Some of us grew up spending long, dreamy hours poring over the Sears Wishbook. But Sandi Dupre’s idle hours were occupied with the glossy pages of mail-order flower catalogs because “the pictures were so pretty.”

The Standish resident’s childhood dream leapt off the pages and became reality when a high school guidance counselor pointed her toward a career in landscape design. As a result, she attended the University of Maine at Orono, receiving her Associate of Science degree in plant and soil science.

Though she no longer makes her living as a landscape designer (she works as a freelance administrative service technician), Sandi’s devotion to gardening has not abated.

For over six years, she was a volunteer caretaker for the Marrett House gardens in Standish.

Now, in addition to the gardens she maintains at her home, she oversees the Leary Memorial Garden at Schoolhouse Arts Center, which she designed and planted several years ago.

I toured Sandi’s gardens last week and was impressed by her knowledge and enthusiasm. She is skilled at combining a wide array of textures, shapes, and colors in her designs, which adds interest and excitement to her perennial beds.

One spot in her yard includes an attractive water feature filled with lily pads and budded water lilies that, of course, began to bloom the day after I visited. Sandi has done a nice job surrounding the pond with rocks and complementary plants that make it seem more natural. An old metal watering can completes the lovely vignette.

Sandi says the soil in her garden tends to be sandy or gravelly. This year, she is experimenting with the addition of plain clay cat litter (unused!). She digs it into the dirt in some of her beds, hoping it will help to hold the water in her fast-draining soil.

These days, Sandi should have a bit more time to work in her gardens. Up until last weekend, she served as stage manager for Schoolhouse Arts Center’s production of The Music Man. With five rehearsals a week and thirteen performances to occupy her, Sandi’s gardening time was at a premium.

Sandi considers bearded irises to be her favorite plants, saying they remind her of “ladies of days gone by, dressed to the nines in hoop skirts.” She enjoys their wide assortment of colors and color combinations and points out that many are fragrant, as well.

When asked for her best piece of gardening advice, Sandi tells people to “stop worrying so much about having the ‘perfect’ weed free lawn or garden. Sometimes what you think may be a weed could turn out to be something quite unexpectedly beautiful.”

Thanks, Sandi, for both the garden tour and your advice.

I’m hearing from many of you about those nasty red lily beetles. Several of you have told me you’ve given up on growing Asiatic and Oriental lilies altogether. Others have said these disgusting bugs (they surround themselves with their own excrement so predators won’t eat them) are attacking other plants in the garden.

Although it’s too late to do much this year, I’ve received recommendations from some of you regarding products that have discouraged the beetles. I appreciate your input and I will be investigating these various products for a future column. I always hesitate to recommend hazardous chemicals, especially for those who live in a watershed, but I welcome your suggestions – we can all help each other learn methods to eradicate this pest.

I have been enjoying my visits to area gardens. If you would like your garden to be considered for a future column, please let me know.

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