Garden collective plans seedling and plant sale

The South Portland Community Garden Collective is hosting a Seedling and Plant Sale. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 22 at the Hamlin School Community Garden, behind the South Portland Planning Office at 496 Ocean St. in South Portland.

The organization will offer a selection of vegetable, flower and herb seedlings and a limited selection of perennials. There will also be opportunities to learn more about and join the South Portland Land Trust at the seedling sale. The land trust is the fiscal sponsor of the Community Garden Collective.

The 2021 plant sale will be held outdoors from 9 a.m. to noon, rain (under cover) or shine. The general public is welcome. Patrons are invited to bring seeds to swap and find a gardening book. The collective asks that masks are worn to shop, due to spacing considerations. The event is a fundraiser for the Redbank Neighborhood Community Garden, opening in 2022.

For more information, contact Mary Linneman at marymlinneman@yahoo.com or 207-409-4253.

Mad Horse Theatre presents virtual Chit Chat

Mad Horse Theatre hosts the last of the season monthly virtual artist Chit Chat on Friday, May 14 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The session features host Mad Horse Company member Allison McCall and a mix of Maine artists for short presentations and lively discussion.

Mad Horse Theatre hosts the series of monthly virtual artist Chit Chats on Friday, May 14 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Courtesy image

The May Chit Chat will include the following artists: Emma Keilty (artist and designer) Mackenzie Bartlett (filmmaker), Courtney Naliboff (Bait Bag band), Katie Lattari (creative writer) and Mad Horse Theatre Company member Jake Cote (D&D in theatre-making).

Learn about the artists and organizations and the work they are doing now and in the future. Varied perspectives on many topics emerge throughout the conversation including; creating art during a pandemic, equity/diversity/inclusion in the artistic community, and the future of the arts in a post-pandemic society.

The Mad Horse Chit Chat is free to attend. Visit madhorse.com or Facebook (Mad Horse Theatre Company) to obtain a virtual link. Recordings of past monthly Chit Chats are available for viewing on the Mad Horse Theatre channel on Youtube.

Mad Horse hopes to continue presenting Artist Chit Chats in the 2021 – 2022 season starting in the fall of 2021. To sign up for email updates Mad Horse, visit madhorse.com.

Support the arts in Maine. Consider donating to Mad Horse Theatre Company and our virtual programming by visiting madhorse.com/contribute.

To connect with Mad Horse Theatre Company visit www.madhorse.com or Facebook (Mad Horse Theatre Company), follow on Instagram and Twitter @madhorsetheatre, or send an email to madhorsetheatrecompany@gmail.com.

South Portland Land Trust to give away 2,000 cedar seedlings

For the second year running, South Portland Land Trust will give away Northern white cedar seedlings to the community. The giveaway will take place Saturday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to noon at Mill Creek Park (opposite Hannaford) in South Portland. Land trust members can reserve bundled seedlings in advance by visiting the events page at southportlandlandtrust.org. Cedar seedlings have been donated by CedarWorks in Rockport.

South Portland Land Trust is nearly doubling the giveaway this year and will have 2,000 seedlings available. Three hundred of the donated seedlings will be used to plant as a buffer at the land trust’s Clark’s Pond Trail. The seedlings are ready for planting and will be available in bundles of three, five and 10. The public is encouraged to come early, as 1,000 seedlings were given away in less than an hour last year. Donations to land trust are welcome and appreciated.

“We all know that trees play a vital role in our ecosystem – they sequester carbon, prevent erosion, and keep our streets cool in the summer,” said Richard Rottkov, land trust board president, in a news release. “We are thankful to CedarWorks for their generous donation and we are happy to offer such a significant number of seedlings to the community this year.”

Information sheets on how to care for cedar seedlings will be available.

According to the land trust news release, “The trees are commonly known as American arborvitae, Eastern white cedar, or Northern white cedar, and native to eastern United States and Canada. Cedars are often used for hedging or as a windbreak, but can also be planted as a stand-alone landscape focal point. Cedars grow best in areas that receive at least six hours of direct sun each day. A fully grown cedar will span 10 to 15 feet and can attain a height of 40 to 60 feet. As a native tree, cedars provide food and shelter for many bird species.”