It's Bill, 7/19/26: Lubec Garden Club

Jul 21
3 min read

A Festive Evening With the Garden Club

It’s Bill! reporting from the Lubec Garden Club’s [LGC] Annual Perennial Sale at the Dinsmores’ home on South Lubec Road on a lovely July evening. We were privileged to host the LGC’s Spring Social on May 11 at the Crews Quarters at West Quoddy Station. Patricia and I enjoy meeting new and old friends. Both of us are looking forward to hosting again next year—a good time, a lot of fun.

Arriving in my Tundra to transport my prospective plant purchases, I parked a distance from the sale. Already in full swing at 5, the sale went to 7 or so. Striding across the field, I could see the sale was also a festive party, everyone enjoying themselves. Uphill, on the left, the Dinsmores had a fine, functional outbuilding. As I entered, there was a manned table for membership and payments. Going forward, tables offered finger food, hors d’oeuvres, crackers and dip, and desserts. Across the rear of the building, two tables were set up with wine, beer, and water. Tables and chairs were set up for guests to chat and enjoy the refreshments.

Choosing the Perennials

Amy Peterson-Roper, club secretary, seeing me come up the hill, greeted me with “It’s Bill!!” Amy generously offered to show me the perennials for sale. Immediately, I prudently agreed to Amy’s practical offer. I did, however, first defer to get a glass of wine to help me with my perennial selections.

The members’ donated perennials were located outside on several tables, with larger plants on the ground. The plants were basically separated by specimen, size, and color. Amy knew exactly what everything was and where it was located. What did I want? “Help!” I said. What colors did I want? “Red and yellow!” “How about some purple?” “Perfect,” I quickly replied. Amy handed me the plants, and I started making a pile that grew quickly. My purchase tallied up, I paid at the membership table and proceeded to the hors d’oeuvres and white wine. Sitting down for a bit, I chatted with old and new friends. Now it was time to get to work. I had to load my truck.

Bill laughs beside the open tailgate of a pickup truck filled with tall potted perennials. — A successful evening of plant shopping—and a truck bed filling up faster than expected.

Two Angels and a Red Tundra

I was born under a lucky star! Just as I started to pick up my plants, two angels appeared in the forms of Amy and her friend, Susan Dinsmore. They asked if they could help load. I just pointed to my pile of plants. All three carrying, we ambled downhill to my red Tundra. The ladies gave me a fine sendoff down the road. And some hugs.

It was a memorable sendoff, as I lost one of the two Tundra fobs somewhere in the process. It wasn’t until the next morning that I realized my loss when I went to unload my Tundra. Hmm. Where could that second fob be? Backtracking, I emailed Amy. By any chance, had anyone located a fob? “Yes! Susan Dinsmore!” My Tundra returns to the Dinsmores.