PORTLAND — Margaret Roach, former executive vice president/editorial director for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and author of the memoir “And I Shall Have Some Peace There,” will present an illustrated gardening talk at the Maine Festival of the Book on Saturday, April 2.

In a program titled “At Home in My 365-Day Garden,” Roach, who also blogs Awaytogarden.com, will give a slide tour through her four-season garden in upstate New York.

Her talk will be at 11 a.m. at the Abromson Center on the University of Southern Maine campus. Admission is free; seats are available on a first-come, first served basis.

Roach is the former garden editor of Newsday newspaper. Her 30-plus-year career also includes an editing stint at The New York Times. Today, she lectures and teaches about what she calls “horticultural how-to and woo-woo,” and helps clients create websites on the WordPress platform.

The Maine Festival of the Book, featuring some 50 authors and running April 1-3, will kick off with “Opening Night: An Evening with Stewart O’Nan and Julia Glass” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 1, at Hannaford Hall in the Abromson Center.

O’Nan is the best-selling author of 15 books, including “Faithful,” with Stephen King, and “Emily, Alone.” Glass is the National Book Award-winning author of “Three Junes” and “The Widower’s Tale.” Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 after March 28. They may be purchased online at www.mainereads.org. Seats are general admission and limited. Doors open at 7 p.m.

A full day of programs will run concurrently from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, at Abromson Center. These free programs (requiring no tickets) include thematic discussions, readings, book signings and performances.

Programs for children and youths, many of them hands-on, will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. They range from planetary studies by Carrie Yakola and an illustrated program by Chris Van Dusen for the 3- to 8-year old crowd, to programs for those ages 8-18, including a conversation with Sandra Dutton about how her childhood inspired her book, a fantasy writing workshop with Julie Hahnke and an exploration of the characteristics of the teenage brain with Pamela Lowell.

Children/youth authors and illustrators will sign books from noon to 2 p.m.

For more information about the festival, visit www.mainereads.org or call 871-9100.