PARIS —  The McLaughlin Garden and Homestead at 97 Main St. continues the tradition this summer of providing a welcoming green space on Route 26. The garden, planted by Bernard McLaughlin beginning in 1936 and cared for by him until his death in 1995, is now tended by a nonprofit organization relying heavily on community volunteers.

Spring and summer events at the garden begin in earnest Mother’s Day weekend when the wildflower lane is in bloom. The annual plant sale kicks off May 10, National Public Garden Day. During the weekend a scavenger hunt will be ongoing and garden tours will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. On May 11 author Don Perkins will sign and discuss his book, “The Barns of Maine, Our History, Our Stories,” at 1 p.m.

The historic barn is also the site of ongoing art shows. The season kicks off in May with the work of Alice Kirkpatrick and Jean Beal titled “In Full Bloom: Intimate Views of Plant Life.” A reception honoring the artists will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 24. The reception for July artist, Lois Strickland, will be held at 6 p.m. on July 12. On Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. a reception honoring artists Sarah Shepley, Cathy Grigsby and Molly Mains will be held.

The biggest crowds of the season arrive to see and smell the lilacs. A festival celebrating the iconic flowering shrubs is held May 24-27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors may wander through the garden at will or take a tour at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. each day of the long weekend. They may attend a lecture on growing lilacs scheduled at 11 a.m. daily. Special this year will be a book signing and talk by Lisa Colburn, author of the Maine Garden Journal, at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25.

Long before the public arrives to visit the garden, horticulturist Kristin Perry and volunteers prepare it for the growing season. A spring clean up day is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 1. Lunch will be provided to volunteers. Seasoned gardeners and novices who want to learn about gardening are all invited to share in the work and fellowship.

The Power Propagator volunteer group will meet under Perry’s supervision on April 23, May 14, July 11, Aug. 20 and Sept. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

People who want to get their hands dirty have another opportunity on June 1 when a container class will be held at Goodwin Nursery in Oxford. The session at 9:30 a.m. will include instruction on how to plant a container that will be taken home to brighten an outdoor space. Registrations will be to the McLaughlin Garden.

This summer’s off-site fundraiser will be held in the Laurie garden in Norway. “An Afternoon with Roses” will feature a chance to tour a lovely private garden, a lecture on how to successfully grow roses in Maine and refreshments featuring edible plants in the rose family. The event will take place in two sessions, at 1 and 3 p.m.

On June 29 garden enthusiasts are invited to board a bus for two private gardens in New Hampshire that are not normally open to the public. The all day trip features stops at the 12-acre Fry Garden in Peterborough and the 20-acre Bedrock Garden in Lee.

July events include a presentation by Paris native Deb Soule. She will talk about growing, gathering and using medicinal herbs and sign copies of “How to Move Like a Gardener: Planting and Preparing Medicines from Plants.”

The annual Garden Illuminated will be held on July 20, with a rain date of July 27. The magic of lights twinkling among the flowers makes this evening event memorable.

In addition to the special events already scheduled, the garden is open daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free although donations are always gratefully accepted. Further information is available by calling 743-8820 or visiting www.mclaughlingarden.org.

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