Mark’s is back

Happy spring, and hallelujah! We can all gloat a little today, having officially survived one of the snowiest winters in Maine history. Spring may not actually have sprung yet, as it must be impossible for crocuses and daffodils to bloom under three feet of snowpack, but it is a symbolic victory no less.

The colossal pummelling of endless snows was enough to damper even the brightest of spirits, but we made it. Unfortunately, many local roofs did not.

Last fall I was at Mark’s Lawn and Garden for the umpteenth time, buying a crabapple tree before frost. Mark Cartonio is one of the hardest working people I know. Every day of the growing season finds him running around watering perennials, pruning shrubbery and hauling mulch, yet he always has time to answer questions about plants and planting, and give advice to gardeners.

A month ago Cartonio questioned the future of his business, stunning gardeners throughout the Lakes Region. Snow had collapsed the largest of Mark’s greenhouses, and the expansive front porch of his garden center.

This after a day last September when Cartonio and I talked about the impending winter, and how we hoped there would be a good snow cover for our gardens as they had taken quite a beating in the cold, snowless winters of the past few years.

Our gardening prayers were answered, obviously, and our flowers spent a cozy, insulated winter under wraps. This should be a spectacular spring for gardeners, and for garden centers. The sad irony of all the snow we hoped for is that, while it was doing a fabulous job protecting everything planted in the ground, it was simultaneously destroying much of what lies above.

Mark’s is a unique local business, and provides much more than just gardening supplies and flowers. It hosts Easter egg hunts, Halloween parties, wine-and-cheese open houses, and a menagerie of exotic animals that kids love.

Cartonio and his staff received calls of support from many faithful customers, and assistant manager Janice Johnson said that they have decided to give it a go. She said that “while Greenhouse 3 still hasn’t been dismantled, and the front porch isn’t fixed yet, we’ll be open and ready to go for the first weekend of spring.”

Stop by and say hi to Cartonio, Johnson, the birds, a new batch of puppies, and celebrate with them as they rebuild their business. Buy local, and keep Bridgton independent. For more information, call 647-0980

On the trail

Local art patrons Julie and Carl Lindberg added some serious folk art panache to Bridgton when they bought and renovated the North High Street house that is now the Rufus Porter Museum.

Porter, a 19th century inventor, musician and muralist spent his childhood in Bridgton. As an itinerant painter, he famously traded lodging at boarding houses and inns for his unique depictions of seafaring and country life in New England.

The Lindberg’s passion for preserving Porter’s work has led to the purchase of his “Westwood” murals, a series of 15 immaculately preserved panels from the Dr. Francis Howe home in Westwood, Mass.

First exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, they have now been purchased by the Rufus Porter Museum and are on display at the satellite gallery in the newly renovated Wales and Hamblen building.

This is a perfect pairing of two labors of love, as the Maguire family lovingly restored the historic Main Street building recently. The museum has been chosen to participate in the Maine Folk Art Trail this summer, which is a once in a lifetime opportunity for art and history lovers. Eleven major museums across the state are showing simultaneous exhibits of traditional American folk art, many of which have never before been seen by the public. Representing the finest examples of New England folk art in the country, the event will bring art lovers to Bridgton throughout the summer.

The museum will open for the season in May. The gallery is staffed by volunteers, so confirm daily hours by calling 647-2828.

Take a hike

Bridgton’s ski slopes and cross country trails are still in great sporting condition, and the same is true for our snowshoe paths.

The Loon Echo Land Trust is offering you one last chance to take your snowshoes for a spin before storing them for summer. The trust and the Maine Appalachian Mountain Club are hosting a Bald Pate Mountain Hike Saturday, March 22. Peg Nation will be leading the hike, and asks that you meet at the trailhead parking lot on Route 107 at 10 a.m. to snowshoe or hike the 1 A?1?4- mile trail to Bald Pate’s 1,100-foot summit. Bald Pate is located on Route 107 in South Bridgton, and this moderate hike is appropriate for all ages and skills. Fore more information, call Nation at 583-2720.