Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MAy 8, 2026 Honoring mothers today and every day. Happy Mother’s Day. By Gabriella Galbadis S pring is finally here and the Saugus Public Library has bloomed with creativity. Flowers and plants of every sort – daisies, roses, and tulips – each bursting with a story to tell. Each, also, is fashioned from a favorite book that chronicled, among other things, the secret codes of the Navajo Marines, the tall tales of Mary Poppins, and the sculpture of a cat. This was the scene at the Dottie Corbett with her “Tales of Peter Rabbit” arrangement. (Gabriella Galbadis photo to The Saugus Advocate) THE PAESANI CLUB ANNUAL POLENTA PARTY ANTHONY’S OF MALDEN 105 CANAL STREET MALDEN, MA. 02148 THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026 6:00PM COCKTAIL HOUR SAVE THE DATE! LA MORA CONTEST FEATURING SAL “THE GOLDFISH SWALLOWER” BARRESI Garden club member Mary Robblee with her “Mary Poppins” arrangement. (Gabriella Galbadis photo to The Saugus Advocate) library’s annual “Books in Bloom” event on April 10 and 11 that was hosted by the Saugus Garden Club, in partnership with the New Friends of the Saugus Public Library. The event, now in its 11th year, showcased an assortment of books paired with beautiful floral arrangements. People let their imagination flow. “Anything goes,” said Donna Manoogian, co-president of the garden club for over a decade. “As long as there’s something fresh in the arrangements,” said Manoogian, who noted that there is something good and different offered in each of the pairings. The library was flourishing with about 35 displayed arrangements made by members of the garden club, the New Friends of the Saugus Public Library and the general public. Children also participated. “Anyone can enter, and we encourage that,” said Manoogian about the event that also Myra Monto and her seventh grade class’ arrangement based on “Code Talker.” (Gabriella Galbadis photo to The Saugus Advocate) featured treats and refreshments and the opportunity to enter a raffle. Exhibitors chose a book and made floral arrangements that either resembled its cover or related to its main subjects. The possibilities were endless as long as each arrangement included a fresh plant. Many exhibitors chose to place their arrangements beside other props that helped bring each book’s themes to life. A single stroll around the library revealed the diverse book choices and creative touches. Manoogian’s flowers were spray painted black and had googly eyes. The arrangement was based on the book, “Legacy of the Cat” by Gloria Stephens. Her flowers and book were accompanied by a black cat sculpture and more plants. Myra Monto and her seventh-grade class at Saugus Middle School chose “Code Talker” by Joseph Bruchac to feature. The book tells the story of how Navajo Marines used their native language to create an unbreakable code during World War II. The class read EVENT | SEE PAGE 12 100 Salem Turnpike, Saugus, MA 01906 WINWASTESAUGUS.COM A book and a flower Popular event returns to Saugus library
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