We’re pleased to announce that Maine Member Day will be back for a second year in 2012, and we’re proud to be among the Maine museums and cultural organizations offering a great benefit for members of all ages: On Saturday, May 19, your Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens membership will open the doors to a raft of museums, gardens, and historic homes. You’ll receive free admission by simply presenting your membership card.

Below is the list to date of participating organizations and museums for 2012. Between now and Maine Member Day, why not join or renew your Gardens membership?

2012 MAINE MEMBER DAY PARTICIPANTS

Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Portland

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay

Maine Discovery Museum, Bangor

Maine Historical Society, Portland

Maine Maritime Museum, Bath

Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit

Owls Head Transportation Museum, Owls Head

Portland Museum of Art, Portland

Victoria Mansion, Portland

Irene's herbs

This class is one in the new five-part series “Cultivating and Using Herbs.” Throughout the season, from May 19-September 13, we’ll explore the many facets of the herb garden and its uses. You may take the classes individually or sign up for the series at a discounted price. For more detailed information about the series, click here.

Click on the lower button  below to sign up for the class described here or the top button for all five classes at the discounted price of $150 for members/$190 for non-members. Pre-registration is required.

CLASS #1: CULTIVATING HERBS: SELECTING AND GROWING FOR MANY USES

In this hands-on workshop, experienced herb gardener Irene Brady Barber will introduce you to the many ways herbs can be used and instruct you in the modern-day basics of herb gardening – whether it be establishing a new garden, expanding and rejuvenating an existing one or growing in containers.  From plant selection to tending techniques, Irene will make sure you have the best information for a thriving herb garden.

Irene Brady Barber is currently both a landscape designer for Cosmic Stone & Garden Supply and a seasonal horticultural educator at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.  With an academic and professional background in communications: human behavior and in horticulture studies, Irene is presently working to complete a professional certification in the field of horticultural therapy, which is the focus of much of her teaching at the Gardens.  Each year she plans and tends many types of herbs in the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses.

Where:     Bosarge Family Education Center
Price:       $30 members, $37 non-members (pre-registration required)

FOR THE SERIES, CLICK ON THE FIRST BUTTON, IMMEDIATELY BELOW:

CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW TO REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS, “CULTIVATING HERBS: SELECTING AND GROWING FOR MANY USES: WITH IRENE BRADY BARBER.”

Learn about the techniques and philosophy we use to achieve success at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Staff horticulturist Justin Nichols will cover many of the components essential to a successful garden, such as approaches to soil preparation and amendment, plant selection, pruning basics, planting techniques, watering, fertilization, and the tools you need.  He’ll also address the topics of dealing with pests and diseases, difficult garden sites, and managing weeds and invasive plants.  Much of this class will be out of doors, so dress for the weather of the day and prepare to walk a bit.

Justin Nichols has been professionally maintaining gardens for 20 years, the last four at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.  He has a master’s degree in education and enjoys teaching horticultural topics to people of all ages. 

Learn more about the full series.

Where: Bosarge Family Education Center and Gardens grounds
Price:  $35 members, $42 non-members (pre-registration requested)

Where:    Bosarge Family Education Center, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Price:       Free (pre-registration required)

Flock together for a fun-filled family art show opening for our fledgling artists from the Boothbay peninsula. This May 26-30 exhibit, “Birds and Blossoms: A Birds-Eye View of the Garden,” features student artworks with birds and plants as their theme. The reception, with refreshments and activities, will be a chance to see the students’ art and celebrate their creativity. Don’t miss the birdcall contest for 8-10 year olds at 3 p.m.!

Where:  Visitor Center
Price:     Free and open to the public

The annual Not-Your-Garden-Variety Plant Sale has become a tradition at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. The sale offers a variety of hard-to-find and unique perennials; native plants; boutique annuals perfect for container plantings; and this year, for the first time ever, we’ll have a limited number of plants propagated by our very own horticultural staff available for sale. We’ll also be selling $5 bags of our own “Magic Mulch” throughout the Plant Sale, while supplies last. For the best selection of everything, become a member and shop during the members-only hours on Saturday morning, 9:00-noon; memberships will be available at the sale that day.

When:        Members only on Saturday 9 a.m.-noon; open to the public on Saturday noon-4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where:      Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens – Blueberry Parking Lot, Barters Island Road, Boothbay
Price:         Free admission, with no regular Gardens admission required to enter the sale

Botanical Illustration is a specialized world, a world of beauty, in which the nature of the subject matter is ever-changing, and always fascinating.  In the United Stated there is a developing interest in the botanical art tradition and its contribution not only as a fine art form, but in its educational value, including its significance in raising ecological awareness.   In this illustrated slide lecture, lauded botanical illustrator Linda Heppes Funk will present a program on the history of botanical illustration for The American Society of Botanical Artists, of which she is a founding member.  Linda will discuss the tradition of western botanical art up to the present day with inspiring images, including some of her own making. 

At the close of the lecture, one botanical illustration created and donated by Linda will be auctioned to benefit the In-Residence program at the Gardens.   The lecture and auction will be immediately followed by a reception for her exhibit in the Bosarge Family Education Center gallery, lobby and In-Residence office.  

All day in our gift shop, lacquered trays, placemats, and coasters featuring Linda’s botanical art will be specially featured.

Where: Bosarge Family Education Center
Price:    $10 members, $12 non-members

The Gardens presents a full week during which artists are invited to paint en plein air in the Gardens with free admission. They’re invited to set up their easels wherever they like and paint whatever strikes their fancy. Works will be on exhibit from June 11-29, and there will be an artists’ reception on Thursday, June 14, from 5-7 p.m., which will be free for the public to attend.

Artists are asked to please register to paint by May 25, 2012. Simply leave your name, ONE gallery name (if applicable), town of residence, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address via e-mail at Valerie@MaineGardens.org or phone at (207) 633-4333, ext.110.

The full information sheet can be found here.

Where:      Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Barters Island Road, Boothbay
Price:         Free for artists

Skunk Cabbage by Linda Heppes Funk

Acclaimed botanical artist Linda Heppes Funk will be “In-Residence” at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens from May 27-June 2, 2012. Please visit the In-Residence Programs page for more information about her and others in this program. In addition to the program outlined here, there will be a lecture, auction, and exhibit opening on Sunday, May 17. She will be demonstrating her techniques at the In-Residence office of the Bosarge Family Education Center on Monday, May 28^, and Saturday, June 2.

From Tuesday-Friday, May 29-June 1, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each day, Linda will teach an intensive four day tutorial suitable for those at all levels of accomplishment (basic drawing experience preferred). She will cover all aspects of the traditional art of botanical drawing.  Using live wildflower plant material as subject matter, instructional focus will include composition, observational skills and sketch development; and drybrush watercolour technique, applied to finished work on weighted cotton hotpress paper.

Students will be encouraged to practice the skills and discipline required to produce drawings combining scientific precision and artistic beauty. There will be an emphasis on process, not product, and on developing the individual’s unique abilities, though we will work toward producing a finished drawing. Exploring the meditative aspects of drawing from one’s focused center, to capture the life and spirit emanating from nature, is an underlying foundation of this course. Space is very limited so please register early.

Where:  Bosarge Family Education Center, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Price:     $495 members, $550 non-members (pre-registration required)