Photos by Lynette L. Walther
Winter weather extremes, a short growing season, biting insects and all the other challenges that come with growing things in Maine have brought together a loose confederation of committed gardeners in Camden, who, come spring, reaffirm their kinship and share their love of plants on Mother’s Day.
This May will mark 40 years that this group of mothers and daughters, an occasional father and son, and now grandchildren have come together at the home of Susan Shaw. The annual gathering gives all an opportunity to reconnect in their busy lives, sample delectable treats, take in Shaw’s glorious gardens bursting with thousands of daffodils and spring-flowering plants, and share a spring day outdoors. But most importantly, these gardeners come together to swap plants.
Susan Shaw, hostess of the annual Mother’s Day perennial exchange, is also ringmaster when it’s time to pick plants.“Cynthia Anthony and I started this tradition,” said Shaw, when her son was a baby. “None of us had much money to splurge on plants. Though, yes, we did anyway. Our gardens had grown and we did have enough to share. I had some delights that my mom had shared with me from her northern New Jersey garden. I had a passion for old fragrant roses and herbs.
“Cynthia and I invited friends, and made a few snacks to share,” Shaw added. “Her sister, Janice Anthony, already had amazing gardens and intriguing plants to share. Though a few of us thought we should try an exchange in the fall, it didn’t catch on. Somehow Mothers’ Day seemed the best.”
Shaw recalled that when it was a smaller group, “we each took numbers, and had time to enjoy watching what everyone chose first.” These days, the exchange has become a bit more formalized, and those children have all grown up now. Now, more often their grandchildren accompany them to the event.
Over the years, the plant offerings have in some cases become more sophisticated and rare. It is the place where one might encounter the uncommon double bloodroot or a double trillium, a choice hybrid hosta or perhaps heirloom tomato seedlings or other heirloom perennials rarely found at a garden center. But just as likely there will be the tried-and-true standbys. The only plants not welcome at the exchange are weeds.
Shaw and her guests look forward to each year’s gathering and welcoming new participants.
Sylvan Cartwright, a gardener-in-waiting, is ready to sample treats and enjoy the day. This is not a group of plant snobs conversing mainly in Latin—although many are quite comfortable tossing around botanical names. Shaw, herself, is a daylily hybridizer of national acclaim. But this crowd is hardly a closed society. Longtimers often bring along new neighbors or family members.
This Mother’s Day exchange is where many novice gardeners go away with more than just some hardy perennials. They get the opportunity to learn a lifetime’s worth of practical plant knowledge from a group of seasoned gardeners.
At the Shaw house, the snack table is usually groaning with an overload of hand-baked and freshly prepared treats, the offerings of food and friendship are generous all around. One by one, the participants arrive, each laden with their plants. There is plenty of time for socializing, exploring Shaw’s spring garden brimming with flowering bulbs, hellebores and more, and of course discussing new plants before the real fun begins.
At the appropriate time, Shaw calls the assemblage to order. She gets the ball rolling by introducing the 10 or 12 plants she has to offer for the exchange. She explains what each plant is and usually adds the correct botanical name. She shares whether it flowers, what color the flowers are, and what time of the season to expect them. She details how big the plant gets and whether it likes full sun, partial shade, or any other pertinent growing information.
Susan Door describes one of the plants she brought to the exchange. Each plant gets an introduction, often with advice on how and where to grow it.This process of presenting the plants then goes to the next person. Granted, it takes quite a while to get through all the offerings, and it is frequently interrupted with specific questions. This is now serious business, after all, and everyone wants to know all they can about what’s there for the choosing.
When all the participants have spoken, Shaw tells everyone it is time to, “Select your first plant!” A somewhat orderly scramble ensues as everyone goes after the one they have their heart set on.
Fortunately, some bring multiples of the dozen or so plants they have to offer. After checking that the first round is completed, Shaw calls for a second, and so it goes until nearly all the plants have been re-distributed. Any extras find good homes, either with those assembled or via one of the many upcoming non-profit plant sales that attendees might be working with.
And so, each Mother’s Day, everyone goes home with at least a dozen new plants and warm memories. Mamma mia, the Camden exchange has now become a perennial on its own—and promises to thrive and grow as the years go by.
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Contributing Garden Editor Lynette L. Walther is the recipient of the GardenComm Gold Award, Maine Press Association’s Community Columnist Award, and National Garden Bureau’s Exemplary Journalism Award, among others. She gardens in Camden.
