Contributed photo
GETTING READY — Heather Zakupowsky of Orient Gardens is gearing up for Maine Greenhouse Day this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The public is welcome.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
ORIENT — Orient Gardens is the lone area participant in the Maine Greenhouse and Nursery Day on Saturday, May 4 when greenhouses, nurseries and garden centers celebrate the industry statewide.
For the fourth year, family-owned businesses will hold special events to highlight the fun and joy of gardening in Maine.
Heather Zakupowsky of Orient Gardens at 45 Maxwell Settlement Road in Orient will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“My opening day is basically an open house where I can show off what is new, explain what some of my cultural practices are and let everyone enjoy ‘a glimspe of summer’,” she said. “It’s still a little early to put much out other than pansies, but it gives plant peepers a chance to come and look. After a long winter it’s fun to see so many things in bloom.”
There will also be light refreshments served.
“Greenhouse and Nursery Day helps highlight the importance of horticulture to Maine’s economy,” Governor Paul R. LePage said. “In addition to providing thousands of jobs, the horticulture industry contributes over $280 million annually to Maine’s economy.”
Zakupowsky has been using beneficials for at least four years and she has noticed an increase in native beneficials in her greenhouse, as well.
“We rely on introducing ‘good’ insects that target the ‘bad’ insects as a sustainable approach to pest management,” explained Zakupowsky. “Special care must be given to the ‘good’ insects in releasing them at the best time as well as providing an environment for their success.”
Zakupowsky noted that most insects need to arrive from the insectary overnight (high shipping costs) and released at sundown of the day of arrival.
“This is a different approach than relying on insecticides for good pest management,” she said. “The rising costs of insecticides and having to buy in quantities that a small grower can’t use up during the viable shelf life of a product make the beneficial insect approach a better option. I also don’t have to worry about the re-entry interval in my retail greenhouse (the time listed on a pesticide label that restricts re-entry once a chemical is applied).
“The use of beneficials is a growing trend in the greenhouse industry,” Zakupowsky added.
“More than half of the plants sold in Maine are grown right here, and our greenhouses and nurseries work hard to promote the sale of their product locally,” said Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Walt Whitcomb. “I encourage Mainers to take advantage of this opportunity to visit their local garden centers on May 4 and enjoy the wonderful fun and educational events being offered.”
Participating greenhouses and nurseries also will preview spring introductions and share their expertise by offering gardening tips, information on plant varieties and ideas for window box and landscape design.
Orient Gardens will be holding a drawing for a $50 gift certificate on Saturday, while Zakupowsky is also hoping to put together some educational material explaining the use of beneficial insects in the greenhouse.
For more information on Orient Gardens, call Zakupowsky at 448-7266. To find more on Maine Greenhouse and Nursery Day go to www.plants4maine.com/GreenhouseAndNurseryDay.shtml.
