Vacation Travels
MAINE…. If you have never been to this
beautiful state, you must put it on your “Bucket List”. On our yearly trip, I had the opportunity to visit Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, located outside Boothbay Harbour, Maine.
The journey began in 1991 when a small
group of Mid-coast residents dreamed of
building a world class public garden on 148
acres of rocky coastal forest (interesting that
they used their own homes as “collateral”) to
start the project. After 16 years of planning,
the gardens opened in 2007.
Today, the garden, the largest botanical garden in New England, has over 300 acres with 17 acres of themed gardens, walking paths, ponds, a mile of tidal saltwater frontage, and the Giant Trolls, known as “The Guardians of the Seeds” by Danish artist, Thomas Dambo. I am sure he is the same artist who, using recycled wood, created the Giants at Bernheim Forest. There are five Trolls scattered through the gardens, adding a whimsical, magical…
Oh my goodness, when you discover them!
Native plants are everywhere: gorgeous dahlias the size of dinner plates, butterfly house, children’s garden with playhouses and pirates boats. A child’s delight for sure! My favorite, hard to pick just one, was their Lerner Garden of the Five Senses. Herbs at their finest, displayed in raised beds and growing vertically (cleverly designed frames with a special watering system) was just awesome!
This garden is a jewel of rare quality, and I am
happy I had the opportunity to visit! When you
travel check out what little “jewels” you might find.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens