Last Friday, my buddy Heather From Massachusetts and I attended the Maine Flower Show in Portland, Maine. But before we even made it to the flower show, we hit up 2 bakeries and 2 antique stores along the way because you know, we could do that type of thing because we had both left our husbands at home. 😉
Also, Heather likes to stop at random places and is really good at making u-turns which are both excellent qualities to have in a friend if you ask me. I mean really, if one of our husbands were driving, there’s no way we would have been able to stop at so many random places along the way. You know, the places you don’t even know that exist until you drive past them and want to turn around and go for a look.
Plus, she doesn’t mind eating sticky pastries in the car. {This would NEVER happen if either of our husbands were in control of the vehicle}. Bahahaaaa. 😉
Heather also collects lip balm. {There wasn’t a dental pick in sight though}.
And doesn’t mind taking rides from strangers.
So! About that garden show…. Hobbit Holes. I think Lucy needs one!
And take a look at this walk-in coop! Wowza! It’s perfect for New England winters with it’s covered top and little bunk house for the hens. The lady from Champion Coops gave us a quick tour {why didn’t I take pictures of the inside of the coop! Gaaaa. Sorry about that}.
Tickets for the Maine Flower Show were $20 a pop. And you know what? Those tickets were worth every.single.penny. We got to the show about 30 minutes after the doors opened on the first day and let me tell you Bob, the place was hopping.
The venue was much smaller than the Connecticut Garden Show but the quality of garden displays was top notch and totally worth the ticket price.
Heather and I both thought this rock and wired planter was pretty cool {and it would be so easy to duplicate!}.
Pallet garden planter. I’ve made these before and they are super easy and fun to create.
Just look at those mushroom stone sculptures! How fun.
In addition to all the garden displays {and there were a ton, with all sorts of forced plantings} there were some garden related vendors and landscape companies there to promote their businesses as well.
Nice patio furniture… at a garden show. It’s exactly what you’d expect to see, right?
Face masks, not so much.
Fudge?
The peeps from the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village were there with a wonderful collection of garden products, herbs, books, handmade brooms, lavender sachets and other fun stuff. I had to fight the urge to buy a redware platter and one of their handmade brooms.
The Shaker Village was on our list of places to visit last summer but we didn’t get around to it and I thought that if I bought something I might not get around to going there this summer. And well, I really want to take a broom making class and what do you know…. The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village is offering a broom making class this summer. 🙂
Look at this sweet little Heidi Boyd kit. If only I had a 10 year old!!
The line for the ice cream was crazy and all the grannies were lined up waiting to get a scoop. If Heather and I hadn’t filled up with pastries right before we went inside, we probably would have been in that line too. What is it with New Englanders and ice cream anyway?
There were a lot of sedums for sale at the garden show. Several booths were offering them.
Vistabule Teardrop Trailers. Oh my word they are cute.
The 2019 Maine Flower Show. It was a huge hit and there was so much to see and something for everyone, including the kids. Heather and I are already looking forward to going back next year. This garden show was hands down, worth the admission price.
Have you been to any good garden shows this year {or maybe one in the past that you still find yourself talking about} do tell because if someone hadn’t mentioned the Maine flower show here on the blog, I would have totally missed it.
Have an awesome day everyone, enjoy the sunshine. 🙂
~Mavis
chickengrandma says
What was the picture of the car with the tailgate open ? Was it part of the flower garden? Or was it showing the conversion of the SUV ?
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s a mini camper you can pull on a trailer hitch. Vistabule Tear Drop Trailer. They are crazy cute!
Rebecca in MD says
Beautiful photos. I think I have to put the Maine Flower Show on my list of garden shows to visit.
Jennifer says
“Heather also collects lip balm” I knew there was a reason I liked her!!
Heather in MA says
Don’t tell Mavis I have lipbalm with my make up and at least one in each bag. Dry lips? Umm, no thanks.
Nanci in NV says
OMG, me too. I just counted and I have 9!!! One in my desk, craft station, kitchen, bathroom, makeup bag, next to my bed, on the treadmill, in my car, and in my purse. Yowza!!!
Jennifer says
I have one on my dresser, one on my end table in the living room, three in my purse and I just counted my unused stash and I only have 2. Time to go shopping!! Fave kind – lime Carmex. Next? Anything Carmex other than original.
JANE says
lime Carnex? really? I’ve only seen the regular and cherry! I must have the lime!
Deb says
Hi Mavis, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village is a beautiful place to visit in New Gloucester, Maine. When you visit this year you might like New Gloucester Village Store they serve an awesome breakfast and lunch, old fashioned store with a bakery too. Also, check out Pineland Farms it’s in the same town I’m sure you would enjoy it. I love reading your blog!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks for all the tips Deb!!
Linda says
Those grannies are waiting for ice cream and to talk to the geezer serving it, you better believe! Mavis I really enjoyed that garden show in pictures. Thanks so much.
Suzanne Shaw says
“What’s with New Englanders and their ice cream?” … isn’t that the truth! We LOVE our ice cream, and year round, too. I never realized we were special in that way until I started traveling around the country and saw the difference. The best ice cream – as far as I’m concerned – is Ben & Jerry’s and Haagen Dazs. Have you found a favorite? Oh – and Mavis, have you ever visited western Mass? I suggest a date day with your HH to Quabbin Reservoir. Beautiful and interesting history! Sue – lifelong New Englander (Western Massachusetts)