“As March goes out like a lion instead of a lamb and we welcome April, Native Plant Month, Camden Garden Club has been preparing for an exciting spring of civic projects,” said the Club, in a news release. “The Club will expand its public spaces as soon as the spades and shovels can replace the ice cleats on our boots.”

In addition to nurturing and maintaining the Camden-Rockport Archway Flower boxes, The Village Green, The Main Street Bridge flower boxes, Laite Beach Children's Amphitheatre, downtown lamppost baskets, The Public Landing perennial beds, Traffic Islands (Main Street and High Street and Mountain Street intersection) the Commercial Street barrels and the barrels at The Public Landing, and Penobscot Chamber of Commerce flower beds, the Club will add the new Postage Stamp Native Garden, the new Mural Garden on Mechanic Street, and the new Shade Garden near the soldier monument at Harbor Park. 

“If you love to dig in the garden and the camaraderie of working with fellow gardeners, there has never been a better time to participate in the Club’s public space projects,” said the release.

Village Green Clean-Up will meet Monday, May 13, from 9 -11 a.m., for winter cleanup and Monday, May 20, from 9 - 11 a.m., to spread compost.

Additionally, a few Lampposts are still available for sponsorship. The revenue from this initiative pays for sustaining the Club’s community projects that keep Camden blooming. @camdengardenclub.org/shop/sponsor-a-lamppost

“Camden Garden Club would like to pause at this moment before spring begins in earnest to thank the woman whose imagination and foresight make the village extraordinary,” said the release. “Mary Louise Curtis left us a worthy legacy not only in the garden but as a trail-blazer for women in all walks of life. At the age of 13, Mary started writing for the Ladies Home Journal, the most successful of the publications owned by the family. By the age of 19, she was already deeply involved in beautifying Camden. Together with her husband, Eduard Bok (the successor to Mary’s mother who was the editor of the Journal for many years), the Bok and Curtis family provided the gifts of the Yacht Club, The Village Green, The Camden Public Library, and Harbor Park. The ideas that they brought to Camden were visionary and inspired. Together with the Town of Camden, the Club is honored to be a part of their vision and community-minded objectives.”

The first general meeting of Camden Garden Club is April 18, at 9:30 a.m., at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

All are welcome. For additional information and to remain informed about upcoming events through Camden Garden Club, visit the Club’s website and sign up for their newsletter at camdengardenclub.org.

The oldest garden club in Maine, the Camden Garden Club cultivates the art of gardening to its fullest sense, develops and preserves beauty in and around Camden, and promotes civic improvements, education, and conservation of natural resources. For more information on the Club and its activities visit camdengardenclub.org.