We’ve come a long way since Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens was founded in 1991. In 1996 our seven founders and others committed to their vision selected and purchased our original 128-acre waterfront property, and in the process saved it from becoming a housing subdivision. Then, in 2005, we received the incredible gift of an adjacent 120 acres from the Pine Tree Conservation Society. Now, with nearly 250 acres, we’re the largest botanical garden in New England; and not only are we one of the only gardens in the nation on tidal waterfront; we have nearly a mile of it!

After years of planning and preparation, in the space of the past several years we’ve transformed what was solely a salt-water forest into a spectacular botanical garden. A great deal of the property remains in the type of pristine woodland that only Maine can produce. However, the acres that have been turned into the main campus with its Visitor Center and Central Gardens, as well as the Haney Hillside Garden, Vayo Meditation Garden, and Giles Rhododendron & Perennial Garden are what visitors initially come to see. As they traverse the Entry Drive and meander along our waterfront and woodland trails, they realize the enormity of this property and the scope of the project.

Growing Gardens
In June of 2009, we opened the most complex garden thus far, the spectacular Lerner Garden of the Five Senses. Its many features that appeal to our senses in different ways make it perhaps the finest sensory garden in the world. The new Huckleberry Cove Trail extends the waterfront trail and passes through a landscape that’s quintessentially Maine.

But what’s next? As any great garden should, we’ll grow. On a basic level, the good-sized specimens we’ve planted throughout our gardens will continue to mature. We’ll add additional plants, as well, and we’ve already put the greenhouse that was donated to us in 2006 to good use.

In 2010, we’ll proudly open The Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden. Thanks to careful planning and master plans by landscape architect Herb Schaal, FASLA and his team at EDAW, this garden will be finestkind, as we say here in Maine, and is sure to become a favorite with visitors of all ages. You can also check out our progress at various stages through the image gallery of construction photos.

Before long, we’ll build an education center. Wild Plants of Maine, a far-reaching project that will feature native plants in a variety of surroundings, is also in our future. Watch our progress as you visit the Gardens over the coming years. You’ll see plenty of changes. And the reason for every one of them will be to help make our visitors’ experiences more enjoyable and rewarding, educational and inspiring.