March is the cruelest month.

Warm breezes tease you into thinking spring has finally arrived. Then evening arrives with a flurry of snow and temperatures that dip below freezing.

It’s no wonder crowds of people flock to the Bangor Garden Show each year – not only do they need to shake their cabin fever, they need to stop and smell the roses, and, most important, they need to see something green. Last week, I decided to do a little pre-show garden shopping to tide me over.

Sure, I know it’ll be a little while before I can actually work the ground, but a girl can dream, can’t she?

The idea started to germinate (pardon the pun) at Borders Books, Music and Caf? in Bangor. When I walked in, I encountered a rack full of discounted garden books on a variety of topics, from organic vegetable plots to well-crafted landscapes. It was enough to thaw my winter-weary mind, and I began to see the possibilities for indoor and outdoor planting.

A few days later, I stopped at Sunnyside Greenhouses and Ingrid’s German Shop on Buck Street in Bangor. I figured if anyone would know how to chase away the winter doldrums, it would be Ingrid. I was right. First, she gave me a few great ideas for Easter (her selection of imported European papier-mache eggs, pewter decorations and chocolate is unparalleled in the area). Then, she sent me away with enough big, bright, Irish daffodils to last me until the bulbs in my yard start to pop up.

If yellow isn’t your thing, you could pick up a purple shamrock (oxalis) plant – I did – or a bold, blue hydrangea, which you can transplant in your garden after any chance of frost has passed. You also could plant an herb garden on the windowsill, or put out a bunch of brilliant potted primroses. Ingrid’s will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 20 and 27, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 21 and 28.

Next, it was off to one of my favorite places, Greencare on Route 2 in Hermon, which specializes in interior plantscapes (read houseplants). There the staff was busily preparing for the garden show (you can check out their display this weekend at the Bangor Auditorium or go to the shop, which will reopen Monday). Even though many ferns and plants were wrapped and ready to head to Bangor, there were still enough there to evoke visions of spring – an intriguing “Walking Iris,” which has delicate blue flowers at the end of slender hanging stalks, fragrant jasmine topiaries (which I always manage to kill), or a diminutive pussy-willow tree.

A plate-size hibiscus blossom in shades of tangerine and pink made me long for summer, and I briefly considered buying it. Then I got distracted by their fantastic orchid display, which made me realize I needed to fertilize the two flowerless orchids I have languishing at home. As I was leaving, Greencare’s seed display caught my eye – especially the Easter-egg radishes, which come in a rainbow of colors, and the heirloom cupid sweet peas, which are meant for window boxes.

The need for seed brought me to my next destination, Sprague’s Nursery on outer Union Street in Bangor. In the somewhat empty, recently renovated space, a display of striking glazed-pottery birdbaths stood out, but most of them were in two pieces, which wouldn’t bode well for ShopCat, should he decide to join our feathered friends for a drink.

Sprague’s had a whole wall of seeds, and the sheer number of varieties made me realize I needed to do more research before I buy – do I want red morning glories or blue? Should I try planting delphiniums from seed? Do I really need six varieties of radishes? I left full-minded and empty-handed.

After that, I headed to Marden’s, which had tons of Scott’s garden tools, birdbaths and garden ornaments. But I forgot what tools we needed, so I went home to tell ShopGuy, who had his own shopping tip. At our local hardware store, Park’s in Orono, the seeds have arrived: Hart’s, in bulk and in packets.

With all these choices, all I need is a snow day so I can hole up inside and plan my garden.

Contest winner

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! The ShopGirl love-letter contest elicited declarations of adoration for such shops as Filene’s, Silkweeds, T.J. Maxx ‘n More, to name a few. It was an extraordinarily difficult decision to make as many readers wrote eloquent missives. However, Amy Oliver of Bangor will be walking tall in a new pair of Mossimo kitten-heel flip-flops for her ode to Abercrombie. Though the letter is too lengthy to reprint in its entirety, here are a few choice excerpts from her bittersweet tale of love, which started at the tender age of 14:

“We have grown old, and in our comfort there were nicknames formed. First it was respectful: Abercrombie & Fitch, then Abercrombie, and now casual ‘A&F.’ … Gone are the days of flirtation. I am a woman, a grown up. I wear winter hats because they’re warm, dowdy boots because they’re dry. But you, you continue to be perfect. Your sizes stay the same: small. Your music stays the same: too loud. Your models stay the same: beautiful.”

Our judges praised Oliver’s letter for its humor: “Perhaps we will meet again and hold hands on a walk in the park. Until then, I will be over at Talbot’s. Their music doesn’t give me a headache.” They also appreciated the poignant sadness as well: “I wanted to cry for the unfairness of it all, for my aging, for our forbidden love! … In love! I thought so, but no, I was wrong.”

Congratulations, Amy, and thanks to all the other entrants, whose letters were wonderful and much appreciated. As always, happy shopping!

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329, or by fax to: 941-9476.