Art in Bloom Is Back. Also, Go Kiss in Front of These Flowers.

I got a sneak peek at Art in Bloom last night while they were still setting it up. It’s one of the more anticipated events in Portland, with rooms filled with floral arrangements inspired by paintings from the PMA’s collection.

Quick note before you go: Be careful. You’re going to want to touch everything. Don’t. And don’t get too close either. At one point during my viewing I got caught on the branch of an arrangement, which I probably shouldn’t admit. The people working there were great about it and made me feel fine, but still, lesson learned.

Walking through the event, one after another, the pieces just kept getting better. At one point I thought I had found my favorite, the one inspired by the drowned pearl diver marble statue...

Then something special happened.

I was standing and staring at one arrangement, trying to figure out why in the world there was a button stuck right into the middle of a pincushion flower that said Kiss Not Kill. I must have looked intrigued, because I realized the person next to me was the one who made it. Her name’s Michelle Rech.

She told me she’d been feeling a little off lately and wanted to make something with some energy. Something that didn’t just sit there. The button came from her great-grandfather, General Hershey Bar. Anti-war activist in San Francisco. Kind of a wild detail to just be sitting in the middle of it, pinned in the center of Pincushion Flower.

The base was made by a friend of hers, a local ceramicist named Kris Noyes. Rough. A little uneven. Holes all around it to hold different stems. I kept looking at that almost as much as I did at the flowers.

And the flowers aren’t subtle. Bright. Chaotic and Whimsical. It honestly looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.

Then she mentioned she’s been asking people to kiss in front of it.

So we did. I kissed my friend Birdie on the cheek.

We moved on after that, but that was the one that stuck.

If you go, do it. Kiss your partner, your friend, your kid, your emotional support animal, and take the photo.

Art in Bloom at the PMA

Art in Bloom is at the Portland Museum of Art from March 25–29. Designers from across Maine create floral pieces inspired by artwork in the museum’s collection, filling the galleries with installations that feel completely different from a normal visit.

It’s included with regular admission and free for members. The museum is open extended hours during the event, with a handful of extra programs, including artist talks, workshops, and a jazz brunch.

If you want to go before it gets busy, members can get in early from 9 to 10 a.m. during the first few days.

Go See it in Person!

He Got the Job!

Quick update on last week’s post about my friend trying to get into landscaping from last week's Logbook.

He got the job. And it’s directly because so many of you reached out and made connections. It came together fast. Honestly, it's kind of wild to watch.

He texted me as soon as it was locked in and couldn’t believe how quickly it all happened.

He’s really excited. Ready to get to work. Exactly what he was looking for. And he wanted me to thank everyone who took the time to help. It meant a lot.

I put that out there because I believe in the Logbook community. And this is exactly why.

It says something about Portland. And it says something about you.

I truly appreciate every one of you.

THIS WEEKS CONDITIONS
☀️ SUNRISE: 6:37 AM
🌅 SUNSET: 6:58 PM
✨ Local Openings : Sawyer’s Butcher & Delicatessen
✨ Local Favorite “Shop” of the Week: Decorum Hardware
✨ Local Artist of the Week: Louisa Donelson

Portside Real Estate Group

🏡 I write The Portland Logbook, and I also help people buy and sell homes in Portland.

If a move is on your mind, I’m always happy to help you think it through.

Work With Jake

🐾 Adoptable Buddies of the Week! 🐾

🐶 Roxie – 6 yrs
A gentle, slightly shy girl who just wants a calm home and someone to stay close to. Once she settles in, it’s all couch time, car rides, and quiet loyalty. The kind of dog who really becomes yours.

🐱 Balthazar – 10 months
A young, shy guy who just needs a little patience at the start. Likely to warm up with time and another animal around. If you’re willing to go slow, you’ll get to watch him come into his own.

🐦 Bluey – 7 yrs
A quiet little parakeet who needs time, calm energy, and a gentle home. He’ll take a minute, but he’s the kind of pet that grows on you slowly and steadily.

🐕 Interested? Check them out here

If the link doesn’t open anymore, it means they’ve already been adopted!