News

Two women starting seeds at a window

Starting Spring

A group of eager gardeners met on Thursday, March 20th at the home of Lee Graham to learn the secrets of successful seed-starting. Lee and Sue Conard, seed starters extraordinaire, provided tips on containers, soil mixes, light, heat, and varieties of seed. While attendees learned that there is no single “right” way to start plants from seed, much can be done to avoid the inevitable pitfalls that might discourage a novice. Many left the workshop with containers planted and ready to germinate!

maple sugar buckets on trees

Maple Sugaring Time Means EdCom Is Busy!

Contributed by Kayleen Penniman, Educational Committee Well, it may be hibernation time for many of us but in the elementary schools’ garden programs, activities are awake and well. Food Core workers at East Belfast, Nickerson and the CASS school have been busy. Trees have been tapped at the schools that have maples and the schools are busy making and sharing fresh-churned ice cream. The garden workers are reading about Augustus Jackson, the first United States citizen to create a recipe for ice cream using rock salt. The fun part is being invited to help and taste the delicious treats. Students…

crow on branch

One Is For Bad Luck, Two Is For Mirth. . .

Contributed by Carol Herwig, TWiG Committee Chair Most years I look forward to snow and brisk (not chilling) temperatures to be outside with dog walks, but this winter has forced me to the couch with a broken ankle. So it’s been a time to devour new books. In a bit of good fortune, I found The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl at Left Bank Books right before I took that tumble. A columnist with The New York Times, Renkl often writes about trees (my passion), birds and related topics. She gives us thirteen weeks of essays…

Snow Roses

Snow Roses

Belfast Garden Club got crafty on Saturday, February 22, when club members assembled during the Belfast Ice Festival to ice-dye seven tablecloths to be used at the annual plant sale on Memorial Day weekend. The bursts of color against the snow reminded everyone that in just three short months, it will be flowers spilling out of that garden cart.

OG25

Belfast Garden Club Seeks Local Artwork for Publicity of 2025 Events

In collaboration with Waterfall Arts, the Belfast Garden Club invites local artists to submit artwork that will be featured on promotional posters (typically about 9” x 12”) for our two major fundraising events in 2025: the annual Plant Sale on Memorial Day weekend and the Open Garden Days, which feature Waldo County gardens on summer Saturdays. One piece for each event poster will be selected by a jury of Belfast Garden Club members and Waterfall Arts staff. Artists will be credited by name on the posters. Artists will retain all rights to their work.The Garden Club will provide a stipend…

Ice, Ice, Baby

Ice, Ice, Baby

The Belfast Garden Club is hosting an ice-dyeing project during the Ice Festival on Saturday February 22nd at 3- 5pm at the Alden House.  If all goes well, the colorful ice-dyed tablecloths, like the ones shown here that Kayleen made, will be used at the Plant Sale in May, and for years to come. Even though we plan to use the garage, please dress warmly!  It might get a bit messy too so probably best to wear dark clothes or ones you don’t mind getting dye on. We’ll have warm beverages, drinks and snacks.  Even cooler, the BGC program on…