Boothbay is well known as a summer tourist destination — the lure of ocean air, coastal views, and fresh lobster appeals to thousands each summer. But a new reason to visit the area has recently blossomed, and that reason is Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

Nestled down a dirt road off a few side roads in Boothbay, chances are slim you'd notice the place if you weren't looking for it. Once you make the effort though, you'll be pleasantly rewarded by the blend of ornamental gardens, enhanced woodlands, peaceful ponds, and impressive stonework and sculpture, all sprawled around the elegant visitor center.

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It took 16 years of planning, planting, and building to turn a belief that Maine needed a botanical garden into what is now the impressive Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Rollins Hale of Boothbay Harbor and other mid-coast Maine residents who shared his belief founded an organization for this purpose in 1991. After a long search, in 1996 the organization purchased the ideal plot of land where the garden now sits. Planting began in 2001-2002, the visitor center was completed in 2006, and the Gardens held its Grand Opening on June 13, 2007.

The Gardens originally consisted of 128 acres with 3,600 feet of tidal shore. A donation by the Pine Tree Conservation Society of 120 additional acres of undeveloped land brought the total up to 248 acres with about a mile of waterfront, making this the largest botanical garden in New England.

I visited the Gardens for a couple hours on a sunny afternoon, and didn't come close to seeing everything the grounds had to offer. Barbara Freeman, Director of Communications for Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, says a lot of people who go to visit end up coming back once they realize how much is there. One of the first things you'll see once you leave the visitor center is the centerpiece for the gardens, aptly named the Central Gardens. If you only have a short time, Freeman says this is the one thing to be sure to see. If you have time to explore the grounds, a few points of interest you'll find are the Giles Rhododendron & Perennial Garden, with more than 100 different types of rhododendrons, Birch Allée, a path lined with over 500 white birch trees, a Fairy Village where children are encouraged to create small homes for the fairies who inhabit the forest, and the Vayo Meditation Garden crafted largely from Maine granite and overlooking Back River.

a small sample of the flowers at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

The Gardens have been well received by local residents and businesses alike. It is a unique attraction that draws additional visitors to the area, which increases the business for local shops, restaurants, and hotels. The Gardens have already exceeded their visitor and membership goals for the year, with more than 30,000 visitors and over 2,500 members signed up since May 1st.

There's still time to increase those numbers, too, as Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is open year-round. The surrounding woodlands make the Gardens a great place to visit in the fall, and Freeman says they had things blooming into November last year. Once the snow hits, visitors can still enjoy cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and hiking across the grounds, along with after school programs and holiday-oriented activities in the Visitor Center. There is no charge for admission from January to March, so these winter activities are free to visitors.

Caring for all the plants, flowers, and trails is a daunting task. When asked what kind of maintenance the gardens require, Freeman laughed and exclaimed, “Tons!” The garden is comprised mostly of perennials (there are 10,000 spring bulbs in the rhododendron garden alone) but there are still countless hours of planting and upkeep that take place each year. A handful of permanent grounds crew and several seasonal grounds crew do most of the major work, and a small army of volunteers assist with weeding, leading tours, and all sorts of other essential duties. “I don't know how they do it all,” says Freeman.

According to Freeman, the Gardens is more than just a fantastic place to spend an afternoon exploring. “We really hope that people will learn from this garden as well as enjoy it.” With that in mind, the staff at the Gardens offers dozens of educational programs. School trips and day camps let younger kids experience all the Gardens have to offer. College courses in horticulture, flower arranging, and a kitchen garden series are available, and the grounds attract many drawing and photography students. The Gardens also collaborates with the New England Wild Flower Society and does a variety of horticultural research projects.

Future plans for the Gardens include the Children's Garden, Learning Garden, and Lerner Garden of the Five Senses. The first year of operation has been a successful one. With such a variety of things to see and do, and plenty more on the way, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens should be a perennial favorite for years to come.

Links:
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens website
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