Beautify your Home with Pooh Corner Farm with Margaret Manbeck

from Bethel Living #57 June / July 2023

New Life for an Old Mine

by Laurie Ann Knowles

It’s always a good idea to turn down the Bog Road on a trip through West Bethel at this time of year because down at the end there’s quite a springtime treasure —Pooh Corner Farm!

Since 1985, Pooh Corner Farm has been sprouting, blossoming, blooming and beautifying the Bethel area, thanks to the creativity and green thumb of Carole Duplessis. In the past few years her daughter Margaret Manbeck has taken over the wheel barrow and — with Carole’s help — is carrying on the business; following new trends requested by her customers and inventing some of her own. With over 5,000 sq. ft of greenhouse and a year-round garden, gift center and florist, they offer a large selection of annuals, perennials, vegetable seedings, soil and mulch. Margaret recommends mixing herbs and vegetables into the flower gardens close to your house or kitchen for easy use. Planting seedlings now will provide fresh produce this summer right from your dooryard. This gardening season, customers are seeking out plants that attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Annual pollinators include Fuchsias, Snapdragons, Cosmos, Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia), Zinnias and many more. Perennial pollinators include Catmint, Butterfly Weed, Lavender, Beebalm, Echinacea, Lilacs and the list goes on. Everyone likes low-maintenance plants, whether they be deer-resistant, drought tolerant or native to our growing zone. Margaret and Carole give personal recommendations on what will work best for your specific growing conditions and goals. Another trend is for not only beautiful plants, but ones that give dual use, whether that’s a cut flower garden or edible plants, such as vegetables and herbs. Margaret and Carole often reference the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. This is a free resource that offers lists of plants that will thrive in Maine’s short growing season. You cannot have your own beautiful and healthy garden all summer if you don’t get plants in this growing season!

Swing by 436 Bog Road in Mason Twp grab your gardening needs! And visit poohfarm.com, stop by , or call 207-836-3276

Bethel’s very own Main Street cafe and bakery, established December 2022. Handmade and naturally leavened breads, pastries and bagels with a full espresso bar and 28 cozy seats inside. Our open kitchen is in full view so you can see the baking magic happen right in front of you!