Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 18, 2025 Books in Bloom 2025 Two days when the Saugus public library looks and smells like a glorious fl ower garden By Laura Eisener I f you went into the Saugus Public Library last week, you would have seen a beehive of activity as the Saugus Garden Club and the New Friends of the Saugus Public Library created beautiful arrangements for this year’s “Books In Bloom.” The weather may have been cold and dreary outside but the library was bursting with color inside. This popular annual event has been going on for many years now, with a pause in 2020 for Covid, which left such a void that some members did their own designs at home anyway! The displays were shown all over the library, including the Reading Room and the Children’s Room, and some on the upper level. Many participants brought in fl owers or other design elements from home, while others made bouquets last Thursday afternoon from fl owers donated by Trader Joe’s in Saugus. There was also a table of refreshments in the Community Room both Friday and Saturday – many of the treats homemade by the garden club and the library staff . Garden Club co-president Donna Manoogian chose “For the Love of Plants” by Adam Frost, with a cat garden ornament that looks just like a real cat she has at home. The subjects of many of the nonfi ction books chosen were crafts and hobbies, not surprisingly including gardening and fl ower arranging titles. Ten-year-old Anna Bartmon-Vigneaux showed off some seedlings in a handmade pot with a cat face for the book “Katie the Cat Sitter” in the Children’s Room. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) Ruth Berg’s display for “The Kitchen Table Book” included ornamental fl owers in a teacup, which had a design of a formal vegetable garden, as well as pictures of garden tools. Since her chosen book was about interesting uses and benefi ts of fruits, vegetables and herbs, she appropriately included an apple and orange as well as cereals made from healthy oats and other edible plants. Some of the participants were inspired by the recent historical anniversaries – Saugus Iron Works park ranger Paul Kenworthy picked one of the books he has been reading about a World War II bomber squad, “Blood and Tears,” and included a model plane with red and white identifying tail markings matching the bouquet of white carnations with bright red picotee petal edges. I used my copper topped lantern for a book in the Children’s Lawn and Yard CareUSA It’s Time For SPRING CLEANOUTS Cutting, Weeding, Mulching, Trimming, Brushes, Shrubs & More! 781-521-9927 The door prize was best-selling author Charlaine Harris’s “Definitely Dead” paired with a permanent arrangement made by Lorraine Wilton in a defi nitely blue vase. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) Room that included a variety of stories featuring Massachusetts history. Other designs were inspired by fi ction books and sometimes featured additional props that would give a hint to the plot of the story. Many visitors enjoyed the displays, and while some might have been planning to visit the library anyway there were clearly many others who came specifically to see the event. I overheard one family with young children Saturday morning exclaiming over the books and fl owers, especially those in the children’s section. Maybe the young people will be thinking about doing their own displays next year. Ann Marie Mirasolo created a vivid blue and white arrangement for “The Mystery Guest” by Nita Prose. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) The Saugus Public Library’s Mary Jane Lucas used pink roses and blue delphiniums for Jodi Picoult’s novel “By Any Other Name.” (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) Saugus Garden Club co-president Donna Manoogian works on an arrangement based on a gardening book! (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) Ruth Berg created a banquet of a display for “The Kitchen Table Book.” (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) Call LAWNS Cut From $25
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