Leaving our campground, we headed to the much touted Botanical Gardens. Our GPS, which too often has a mind of its own, took us on an unusual … and not the shortest … route. However, it did provide one great photo op.
However, we finally arrived at the
where several sculptures lined the entrance road.
Opened in 2007, our “People’s Garden” invites visitors of all ages and abilities to create and to explore meaningful connections to plants and nature at their own pace. A small group of MidCoast residents dreamed of building a world-class public garden on 148 acres of rocky coastal forest that would one day be both an economic engine and cultural anchor for our region. After 16 years of planning, the Gardens opened officially in the summer of 2007.
Since then, the Gardens has become one of Maine’s top attractions and one of the most distinguished botanical destinations in the country. Its exquisite gardens, dramatic and compelling natural landscape—including nearly a mile of tidal saltwater frontage—make it ever-changing, endlessly captivating and thoroughly unique. The Gardens presents limitless potential to inspire learning about natural history, habitats, botany, horticulture and ecological connections.
As the largest botanical garden in New England, the Gardens comprises 295 acres, 17 of which are gardens featuring native plants of Maine and other plants suited to northern coastal conditions.
Even with fall approaching, the floral display was amaing.
Queen Red Lime Zinnea
Acidanthera Gladiola
Angel Wings
Black Sprite Mountain Cornflower
Blanket Flower
Blue and White Hydrangea
Britt-Marie Crawford Bigleaf Ligulara
Cappucino Black-eyed Susan
Field of Sunflowers
Dahlia
Dahlia
Dahlia
Blue Forget-me-nots and Spider Flowers
Hameln Dwarf Fountain Grass
Hollyhock
Lily
Lime Light Hydrangea
Meadow Rue
Joe Pye Eye
Red Paperbark Maple
Persian Fritillary
Pink Zinnea
Petunia
Purple Cornflower
Purple Tip Verbena Bonariensis
Reeds reflecting on the water
Roof of Grass
Salvia Patens Patio Deep Blue
Spiderflower
A Splash of Color
Star of Persia
Strawberry Hydrangea
Sunflower
Sweetbay Magnolia Bud
Tickseeds
Tree Aenium
Water lily
Yellow Submarine Rose
Then there were some flowers we've thus far been unable to identify … any assistance would be appreciated.
There was also an interesting number of "vertical" gardens.
We also spotted a couple of "locals".
Bumble Bee
Cecropia Moth Caterpillar
Cecropia Moth Pupa
Cabbage White Butterfly
Monaarch Butterfly Caterpillar
Monarch Butterfly
Silver Spotted Skipper Butterfly
Frog
Cihpmunk Debbie Spied
Finally, there were a number of other schulptures, wind pumps and vanes, bridges, decorative stone patios and fountains & ponds througout the gardens.
"Bird Wind" – an amazing sculpture which moved under even the slightest breeze
"Rabbit" … what else
"Roots"
"Echo"
"Wind Orchid"
"Stalking Wolves"
"Chasing Waves" (left) – "Fiddlehead Chaise" (right)
One of which I found surprisingly comfortable
Lerner Pond
Fountain offset to the right so the waves created would bounce off the rocks to the left before reaching the waterfall
Rock fountain in Children's Garden
Dinner at Sue and Bob's … where we could watch a schooner taking guests for a sunset cruise
and the sunset after glow.
In the distance, the rhythmic flashing of the Inn of Cuckold light.
