The PopUpCycler is coming to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens from July 27 to 29! Join visiting artist Kim Bernard in a DIY recycling project and turn trash into art. Participants will clean, shred, and extrude #2 plastic milk and water jugs into colorful collaborative sculptural installation for all to enjoy. Participation in this event is included in the price of admission.
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See Change: Climate Stories Tour
How can we build climate-resilient communities? By engaging with stories about the natural world and exploring how our relationships with the environment are impacted by the changing climate. Join us on this new tour of the Gardens as, together, we examine shifts in human values and behaviors and discuss the future of nature’s interactions. Enjoy the chance to share your perspectives on the changes you see occurring around you in this unique conversational format. The tour lasts an hour and a half, starts on the Great Lawn, and concludes in the Vayo Meditation Garden.
Beekeeping Demo
Sundays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays, May 2-October 20, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
What's all the buzz about bees? Join us at the Learning Apiary for a demonstration on beekeeping with one of our on-staff beekeepers. Learn about all things bees and beekeeping--from the different bees in the hive and the jobs they have to how we care for our bees here at the Gardens to how we can better support our pollinators in our own neighborhoods. This drop-in program is free with admission.
Biodiversity Tour
Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth. It provides us with everything that makes life on Earth possible—clean air and water, fertile soil, medicines, fuels, materials, shelter, places for recreation, and a stable climate. This important part of our ecosystems is currently being threatened though, with reports showing that we have lost 60% of the global biodiversity in the last 40 years. In this new tour, we'll explore the rich biodiversity at the Gardens, learn about its value, and discover how you can help protect it in your communities.
Accessible Cart Tour
May 1-October 18, Monday-Friday, 9-10:45 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., & 3-4:30 p.m.
In July-September, an additional tour is available, 1-2:30 p.m.
Our one and a half hour accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. The cart can accommodate up to five people. Seating preference is decided on a first-come, first-served basis. These tours are a wonderful opportunity for those who may not otherwise be able to walk the Gardens. Accessible Cart Tours are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers, except for Wednesdays when tours are free. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.
Accessible Cart Tour
May 1-October 18, Monday-Friday, 9-10:45 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., & 3-4:30 p.m.
In July-September, an additional tour is available, 1-2:30 p.m.
Our one and a half hour accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. The cart can accommodate up to five people. Seating preference is decided on a first-come, first-served basis. These tours are a wonderful opportunity for those who may not otherwise be able to walk the Gardens. Accessible Cart Tours are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers, except for Wednesdays when tours are free. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.
Native Plant Tour
Mondays, May 6-October 14, 1-2:30 p.m.
For a deeper dive into the world of native plants, join our docent-led Native Plant Tour. Free with the price of admission, we begin with a stroll down the Haney Hillside, moving from cultivated native plantings to the natural landscape of the Shoreland Trail. We then travel on the Maine Woods Trail to discover fern glens and wetlands up to the upland spruce-fir forest of the Birch Allée. Please note: this tour lasts about ninety minutes and moves swiftly over hiking trails; sturdy boots or shoes are recommended. Pre-registration is encouraged as tours do reach capacity; drop-ins are welcome. Please meet outside the Café building by the Great Lawn to join the tour.
Butterfly Investigations
Meet us in the Native Butterfly House as we investigate the lives of the butterflies and moths. From egg to adult and everything in between, we’ll search for all stages of a butterfly’s life cycle while learning about their unique adaptations, their essential role in the food web, and how to identify key differences between butterflies and moths. Free with admission.
Accessible Cart Tour (Free Wednesday)
Wednesdays, May 1-October 18
9-10:45 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., 3-4:30 p.m.
Additional tours in July-September at 1-2:30 p.m.
Our one and a half hour accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. The cart can accommodate up to five people. Seating preference is decided on a first-come, first-served basis. These tours are a wonderful opportunity for those who may not otherwise be able to walk the Gardens. Tours are free on Wednesdays. Our other weekday Accessible Cart Tours are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.
The Caterpillar Lab
Wednesday-Sunday, July 31-August 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Back by popular demand! Join us July 31–August 4 when perennial favorite, The Caterpillar Lab, sets up its functioning caterpillar rearing, researching, photographing, filming, and educating facility in our Education Center. No two days of this residency are alike! Come experience live caterpillar displays and witness how The Lab cares for and works with these amazing, surprising creatures. The living exhibit is free with admission and is held in the Bosarge Family Education Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Caterpillar Lab is generously funded in loving memory of Tree Robbins.
Accessible Cart Tour (Free Wednesday)
Wednesdays, May 1-October 18
9-10:45 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., 3-4:30 p.m.
Additional tours in July-September at 1-2:30 p.m.
Our one and a half hour accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. The cart can accommodate up to five people. Seating preference is decided on a first-come, first-served basis. These tours are a wonderful opportunity for those who may not otherwise be able to walk the Gardens. Tours are free on Wednesdays. Our other weekday Accessible Cart Tours are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.
Wetlands Tour
Wednesdays, May 1-October 16, 1-2:30 p.m.
From ponds and vernal pools to small rivers, on this free staff-led tour, we'll explore the Gardens' many wetlands to see how water affects each natural community. Learn how important wetlands are to our ecosystem, how they provide vital habitat for wildlife, and what we can do to preserve them. Please note: this tour lasts about ninety minutes and moves swiftly over our steeper hiking trails. Pre-registration is encouraged as tours do reach capacity; drop-ins are welcome. Please meet outside the Lyn and Daniel Lerner Visitor Center by the Heafitz Wetland Bridge to join the tour.
Accessible Cart Tour (Free Wednesdays)
Wednesdays, May 1-October 18
9-10:45 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., 3-4:30 p.m.
Additional tours in July-September at 1-2:30 p.m.
Our one and a half hour accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. The cart can accommodate up to five people. Seating preference is decided on a first-come, first-served basis. These tours are a wonderful opportunity for those who may not otherwise be able to walk the Gardens. Tours are free on Wednesdays. Our other weekday Accessible Cart Tours are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.
Pond Investigations
The pond in our Children’s Garden is teeming with life during the summer months. Drop in and discover which creatures call the water their home as we dip nets into the pond and look for signs of life. We’ll explore life cycles, food chains, differences between reptiles and amphibians, and the proper handling of our froggy friends. This is an open activity appropriate for all ages. Free with admission.
Hike the Trolls Tour
The Guardians of the Seeds have emerged from the woods and are waiting for you to find them! On this guided hike, we’ll find all five of the trolls hidden in the woods and along the way explore the real botany behind the magic of the exhibit. Join us to learn more about the artist Thomas Dambo and the team that built them, hear behind-the-scenes stories of how they were constructed, and discover how you, too, can join the trolls and become a guardian of the forest. This tour will last approximately one and a half hours and will cover about 2.5 miles of paths and trails.
Chewonki at the Gardens: The Bugmobile
Chewonki returns to the Gardens with their popular drop-in naturalist residency program, which is open to all and included in the daily admission price. This is the third of four focused on animals and their unique adaptations.
Explore the world of insects, spiders, and more with Chewonki's "Bugmobile"! Discover the unique characteristics of four major arthropod groups, often referred to as "bugs," through models, costumes, and live specimens. Their live "bug" species will introduce you to some of the fascinating adaptations essential for survival, such as mimicry, camouflage, armor, and the use of venom.
Five Senses Family Tour
Putting our five senses to work, we'll wind our way through the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, experiencing this garden in a new way. Participants will be encouraged to sample different herbs and edible flowers that may be new to them. Free with admission.
Chewonki at the Gardens: Scales & Tails
Chewonki returns to the Gardens with their popular drop-in naturalist residency program, which is open to all and included in the daily admission price. This is the fourth and last of four focused on animals and their unique adaptations.
Many people conjure up images of slimy skin and dangerous monsters when they hear the word "reptile." This hands-on program dispels some of those fears by allowing guests to examine snakeskins, turtle shells, skeletons, and other unique reptilian artifacts. Using live, non-releasable reptiles, we'll compare these species and discuss their adaptations.
14th Annual Ina & Lewis Heafitz Endowed Lecture Series presents From Chaos to Contentment: The Making of a Garden
Internationally recognized horticulturist Dr. Allan Armitage presents on his journey of creating a new personal garden. From years of working in horticulture and visiting hundreds of gardens globally, Dr. A, as many call him, was inspired to downsize his garden. With wisdom and empathy, Dr. Armitage will explain his difficult process of choosing the plants and combinations that meant the most to him and his family, with the ultimate goal of reducing chaos and increasing a sense of contentment. Special Presentation: All Levels
Lunch & Tour with Dr. Allan Armitage: Legends & Lore of Plants
In this intimate, informative, and entertaining garden tour, "Dr. A" will highlight Western legends in horticulture, plant nicknames, and extraordinary stories behind plant discovery, cultivation, and uses. Whether you're a new or seasoned gardener, Dr. A's stories will enlighten and clarify your curiosities about plant origins, classification, and naming. After the tour, we'll dine together in the newly renovated Cafe at the Gardens. Lunch is included in the price of the event. Class Level: All Levels
Garden Tour with Dr. Armitage: Stories of Trials & Triumphs
Join award-winning horticulturist and author Dr. Allan Armitage for an insider's perspective of breeding, cultivating, and trialing plants that millions of gardeners enjoy today. Dr. A's vibrant storytelling style and abundant knowledge of plants make any plant lover truly hear and hold onto every word. Stroll along with a fascinating, horticulturally encyclopedic narrator, and you'll learn about the trials, challenges, and successes discussed and inspired by the plants encountered, along the garden tour. Class Level: All Levels
