STAN AND DEB SHORT OPEN THEIR COUNTRY GARDENS
IN PITTSFIELD TO GCFM
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022 (rain date July 15)

The first GCFM open garden this summer will be in Pittsfield on Thursday, July 14 (rain date July 15). A country garden surrounded by sculptures is the setting for a lecture on art in gardens and a demonstration of arrangements using flowers just picked. Our hosts are Stan and Deb Short, 557 Hartland Ave., Pittsfield. Their big red farmhouse is surrounded by gorgeous grounds.

Stan will tell us all about the sculptures he made at 11 am. Nancy Atwell and Carol Smith will create country style arrangements in recycled jars using plants cut from gardens or found growing wild at 1 pm. Gardeners will get tips on how to harvest flowers without detracting from their garden’s design and arrangers will get ideas on plants to use without having to buy them. 

The open gardens also present a wonderful relaxing setting to spend time with other garden club members. You could carpool with your club or come alone. Plan to make new friends from other clubs. Come for a good time!

The Penobscot District will have a sales table of garden related items.

If you haven’t ever exited the highway in this part of Maine, much awaits you. In town, Pittsfield Public Library at 110 Library Street is a 1903-04 Beaux Arts building designed by Albert Randolph Ross with funding assistance from Andrew Carnegie. The interior of the dome has a mural painted by Maine humorist Tim Sample entitled “Reading, the Gateway to Imagination” painted in 1983. Across the street from the library is Mary Ann Lancey Manson Park and nearby is the Maine Central Institute campus where “Knowledge Is Better Than Gold.” The school hosts local, national, and international students.  Since 1991, it has been the home of the Bossov Ballet Theatre, a classical Russian style pre-professional school and performing company. There’s a Reny’s in Pittsfield, too. 

If you forgot your lunch, or just want someone else to do the cooking, there are many local food options including a food truck near Mason Park and the library, Bill’s Ice Cream on Main Street, and Dysarts near the only working traffic light has a good deli.

A suggested donation of $10 payable at the garden pays for this event.

If you would like to come for the day, please bring a lawn chair and a picnic lunch. This is a perfect opportunity to visit with other gardeners. You may also come for a shorter self-guided tour between 10 am and 3 pm. Your own chair will provide seating for the lecture and demonstration.

Directions:  Get off the interstate at Exit 150.  If coming from the South keep Right at the fork and merge onto Somerset Ave;  If traveling from the North turn Left onto Somerset Ave.  In about a mile there will be a church on the right and Hartland Ave on the left.  Go Left on Hartland Ave, which is Route 152. The Short home is about a mile up on the right at 557 Hartland Ave.   
From Skowhegan on Route 2 turn right at L Hill traffic light in Palmyra and drive about 2 miles. There is very limited parking across the road and wide shoulders for parking along the street.