The dream of spring can become a reality for those who attend the 1992 Maymont Flower and Garden Show next weekend at the Richmond Convention Centre.

"A Midwinter's Dream" is the theme of this year's show, which fills the 62,000-square-foot convention center with 18 large landscape exhibits, numerous floral displays and 103 flower- and garden-related booths. One of the landscape exhibits depicts a tropical rain forest; another features a pastoral setting and a water garden.

Nationally known garden experts will speak on a variety of topics, including orchids, bonsai, flower arrangements, house plants and natural pest control. Jim Wilson, co-host of the national PBS series, "Victory Garden," will present three seminars on herbs, wildflowers and container gardening.

Other attractions are a juried art show of botanical and landscape art, featuring the work of 54 artists; a panel discussion with an opportunity to ask the experts, and commercial vendors selling flowers, plants and garden-related items.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 2 through 12, free for children under 2.

Proceeds from the show will benefit Maymont, the former estate of Maj. James H. Dooley, the industrialist who bequeathed it to the city as a public park and museum. The estate contains a 33-room mansion and 100 surrounding acres filled with gardens, a nature center, natural arboretum, and a children's farm with domestic animals as well as rare and endangered species. Open year round, the estate is at 1700 Hampton St. For information, call (804) 358-7166.

*

Take a giant leap from springtime in Richmond to a winterscape Garrett County. The event is Winterfest, a 10-day festival that is the high point of the winter season at Wisp Ski Resort in McHenry.

Winterfest opens Friday with an evening party and the crowning of the Winterfest Queen. The fifth annual Governors' Cup Slalom and Giant Slalom is a two-day event Saturday and Sunday, which attracts some of the mid-Atlantic's finest amateur competitors. A golf tournament, a chili cook-off contest, the American Heart Association's Ski for Heart fund-raiser and a snow-sculpting contest round out the first weekend's activities.

During the week different events are scheduled each day, such as the Winterfest Telemark Race Monday, McDonald's Winterfest Scholastic Races Thursday and Coors Silver Bullet Pro-Am Friday. One of the busiest days of the festival is Feb. 29, with several athletic competitions and an evening torchlight parade and fireworks. Winterfest concludes March 1 with the traditional grand parade. Skiers in costume carrying streamers follow Yakapah Garbola, the festival mascot, down the slopes, as judges select the best skier.

There are entry fees for participants, but admission to Winterfest

is free. For information, call (301) 387-4911.

*

The fifth annual WinterSong Festival at the Adult Recreation Center in Frederick on Saturday is a celebration of American heritage through music, dance and storytelling.

Twenty different workshops in instrumental music, music history, dance and storytelling are scheduled throughout the afternoon. You can learn a variety of dance steps from waltzes to swing and jitterbug and attend workshops in contradancing, folk and English country dance, even Cajun dancing.

Main stage concerts begin at 1 p.m. with Roy Book Binder, followed at 2 p.m. by Wild Asparagus, a contradance band popular in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. You will hear bluegrass and gospel groups, and a Cajun band. On the center's second floor area, folk performers will present three one-hour mini-concerts.

There are also workshops geared to children on instrument-making (whammydiddles, washtub bass and straw flutes). Late in the afternoon the children will have an opportunity to perform as a group on the festival stage. Also for children are two hours of storytelling, a gospel sing-a-long, a juggling workshop and sessions in pennywhistle and song.

The doors of the center open at 11 a.m., and workshops continue until 6 p.m. Tickets cost $6 for adults, $3 for ages 3 though 12, and are free for under 3. There is a maximum family admission of $15.

That evening there will be country dancing. A workshop for those who wish to learn contradancing will be held at 7 p.m., and the dance follows at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $6. The center is at Bentz and West Second streets in Frederick. For information, call (301) or (301) 663-8687.

*

Washington's birthday celebrations continue this week iVirginia and Pennsylvania. Fredericksburg, Va., will be the site for three events. Tomorrow seven of the town's major historic attractions will offer half-price admission. They include the Mary Washington House, the home of Washington's mother; Rising Sun Tavern, built in 1760 by Washington's brother Charles; Kenmore Plantation, home of Washington's sister; the James Monroe Museum, and the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Culture Center.

On Washington's birthday (Feb. 22), the Mary Washington House will hold a birthday party from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hostesses will conduct tours, and guests will be served birthday cake and spiced tea. Admission is $3 for adults, 75 cents for ages 6 through 18. For information, call (800) 678-4748 or (703) 373-1776.

On the same day Ferry Farm, located across the river from Fredericksburg, will hold an open house celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Washington lived at Ferry Farm from age 6 to 20. The celebration will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of World War II. Re-enactors representing American, British, Russian and German troops of World War II will engage in skirmishes and demonstrations equipped with vintage weapons, gear and vehicles. There will be a concert by the Marine band from Quantico, Va., a strolling bagpiper, pony rides, a memorial ceremony at 2 p.m. and refreshments. Admission is free. Visitors can take a free shuttle bus from the Fredericksburg Visitor Center to the Ferry Farm site. For information, call (703) 372-4485.

*

Gingerbread Days are being celebrated at Washington CrossinHistoric Park, Washington Crossing, Pa., this weekend (through Monday) and again Saturday and next Sunday at the Thompson-Neely House in the park. The house, built in 1702, served as headquarters for one of Washington's generals (William Sterling) in December 1776. You can take a tour of the house, watch hostesses in costume prepare gingerbread, then sample the results. This weekend a winter encampment is set up outside on the grounds. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2.50 for adults, $2 for seniors, $1 for ages 6 through 17. Call (215) 493-4076.

The Washington Crossing Foundation will give a George Washington's Birthday party Saturday at the park's Memorial Building from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. An impersonator dressed as Washington will be on hand to greet guests and cut the birthday cake studded with 260 candles. Admission is $15 per person; $25 per couple; free for children under 12, accompanied by an adult. Reservations are required by Feb. 20. Call (215) 493-6577.