Gardens Aglow tickets are on sale NOW! Weekends and holidays do sell out, so get your tickets early to ensure your ideal day and time.
Gardens Aglow will light up the Boothbay peninsula for the sixth year in a row, with one important change: this year it will be a driving tour. The annual family tradition of experiencing the lights of Gardens Aglow has been transformed to accommodate the safety protocols necessary for large events. All tickets must be purchased in advance; no tickets will be sold on-site.
Does your child love to grow things and explore the outdoors? Interested in learning how to garden as a family? Join us as we combine gardening and learning in a fun new program for homeschoolers and remote/hybrid learners. This parent-led program will guide participants ages 4-10 through growing a garden through explorations and investigations at the Gardens, plus lessons, games, and experiments at home. Lessons combine gardening with science, math, English, art, social studies, and history. Beginning the week of May 3, participants can visit the Visitor Center to pick up their first week’s activities and supplies (packed in accordance with CDC guidelines for COVID safety). Every week after, new activities will be made available each Monday for a total of six weeks. Families are welcome to join the program at any time this spring. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.
Inviting all young and aspiring birders to join us for our first ever Gardens birding club! Youth ages 10 and up can join our resident birders every other week this spring to identify birds migrating through Maine as well as those spending the season nesting and raising their young here. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.
Do you have a young artist or woodworker who would like to learn from a world-renowned sculpture artist? Danish artist Thomas Dambo, who is building five trolls at the Gardens, all constructed from salvaged wood and other recycled materials, will offer a tour of these larger-than-life sculptures and a discussion of his design and building process.
Spring is a great time to forage for wild edibles; fresh shoots are readily available and tastier than their older counterparts. Local forager and restaurateur, Nikaline Iacano, will lead participants through the Gardens and surrounding woodlands in search of edible greens, tasty weeds and shoots, mushrooms, flowers, roots, tubers, and even pine pollen. Bring your taste buds and a sense of adventure! We will end the session by making a tea with our collections. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.
This session is cancelled.
On the grounds of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, there are a number of freshwater wetlands where, in April and May, some notable symphonies are heard. Join CMBG’s wetland guardian, Bridget VerVaet, to explore our wetlands and learn more about the perishable, too-often forgotten underwater life that thrives there.
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 people. We are practicing social distance protocols.
Do you have a hard time identifying one variety of birch from another? Did you know we have five different species of birch growing in Maine? Join District Forester Allyssa Gregory in a field study tour of the Gardens’ trees, and learn more about forest culture and where to find common species growing in different regions of the state. Discussion will include identification of tree species during the growing and dormant seasons, distinguishing features of evergreen species, and the ecological and economical functions of our forests.
Allyssa Gregory is the Maine Forest Service’s MidCoast District Forester. She obtained a forestry degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Her professional background includes rural forestry, urban forestry, horticulture, and structure firefighting. Allyssa is involved with the Tree Farm program as a certified inspector and is a Project Learning Tree facilitator.
To provide safe in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 students. We are practicing Maine CDC social-distancing protocols. Rain date: Saturday, June 12, 2021
Join Curator of Living Collections, Andy Brand, for a bird walk in the Gardens during the height of the spring migration. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the Gardens’ grounds looking for our feathered friends. Please bring binoculars. All levels of experience are welcome.
Calling all bug lovers! Let’s delve into macroinvertebrates and get our hands dirty, catching and identifying some of the smallest members of the animal kingdom. As we explore garden, forest, and fresh/saltwater habitats, we’ll discover that macroinvertebrates encompass a lot more than just insects; some can even be used as indicators of pollution. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.
Witness the seasonal evolution of the Burpee Kitchen Garden. Filled with edibles and floral accents, the garden’s wares range from arugula to zinnia, itty-bitty seedlings to 12-foot stalks. Diane Walden, the Burpee Kitchen Garden’s designer and tender, will share her favorite garden occupants. In this unconventional kitchen/cutting garden, you'll discover new and unusual selections as well as the classics, whether planted in-ground or in containers, vertically trained with tuteurs.
This session is about the bones of the garden and covers early-season preparation; the planting of the first crops, seeds, and plugs; establishing larger plants; and laying out tuteurs and pots. Learn about soil preparation and how to implement a design that will evolve long into the summer and autumn.
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 students. We are practicing Maine CDC social-distancing protocols.
Rain date: Saturday, May 29, 2021
Lincoln County residents get free admission on the first Wednesday of the month throughout the regular season. For admission, please show proof of residency at the front desk upon arrival.
Our one-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 $10 per person.
Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.
There’s something powerful about herbs; whether it’s their scent, taste, or long therapeutic history, growing them successfully at home is especially fulfilling. Herbs also lend something special to any garden design, particularly curly parsley, sage, basil, and rosemary. In this class, we’ll cover common herbs as well as the often-overlooked like chervil and chamomile. Join Irene Barber, HTR, horticulturist and Horticultural Therapist, in the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses to learn more about using herbs in garden design as well as tips for management, harvest, and recipe ideas.
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 students. We are practicing Maine CDC social-distancing protocols.
Rain date: Saturday, June 5, 2021 @ 2–4 p.m
For shade gardens, a wide variety of planting options exist featuring amazing texture, foliar color, and bright floral accents. In fact, some of the most fragrant flowers prefer the cooler temperatures shade offers. CMBG’s Dan Robarts, horticulturist and grower, and Andy Brand, Curator of Living Collections, will take you through our extensive shade gardens, pointing out the classics as well as the unusual perennials, their characteristics, habits, and cultural preferences. Come with your curiosity and leave inspired!
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 students. We are practicing Maine CDC social-distancing protocols.
Rain Date: Saturday, June 12, 2021
Our one-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 $10 per person, except on Wednesdays when the accessible cart tours are free.
Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included in the cost of the tour.
This year, our latest friends the Giant Trolls have hidden the seeds of our most important tree species deep in our woods. These sculptures can only be found by visiting all five trolls—or joining us on this tour. Join Sarah Callan as she takes you on a walk to the secret seed sculptures, exploring the native trees our trolls are protecting along the way. Come learn about the history of these trees and their importance to our native ecosystems. Steeper hiking trails will be taken during this tour.
Let’s grow up! In this fun, innovative container-garden class, we’ll plant mini vertical gardens that can be mounted on a fence, a stone wall, an exterior wall, or against a post. Let us supply the plants and planting materials while you select which plants you’d like in your vertical garden. Registrants will be asked to choose between sun-loving succulents or shade-loving ferns and foliage plants. After registering, contact Irene Barber by e-mail, with your choice of sun or shade plants.
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 students. We are practicing Maine CDC social-distancing protocols.
Rain Date: Saturday, June 12, 2021
Inviting all young and aspiring birders to join us for our first ever Gardens birding club! Youth ages 10 and up can join our resident birders every other week this spring to identify birds migrating through Maine as well as those spending the season nesting and raising their young here. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.
Garden designer Jen Dunlap creates dynamic and texturally driven designs that build upon traditional container gardens. Join her on a tour of the Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden where she’ll provide the details of various container garden plant combinations. She’ll offer insight into her compositions and demonstrate the tricks to planting in various types and sized containers. From the small to the very large, Jen will leave you comfortable no matter what the scale of your container garden project.
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 students. We are practicing Maine CDC social-distancing protocols.
Rain Date: Satuday, June 19, 2021
Celebrate Dad with a day out! On Father's Day, we’re offering free admission for all fathers throughout the day. No need to purchase a ticket for him—just purchase your own and bring Dad along.
Our heritage trees of Maine are under a great amount of stress, dealing with inclement weather and infestations of pests. Is there anything we can do to help preserve and support these species? Come take a walk through CMBG with forest pathologists and entomologists from the State of Maine, Aaron Bergdahl, Colleen Teerling, and Tom Schmeelk, to learn more about the health of Maine’s forests and what a landowner or concerned steward can do to help.
While sun gardens tend to feature lots of color, there’s more to know about sun-loving perennials: their seasonal performance, structural habits, and bountiful pollinators. In this class, horticulturist Brent McHale will highlight sunny perennials that perform at different times of the growing season, how to distinguish among similar species, and explain different subcategories to help you make proper selections for your garden.
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 students. We are practicing Maine CDC social-distancing protocols.
Rain date: Tuesday, June 29, 2021
From arbors to pergolas, toolsheds to tea-houses, outdoor landscape structures can add function and aesthetic interest to any property. Karl Alamo, horticulturist and landscape architect, will take students through the Gardens, pointing out the design and structural elements that serve as storage, entry points, and sanctuary. Discussion will include green roofs, sustainable materials, and architectural choices. This class will outline what choices you can make to help you create artful and functional garden features.
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 people. We are practicing social distance protocols.
Rain Date: Saturday, July 31, 2021
CMBG’s Summer Camp Club is back! Summer camp club runs from July 26-Aug. 20 and covers a different topic every week. Since these are self-guided activities, you can sign up for the camp’s entirety at any time. Starting any day the week of June 28, campers can pick-up their first week of “Animal Kingdom” camp activities exploring the relationships between the flora and fauna of Maine. A new week of activities will be made available each Monday for a total of four weeks. Activities will include secret stashes, scavenger hunts, games, experiments, art projects, recipes and more. Campers will be invited to attend small-group outdoor learning sessions with CMBG staff throughout the summer based on camp themes. Each camper will receive a special bag to keep filled with tools for investigation and discovery as well as a camp hat. Families who sign up a child for both sessions of Summer Camp Club (“Animal Kingdom” and “Minibeasts!”), will receive a 15% discount at checkout. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.
The Guardians of the Seeds are here! Vanessa Nesvig, CMBG’s Interpretation & Exhibits Program Manager, will guide us through our latest installation by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, considered the world’s leading recycled-materials artist, famous for his troll sculptures. But don’t worry—none of these trolls are lurking under our bridges!
"Forest bathing" is the act of using your senses to take in your surroundings while slowly moving through the woods. Enhance your happiness, creativity, and wellbeing during this easy walk that covers less than one mile in 1 hour.
In this session, CMBG horticulturalist Lesley Paxson will show participants which plants in our gardens and surrounding woodlands can be used safely to treat headaches, colds, upset stomach, stress, anxiety, and so much more. Participants will learn some herbal folklore as well as how to make a flower essence.
Thanks to generous support from L.L.Bean, kids 17 and under are free every Wednesday in July and August, 2021. No need to reserve tickets for your young guests – just bring them along and we’ll check them in at the door.
As warm temperatures and longer days drive an abundance of growth, the Burpee Kitchen Garden series will focus on how to grow warm-season greens, herbs, flowers, and vegetables. Diane will elaborate on practices such as weeding, successional cropping, and harvesting, all while highlighting her favorites, alliums and basil.
Join horticulturalist Lesley Paxson in the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses as she introduces you to our new Medicinal Plant Garden. Before modern medicine, we looked to the natural world to heal the body and mind. By looking through the lens of three populations, Indigenous Peoples of Maine, European settlers, and traditional Eastern cultures, we will explore the new garden’s plantings. We will compare and contrast the different uses and philosophies associated with these important plants. We will also take a stroll through the Lerner Garden and discover the healing powers of some common backyard garden plants.
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 students. We are practicing Maine CDC social-distancing protocols.
Rain date: Saturday, July 10, 2021
Join horticulturist Jennifer Dunlap and Youth and Family Coordinator, Erika Huber, for a detailed tour of the plants, features, and activities that make an effective children’s garden. Jen and Erika know first-hand the wants and want-nots of a children’s garden, and they’ll share insider knowledge regarding the plants that serve as aesthetic, educational, and fun features, including edibles and good ingredient and activity plants. Discussion will include how water, soil, planting activities, creative features, and living creatures all play a part in the make-up of an unforgettable children’s garden.
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 students. We are practicing Maine CDC social-distancing protocols.
Rain Date: Saturday, July 17, 2021
Young artists will study, explore, and compare the fresh and saltwater habitats at the Gardens. Participants will develop a strong foundation in observation, drawing, and painting skills using pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, and watercolor. By the end of the week, students will have a portfolio of drawings and paintings based on daily discoveries.
Our shoreline is an often overlooked but beautiful aspect of the Gardens. We’ll take a close look at the wild plants adapted to daily flooding by salt water along the tidal shores of the Back River. Melissa Cullina, Director of Botanical Research and Herbarium, will join us on this tour to give us an expert look at this habitat. Steeper hiking trails and uneven shorelines are a part of this tour.
Join us outside with our Lepidoptera specialist, Alicia Miller, on an interactive tour through the Native Butterfly and Moth House and adjacent pollinator garden to discover the many different species calling CMBG home.
In this outdoor class, permaculture landscaper Justin Nichols will offer a new perspective on common weeds. Illustrating that truly “one person’s trash is another’s treasure,” many consider weeds valuable medicinal, edible, and ecological plants that can tell a story about surrounding soil conditions. Of course, there are also those that can be a nuisance. In this class, Justin will share weed-related wisdom, guiding participants in identifying, recognizing, and then approaching these gardening questions—nuisance or nutrient?—from a more informed perspective.
Justin Nichols has been enthusiastically maintaining landscapes since 1989, including many years as a gardener on a 30-acre estate in the Boston area and six years here at CMBG on the horticulture staff. He currently runs an ecologically-focused landscape and design business based in the Portland area. He is a NOFA Certified Organic Landcare Professional, holds a master’s degree in education and enjoys teaching horticultural topics to people of all ages.
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 students. We are practicing Maine CDC social-distancing protocols.
Monday-Friday, July 19-July 23 | Young artists will study, explore, and compare the fresh and saltwater habitats at the Gardens. Participants will develop a strong foundation in observation, drawing, and painting skills using pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, and watercolor. By the end of the week, students will have a portfolio of drawings and paintings based on daily discoveries. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.
Artistic, eye-catching mobiles can add whimsy and natural music to any garden as they catch the wind. Secured to posts, branches, or arbors, these features can reflect light, capture the spirit of a space, and offer depth and vertical interest to any landscape. In this creative craft class, we will make garden mobiles from found and natural objects supplied by instructors Caroline Davis, the Gardens' Coordinator of Botanical Arts and Exhibits, and Irene Barber, Horticultural Therapist and educator. Students are welcome to bring their own found, repurposed, or natural objects to incorporate in their garden mobiles. Please bring a pair of form-fitting work gloves.
To provide safe, in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are held entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 people. We are practicing social distance protocols.
Rain Date: Saturday, August 14, 2021
In this field-study course, join Sarah Callan on a walking tour of the Gardens and discover the diversity of bees in the landscape, bee identification, pollinator preferences, bee anatomy and behavior, and the latest research into these important pollinators.
CMBG’s Summer Camp Club is back! Summer camp club runs from July 26-Aug. 20 and covers a different topic every week. Since these are self-guided activities, you can sign up for the camp’s entirety at any time. Starting any day the week of July 26, campers can pick-up their first week of “Minibeasts!” camp activities exploring insects and other invertebrates. A new week of activities will be made available each Monday for a total of four weeks. Activities will include secret stashes, scavenger hunts, games, experiments, art projects, recipes and more. Campers will be invited to attend small-group outdoor learning sessions with CMBG staff throughout the summer based on camp themes. Each camper will receive a special bag to keep filled with tools for investigation and discovery as well as a camp hat. Families who sign up a child for both sessions of Summer Camp Club (“Animal Kingdom” and “Minibeasts!”), will receive a 15% discount at checkout. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.
Monday-Friday, July 26-30 | Young artists will work together to create art from nature, including botanical-, woodland-, and edible-plant mandalas, fairy houses, stone and stick sculptures, nature people, and leaf insects. Some of the work will be built in place and reclaimed by nature, and some will be created in our outdoor studio and taken home by students. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.
The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections between people and nature and promote plant conservation through horticulture, education, and plant science.
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