Maine Stories

Elaborate indoor flower, landscape, and garden displays have always been the highlight of the Bangor Garden Show, but a castle with a moat is uncharted territory for Northern Maine’s largest horticulture event.

Exhibits based on Jack and the Bean Stalk and other children’s stories will also be part of the 17th annual show happening March 23-25 with the theme Fairy Tales. It is the first time in the events history that all exhibitors will create outdoor habitats with the same theme. The Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center will be transformed into a walk through storybook.

“The exhibitors are very excited about the show theme,” said Katherine Guerin, executive director of Keep Bangor Beautiful, the sponsoring organization for the show. “Everyone always does a great job with the presentations, but I think that having a unifying theme will help give even more incentive to be creative.”

The exhibit halls of the auditorium and adjacent civic center will be covered with 30 percent more greenery than last year’s show, providing attendees with nearly 8,000 square feet of landscaping. The civic center will also host a vendor marketplace and a judged standard flower show.

Youth will enjoy the children’s potting area and demonstrations by Maine Discovery Museum “Bug Guy” Tony Sohns. A three-day lecture series on topics ranging from plant and flower care, to organic gardening and specialized landscape design will entertain backyard gardeners of all types.

Roger Swain, co-host of the Maine-based People, Places & Plants television show and former host of “The Victory Garden” on PBS, will be on hand Saturday and Sunday to give presentations. Live music from guitarists to groups will entertain show-goers throughout the weekend.

A Preview Night Gala on March 22 kicks off the celebration of spring. Guests will be the first to experience the beauty and fragrance of the landscaped exhibits while sampling hors d’oeuvres and entrees prepared by local chefs. Wine fountains and live music will also be part of the evening.

Admission to the Bangor Garden Show is $10 for adults and free for children under 12. Seniors 60 and over pay $6 on Sunday. Show hours are 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Gala tickets are $35 each and $17.50 for companion tickets. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Bass Park box office at 207-990-4444. For more information about the event call Keep Bangor Beautiful at 207-990-1201 or visit www.bangorgardenshow.com.