just as eco-friendly as their predecessors, are unlike those of yesteryear. According to the Planet Natural Research Center, an online resource for organic gardeners, gas-powered engines emit more than 10 times the hydrocarbons per amount of gas burned than auto engines. But reel mowers are fuel-free and less expensive than gas-powered mowers. Planet Natural also notes that reel mowers snip grass like scissors, leaving finer trimmings that can serve as nourishing, weed-deterring mulch for yards. Water at the right times of day. Homeowners who water their lawns and gardens at the right time of day can help the planet and reduce their energy bills. As spring gradually gives way to summer, temperatures typically rise. Watering during the coolest times of the day means less water will be lost to evaporation, ensuring waterneedy soil will get all it needs to help lawns and gardens thrive. Early morning watering before the sun reaches its midday peak and/or evening watering as the sun is setting are typically great times to water lawns and gardens, rather than when temperatures are at their hottest. Use a rain barrel. Rain barrels provide another great way to conserve water while tending to lawns and gardens. Rain barrels collect and store rainwater from roofs and downspouts, keeping water from washing into sewage systems where it can’t be put to good use. Water collected in rain barrels can be used in various ways. Many homeowners can use water from rain barrels to water their lawns, gardens and houseplants, saving money on their water bills along the way. Spring gardening season provides a great opportunity for lawn and garden enthusiasts to embrace a variety of eco-friendly practices that can save them money and protect the planet.
You’re Invited! Join us in celebrating spring by attending our event!
‘Va Va Bloom’ & April 27 28
This Red Carpet-themed event will feature 10 new and old favorite must-have plants for 2019! They are truly the stars of the show!
Take a tour of our Greenhouses with Lisa & Alicia! Learn about our business and why we continue to grow our own annuals. Tours will be offered at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.
Saturday, April 27
Sunday, April 28 10 a.m. – Fairy Garden Class
10 a.m. – Build Your Own Tiny World Terrarium Making with Holly Clukey – $39.99 per person. Pre-registration required, space is limited. Call 207-942-1394
11 a.m. – For the Love of Lavender With Moore Manor. FREE
with Cindy Goodwin – $39.99 per person.
Noon – Fresh up your Houseplant
Bring in your houseplant that needs cleaning, troubleshooting and repotting. With Holly Clukey. FREE
Noon – 10 Plants You Must Have This Year And why plant them with Melissa Higgins. FREE
Visit us on Facebook, Instagram & our website for upcoming events!
1664 Union Street, Bangor • 942-1394 www.spraguesnursery.com
SUNDAY — JUST FOR KIDS
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D8 Saturday/Sunday, April 6-7, 2019, Bangor Daily News