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Growing in a prime spot
by Outspoken on Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:34 am
Growing in a prime spot
The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens' waterfront location helps to make it an attraction.
The Associated Press
BOOTHBAY — At one of America's newest public gardens, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, there are nearly 1,300 varieties of plants, world-class sculptures and a restaurant that uses herbs grown on the grounds.
The gardens also boast trails that offer classic Maine scenery, from evergreen trees to lobster boats.
The gardens -- in the second year of operation -- are on a 248-acre plot on the edge of the Back River, a tidal waterway that flows into the Sheepscot River.
The entrance is a winding dirt road through the woods leading to a high-ceilinged visitor center, where the furniture is Maine-made and the restaurant features breads, produce, cheeses, mustards and other foods -- even root beer -- grown or made in Maine. The building also has a classroom/library and a gift shop.
Outside, each of the 10 ornamental gardens has a distinctive theme: There's the rose garden, the pond garden, the meditation garden and the rhododendron and perennial garden, which has a waterfall, more than 10,000 flowering bulbs and 120-plus types of rhododendrons.
If trees are to your liking, the Kousa dogwoods put on a show throughout the summer with their white, yellow and pink flowers. Hundreds of white-barked birch trees line a dirt road through the woods, forming the picturesque "Birch Allee," or birch alley.
There are more than 600 public gardens across the country, about a quarter of which could be categorized as "botanical gardens," which focus not just on displaying plants, but on research and education as well.
What sets the Boothbay gardens apart is their waterfront location, said Dan Stark, executive director of the American Public Gardens Association. He knows of only one other botanical garden -- the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden in northern California -- with coastal property.
The setting in Maine left an impression on Susan Hilditch of St. Andrews, New Brunswick, who has been to four other botanical gardens across Canada. "This is right up at the top," said Hilditch, who was visiting with a friend in late June.
The gardens' site in Boothbay at one time was destined to be developed into a subdivision. But instead, in 1996, the land was purchased by a group of local residents intent on creating Maine's first botanical garden.
Supporters over the years have raised $12 million to turn their dream into reality. After years in the making, the garden opened in June 2007 with a goal of 25,000 people passing through. More than 40,000 showed up, and executive director Maureen Heffernan hopes for 45,000 to 50,000 this year.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=198309&ac=PHnws
Photos by Pat Wellenbach/The Associated Press
The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens' waterfront location helps to make it an attraction.
The Associated Press
BOOTHBAY — At one of America's newest public gardens, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, there are nearly 1,300 varieties of plants, world-class sculptures and a restaurant that uses herbs grown on the grounds.
The gardens also boast trails that offer classic Maine scenery, from evergreen trees to lobster boats.
The gardens -- in the second year of operation -- are on a 248-acre plot on the edge of the Back River, a tidal waterway that flows into the Sheepscot River.
The entrance is a winding dirt road through the woods leading to a high-ceilinged visitor center, where the furniture is Maine-made and the restaurant features breads, produce, cheeses, mustards and other foods -- even root beer -- grown or made in Maine. The building also has a classroom/library and a gift shop.
Outside, each of the 10 ornamental gardens has a distinctive theme: There's the rose garden, the pond garden, the meditation garden and the rhododendron and perennial garden, which has a waterfall, more than 10,000 flowering bulbs and 120-plus types of rhododendrons.
If trees are to your liking, the Kousa dogwoods put on a show throughout the summer with their white, yellow and pink flowers. Hundreds of white-barked birch trees line a dirt road through the woods, forming the picturesque "Birch Allee," or birch alley.
There are more than 600 public gardens across the country, about a quarter of which could be categorized as "botanical gardens," which focus not just on displaying plants, but on research and education as well.
What sets the Boothbay gardens apart is their waterfront location, said Dan Stark, executive director of the American Public Gardens Association. He knows of only one other botanical garden -- the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden in northern California -- with coastal property.
The setting in Maine left an impression on Susan Hilditch of St. Andrews, New Brunswick, who has been to four other botanical gardens across Canada. "This is right up at the top," said Hilditch, who was visiting with a friend in late June.
The gardens' site in Boothbay at one time was destined to be developed into a subdivision. But instead, in 1996, the land was purchased by a group of local residents intent on creating Maine's first botanical garden.
Supporters over the years have raised $12 million to turn their dream into reality. After years in the making, the garden opened in June 2007 with a goal of 25,000 people passing through. More than 40,000 showed up, and executive director Maureen Heffernan hopes for 45,000 to 50,000 this year.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=198309&ac=PHnws
Photos by Pat Wellenbach/The Associated Press
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Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
