This Weekend: Garden Variety

Last Sunday, in need of some sign that spring was nearly upon us, I trekked down to the Farm Show Complex for the PA Garden Expo. I didn't have much in the way of expectations and the $12.50 entrance fee seemed more than a little bit salty, but in the end, I was glad I went. Some of the displays were absolutely mind-boggling, and as someone who will be redoing a back yard this summer, I got lots of inspiration and more than a few good ideas. I can't believe that some of the companies there were able to accomplish what they did in only a few short days. Fully landscaped "backyards" with massive ponds and waterfalls tumbling over multi-ton boulders, huge decks with pergolas covered in hanging plants. It definitely got me ready for summer. I'm assuming that most of the same presenters will be at the Mid-Atlantic Garden Expo taking place this week at the York Expo Center, so I probably won't go again. But if you didn't make it to the show in Harrisburg, I recommend checking the York show out. If your idea of landscaping is mowing the lawn once every week or so, here are some other suggestions for this weekend:

Improv comedy is over and the Mount Hope estate and winery is moving on to Murder at Mount Hope. That show runs through most of March, so visit Spotobe for actual showtimes if you’re interested. The constantly touring Peking Acrobats will be on stage at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster as well. If you’re a fan of folk music, you’re in luck. Friday night Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas will be at Harrisburg Academy playing their more traditional brand of folk while CapLive will present Dar Williams at the Strand-Capitol. Similarly, fans of Shakespeare have some choices. Kind of. The farcical The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) continues its run at Gamut Classic Theatre and Hamlet continues its at the Ephrata Playhouse.

Saturday morning the 6th Annual Ski4Life Marathon pushes off at Ski Roundtop. Very cool event. The PA Home Show starts Saturday morning as well and runs all the way through next weekend. I’m sure I’ll be there at some point, so I’ll be sure to take my camera and say hello to the Bath Fitter dude. Is there any vendor-based event that they aren’t at? As there were last year, there are two local wine events dueling in March. The Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail is hosting Ticket to Good Taste and Adventure while the UnCork York Wine Trail is offering its Tour de Tanks. The absolutely dominant Hershey Bears are at home this weekend, and right now, the opponent doesn’t really matter. I’ll be in the stands. The Harrisburg Stampede kick off their home schedule on Saturday night as well. I assumed when they started this team that ownership would bring in a lot of former Penn State players to try to draw some fans. Would have worked for me, but it hasn’t happened. But kicker Kevin Kelly is in the practice squad. So there’s that.

On Sunday, Fort Hunter Mansion and Park will host the annual Maple Sugar Festival. It sounds like the weather could be pretty nice. Every year when this event happens I think about the passage from “Little House in the Big Woods” where Laura gets all excited about maple sugar candy. Is that normal? Also on Sunday there’s a Civil War Dance Class at the National Civil War Museum. The Tchaikovsky Ballet Theatre will be at the Strand-Capitol on Sunday afternoon and Derry Presbyterian Church in Hershey will present a performance of Mozart’s Requiem.

Have fun kids.