Boothbay Region Garden Club (BRGC), 93 years strong in 2024, has been preparing for a summer extravaganza of a different kind: the Boothbay In Bloom Summer Fair, coming to Boothbay Common on Saturday, July 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What happened to the Home & Garden Tour? Old Man Winter paid the coast a harsh visit in mid-January and sidelined the Club’s highly popular event.

“We had set up the tour for this year in East Boothbay,” explained BRGC member Kevin Bowler. “But after the January storms, and the damage to the roads, houses, gardens, and other issues there, we decided to hold off a year and hold a summer fair instead.”

Added Club member Irene Fowle, “Ocean Point looks pretty good now, but when you see some of the houses from the water, many are still not back to normal. That community has been through so much we thought we’d do something else this year.”

Club members decided to invite nonprofits to be part of the Summer Fair with the stipulation that each one provided an activity for children. Fowle quickly sent out letters and the response was very positive. “I was amazed! Everyone said yes, yes, yes,” Fowle said. “I thought we’d get a handful of other nonprofits, but everyone was so enthusiastic. It just shows how we support each other in this community; we want to know what we all do.”

Bowler said the Club has talked about alternating a summer fair and the tour moving forward. But this year, the creative group is putting on a traditional summer fair! Here’s some of what you can expect: BRGC will have seven booths on the north end of the Common including Nature’s Gifts – plants and harvested perennials and annuals from local gardens including Siberian iris, rhodies and birdhouses; Found Treasures – similar to items at a flea market, from kitchen gadgets to clothing and other gently used or new items; the Sweet Shop – pies, cakes, breads, cookies and homemade doggie treats; and Bloom at Home: Features items made of floral patterned material, pot holders and such.

There will be cool garden supplies to make everyone’s favorite pastime a time a breeze: an apron with multiple pockets for tools, water, seeds and such, that you wrap around a pail (not included); ergonomic tools, and gardening gloves, including some with attached sleeves. Brambles and roses will no longer be a thorn in your arm!

BRGC will have dragonfly and butterfly kites for sale as well as its new cookbook first sold at the Club’s Holiday Fair. Nonprofits (and children’s activities) include, to date: Boothbay Sea and Science Center: painting oyster shells; Bigelow: coloring your favorite phytoplankton; The Community Center: Origami box making and seed planting; American Legion Auxiliary: poppy seed planting, Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library – reading center and bubble machine; the Clean Water Initiative is making a watershed model to demonstrate what happens in our community when it rains; and Boothbay Region Land Trust (which canceled its family day, also scheduled for July 13, to be part of the Garden Club’s event). Rounding out the nonprofits are Barter’s Island Bees, Boothbay VETS, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and Boothbay Region Historical Society. BRGC’s activity will be led by Bonnie Ginger, where kids will make pine cones with sunflower and almond butter instead of peanut butter. Folk music from the gazebo, played by BRGC member Linda Bonin and husband Mark, will add a festive air. There will be two tents, one on either side of the gazebo: One you’ll be drawn to by the aromas of cooked pulled chicken, pork, and hot dogs; the other will have lemonade, water and other thirst-quenching beverages, and popcorn!

Because a traditional summer fair on a fine summer day begs to be painted, two plein air artists will be doing just that. Southport-based artist Fran Scannell, who works in watercolor and acrylics, and Boothbay-based oil painter Wendy Korjeff Bellows.

The Holiday Fair in December and the Home and Garden Tour are the primary way the Club raises funds for its projects – plantings, flower boxes, wreaths; and its scholarship program. Each year two graduating seniors are gifted with $3,000 for each of their four years of study in agricultural or environmental fields. The Garden Club also makes annual donations to Boothbay Sea and Science Center, Set For Success, and the YMCA’s summer Knickerbocker Camp.

Said Bowler, “We want all families to come, and bring their dogs (leashed). We have great activities for the kids and it should be a lot of fun for everyone!”

All purchases must be cash or check only. No debit or credit cards. For more information on the Club and updates on the Boothbay In Bloom Summer Fair, visit www.boothbayregiongardenclub.org