Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Your Summer Escape - A Day Amongst the Flowers

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are breathtakingly beautiful! As I had only previously seen them in the wintertime with the seasonal “Gardens Aglow”. I had always wanted to visit the gardens in the summer to see the full majesty of all the gardens naturally “aglow” with the vibrant colors of the flowers themselves and not just lighting. My friends and I finally made it there this summer and the gardens did not disappoint. One of my favorite parts was the Native Butterfly and Moth House. It is a contained garden filled with nectar plants for butterflies along with host plants for caterpillars. The 2,160 square-foot, Gothic-style hoop house features shade screening and a planting scheme dedicated to supporting the entire life cycle of moths and butterflies native to Maine and New England, from caterpillar to moth or butterfly. I tried, unsuccessfully, to get photos of the multitude of butterflies fluttering around me but couldn’t do the experience justice in a photo and instead just enjoyed being in the moment, rightfully so. 

It was fun to see parts of the gardens with a different perspective from winter to summer, like walking across the Overlook Bridge. In winter, the pond is covered in lights laying across frozen water. The pond in summertime is filled with a symphony of notes from a variety of toads and frogs. Another favorite spot was the Alfond Children’s Garden featuring sculptures representing story characters by Maine authors, a rainbow terrace of colorful blooms, and the Coloring Cottage playhouse. There is also a treehouse I would love to have in my backyard. And then there are the trolls. 

There are 5 trolls at the gardens called the Guardians of the Seeds, who have taken an oath to protect the earth. Roskva, Birk, Gro, Søren, and Lilja each have collected enough seeds to last until the end of time.The message of the Trolls is simple: Save seeds and plant more trees, Reduce and Reuse, and Discover and Share Stories of the Woods. Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s magical, mysterious, and mammoth sized recycled-wood troll sculptures are hidden throughout the native, natural wooded areas. Dambo is considered the world’s leading recycled-materials artist, famous for his troll sculptures. These pieces are staggering, and each sculpture simultaneously invites seekers into the depths of our woodlands while telling a story of conservation. Any visit to the Gardens must include the hide and seek game of finding all 5 trolls. 

We also enjoyed Slater Forest Pond. This garden was built in a naturally low-lying area well-suited to a small pond. The pond is filled with frogs and aquatic insects. The pond’s minnows, dragonfly nymphs, and other local wildlife keep mosquito populations at bay, even in high summer. Beautiful water lilies feature sweetly scented flowers that appear continuously throughout the summer; as all are forms of our native species, they’re happily winter-hardy. Both of my friends and I loved the water lilies and are researching them to be included in our own water gardens. 

Whatever the time of year, (they are open May to October and then in December), the gardens will be beautiful… a relaxing place to be in the moment.