“Snow drops and cookies and cakes of white chocolate, bright shiny trees and mulled spices in goblets, Holiday trees and wreaths of pine branches, Fairy houses and bird feeders the size of small ranches ...These are a few of their holidaze things …” (sing to the tune of “My Favorite Things”)

'Tis the season to be merry, and the elves of Boothbay Region Garden Club have been getting ready for months. This creative group has been making new holiday décor, building bird houses, sewing napkins and making wreaths; cooking up soups and stews, and baking sweets – for humans and their favorite critters, with the Club's usual imaginative flair.

The Club’s Holiday Show is slated for Friday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Columba’s church. The first day traditionally draws a large crowd of shoppers – something to keep in mind if you are looking to buy some of the prepared, fully cooked meals wrapped and ready to go into your freezer! And don’t forget: Payment is cash or check only.

This year, there will be five, 4-foot tall snowmen made of white foam pumpkins wrapped in fleece wearing stocking caps and scarves – made of red and black buffalo check flannel sheets. Not suitable for outdoors, but they will add a pop of color to your home.

Indoors, there will be 40 themed trees including nautical, Grinch, angel, birds, wildlife tree, and our great state of Maine by BRGC members. Trees range from tabletop sized to 5’ and 6’ tall.

And at press time, confirmed businesses donating a theme tree were Linda Marciniak of Enchantments; Dianne Gimbel – The Smiling Cow; and Mike Tomko and Martha Cowdery. Bonnie Erskine of A Cut Above always donates a tree in memory of her son, Jesse. This year, it’s about snowy owls on birch trees with a book.

And what about those gift baskets? Here are a few of the themes: reindeer, cookie/baking, or “We Whisk You A Merry Christmas,” with Hershey kisses-filled whisks; Christmas pot holders with cookie dough and a cookie cutter; and another of old fashioned light bulbs with M&Ms.

The Dinner’s Ready shop never fails to sell out. BRGC member Kevin Bowler noted the 90 meals the members of the Club made all sold. Favorites returning for this year include ham & pea soup, Brunswick stew, curried butternut squash soup, lemon chicken, ham and split pea soup, lamb stew, and bolognese sauce. For some, it’s the first shopping stop. All of the meals are cooked,  just heat and serve! Perfect for nights following a day of shopping, when you’re ready to drop.

The Sweet Shop has all the goodies you crave: cookies, candies, cakes, brownies, Top of the Hill and Barters Island Bees have donated honey; and Sandra Seifert’s hot chocolate “cones” topped with mini marshmallows – liquid magic for a snowy day. If you’ve bought one or two before, you’ll be looking for them again.

Nature’s Gifts - all-natural ornaments including bird houses and bird baths, nut butter bird houses and pine cones; fairy houses, seaglass Christmas trees, table arrangements of pine boughs and cones with holly, narcissus balls and amaryllis bulbs in pots ready to go; Comfort and Joy – wonderfully whimsical one-of-a-kind items – ornaments, jewelry, Christmas stockings; Deck the Halls - floral arrangements, table décor, dishes, glassware, linens – napkins and tablecloths, candlesticks and such.

Heading up BRGC’s shops are Sandy Abernathy, Irene Gerny, Elaine Gabrielli – Gift Baskets; Sandra Seifert, Shelly Maher - Sweet Shop; Gloria Wakefield and Abbie Shaw – Nature’s Gifts; Brigette Smith, Cathy Fisher - Comfort & Joy; Julie Krug & Roseanne Bourassa - Deck The Halls - and Linda Bonin – Dinner’s Ready.

Plein air artists Fran Scannell and Wendy Bellows have each donated a 10” x 12” painting completed during the Garden Club’s summer fair on Boothbay Common. These paintings are for sale.

Proceeds from this event and the annual summer fair fund the Garden Club’s environmental/marine sciences scholarship – current recipients are Della Hahn and Alison Morton; the club continues to award a recipient for four years.

The Club also donates a scholarship to Boothbay Region YMCA’s Knickerbocker Camp and the Sea & Science Center; donate to Set For Success, tend the garden at the Memorial Park, make holiday wreaths for all public buildings; and care for the Butterfly Garden at Southport Memorial Library and the pollinator garden at Edgecomb Eddy School.

St. Columba’s Episcopal Church is at 32 Emery Lane in Boothbay Harbor.

For more about Boothbay Region Garden Club, visit www.boothbayregiongardenclub.org/