Maybe you could try sucessive planting. Start some in pots early and then plant them in the ground. Then stagger your other plantings say a week or two apart and you are bound to catch some in bloom at the right time. I started some in pots and they were about a foot tall when I put them in the ground and then I planted some at the same time as sprouted tubers and some that just the eyes were started. Maybe this would work for you to stretch out your bloom times. Just a thought

I loved the southern Maine show best when it was held in the Industrial Park in Scarborough years ago. There were adequate facilities and parking at that time. It is too bad that site is unavailable. I appreciated the hard work that has been done to continue the southern Maine show over the years. Thank you Paul! It gave me lots of ideas and increased my visits to local nurseries! I was spoiled having these shows so close by. There was a show in Portland this year. I heard it wasn't well attended due to the bad snowstorms that weekend. I was already in Portland when it started snowing hard, so I turned back. Bangor is a long drive from Portland, but I find well-worth the trip from southern Maine. That show is held in April so the weather may be better, too. There's adequate parking, beautiful displays, well-lit, many vendors, displays from local children, too! I love seeing the seeds sprouting in the kid displays! Wish we'd done that when I was in school! I never have found the Bangor show over-crowded. I do business with some of the nurseries, too, as some do mail order. It feels more like a "Maine" show.

I miss that show terribly. I learned so much!! I absolutely adored Marcie and Patti from Hobby Lobby. You can still find Patti at www.pattiwhack.com. I didn't like the last 2 years when it was mostly advertising stuff but the earlier years when they really crafted. Aleene's name was purchased by Duncan Crafts and they still sell her products. www.aleenes.com belongs to them, not to Aleene. Aleene sold her hotel and is now back in Santa Barbara. From what I understand they are working on a new show, let's keep our fingers crossed! Heidi has her own website and still crafts and has other business interests. www.heidiborchers.com Tiffany also has her own media company and develops websites. http://www.tiffanywindsor.com/ Then all 3 sisters did a book in 2006(Tiffany,Candace and Heidi) http://books.google.com/books?id=sZ6ftqlZ9r4C&dq=tiffany+windsor&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=l05yG4kCm_&sig=42qwwIUZLQlcx06rEnGBAn7z5wU hope this helps a bit! ginger

Freshman year I was at the UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, ROLL TIDE ROLL, I was in the marching band. Made history, as U of A had their first televised color ballgame, and I was the center of a wheel. Members came to me as I went round and round, pulling red and white spokes from my belt. I'm a celebrity! tee hee