Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Maine's premier botanical garden — 300 acres of garden rooms and woodland trails

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in nearby Boothbay occupy 300 acres of mixed woodland, meadow, and formal garden rooms along a tidal inlet of the Sheepscot River. The gardens are divided into distinct areas: the Kitchen Garden, the Rose Garden, the Zen Garden, and the Bibby and Harold Alfond Children's Garden, which regularly wins design awards. The overall effect mixes formal horticulture with native Maine landscapes — paths lead from pruned borders into moss-carpeted spruce forest.

The best time to visit is late June through early October, when most plants are in season. The garden trails extend to the edge of the tidal shoreline, where kayaks can often be spotted. Summer evenings bring special events including the Gardens Aglow light installation in November and December, which extends the visiting season into winter. Allow at least two hours — serious garden enthusiasts will want half a day.

Admission is charged; check current prices on the garden's website. The garden is about 5km from Boothbay Harbor — a car is needed.

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A story
The gardens were created on abandoned farmland starting in 1991, when a group of local residents formed the Boothbay Region Land Trust and began raising funds. What opened in 2007 as a modest 17 acres has grown into one of the largest botanical gardens in North America, attracting 200,000 visitors a year to a region where most attractions close by October. In summer the children's garden alone draws families from across New England.