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Prepare for a memorable experience led by tribal elder and master basketmaker Richard Silliboy, Vice Chief of the Mi’kmaq Nation. Please drop in to see Richard demonstrate the art and tradition of basketweaving while he shares stories about the significance of tribal history and traditions. Participation in this event is included in the price of admission.
Daily, May 1-October 19, 11 a.m.-noon
Join us for this hour-long tour through our central gardens. Meet on the Great Lawn, then walk through its surrounding gardens. Hear about the origin story and the people who made each garden possible, highlights of Gardens’ history, design elements, and botanical details. While this tour is free, pre-registration is encouraged; drop-ins are welcome.
Saturdays and Sundays, May 3-October 19, 1-2:30 p.m.
Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth. It provides us with everything that makes life on Earth possible—clean air and water, fertile soil, medicines, fuels, materials, shelter, places for recreation, and a stable climate. In this tour, we’ll explore the rich biodiversity at the Gardens and share stories about how biodiverse landscapes enrich and strengthen our communities against change and other challenges. Enjoy the chance to share your perspectives and explore new ones on how we all can protect biodiversity in our own homes. This tour follows an accessible route for wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility aids. While this tour is free, pre-registration is encouraged; drop-ins are welcome.
Monday-Tuesday & Thursday-Friday, May 1- October 19, 9-10:30 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1-2:30 p.m., 2-3:30 p.m., & 3-4:30 p.m.
Our ninety-minute electric accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' staff and docents, rain or shine. 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. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately. Cart tours are free on Wednesdays.
Wednesdays, May 7-October 15, 9-10:30 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1-2:30 p.m., 2-3:30 p.m., & 3-4:30 p.m.
Our ninety-minute electric accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' staff and docents, rain or shine. 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 on Wednesdays are free, but registration is required ahead of time. Our other weekday Accessible Cart Tours are $15 for members and $18 for nonmembers. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately
Webbed feet, camouflaged fur, or spines on their backs are all amazing ways that animals use adaptations to survive in the wild every day. Chewonki returns to the Gardens with this fun-filled drop-in program. Learn about these adaptations, try on fun costumes, and see firsthand how three of Chewonki's live, non-releasable animals have adaptations that help them thrive in their specific habitats, including our local marine habitat. This drop-in exhibit is included in the price of admission.
Wednesday, May 7-October 15, 1-2:30 p.m.
From ponds and vernal pools to small rivers, on this free hike, we'll explore the Gardens' many wetlands to see how water affects each natural community. Learn how important wetlands are to our ecosystem, how they provide vital habitat for wildlife, and what we can do to preserve them. This hike lasts about ninety minutes and moves swiftly over our steeper hiking trails. While this tour is free, pre-registration is encouraged; drop-ins are welcome. Please meet outside the Lyn and Daniel Lerner Visitor Center by the Heafitz Wetland Bridge to join the tour.
Thursdays & Fridays, May 1-October 17, 1-2:30 p.m.
The Guardians of the Seeds have emerged from the woods and are waiting for you to find them! On this guided hike, we’ll find all five of the trolls hidden in the woods and, along the way, explore the botany behind the magic of the exhibit. Join us to learn more about the artist Thomas Dambo and the team that built them, hear behind-the-scenes stories of how they were constructed, and discover how you, too, can join the trolls and become a guardian of the forest. This tour will last approximately one and a half hours and will cover about 2.5 miles of paths and trails. While this tour is free, pre-registration is encouraged; drop-ins are welcome.
Saturdays, June 14 & July 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Firefly, the hybrid song keeper, vocalist, and composer from the Penobscot Nation, will bring his powerful voice and cultural heritage to the Gardens. Firefly has performed with the Kennedy Center, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Portland Ovations, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His time spent amongst the gardens with you will be a celebration of his Indigenous ancestry and the deep connection between music and nature. Participation in this event is included in the price of admission.
Meet mounted mammals in a hands-on exploration of Maine native warm-blooded vertebrates with visiting naturalist Chewonki. Observe characteristics like teeth, feet, and fur to understand each mammal's adaptations, niche, and habitat. A collection of skulls, study skins, and other specimens complements a discussion of adaptations and each animal's role in the food web. This drop-in exhibit is included in the price of admission.
Friday-Sunday, July 18-20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
The PopUpCycler is coming to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens from July 18 to 20! Join visiting artist Kim Bernard in a DIY recycling project and turn trash into art. Participants will clean, shred, and extrude #2 plastic milk and water jugs into a colorful, collaborative, sculptural installation for all to enjoy. Participation in this event is included in the price of admission.
Wednesday-Sunday, July 30-August 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Back by popular demand! Join us from July 30 to August 3 when perennial favorite, The Caterpillar Lab, sets up its functioning caterpillar rearing, researching, photographing, filming, and educating facility in our Education Center. No two days of this residency are alike! Come experience live caterpillar displays and witness how The Lab cares for and works with these amazing, surprising creatures. The living exhibit is free with admission and held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Predators can have a bad reputation, but these animals play an important role in ecosystems and gardens by keeping pest populations down. Learn some commonly-held myths about predators, explore attitudes toward them, and discover the reasons for their decline throughout history. After meeting some of Chewonki's live, non-releasable predators, you'll get to know them and their importance in maintaining the world's ecological balance. This drop-in exhibit is included in the price of admission.
Explore the world of insects, spiders, and more with Chewonki's "Bugmobile"! Through models, costumes, and live specimens, discover the unique characteristics of four major arthropod groups, often referred to as "bugs. " Their live "bug" species will introduce you to some of the fascinating adaptations essential for survival, such as mimicry, camouflage, armor, and the use of venom. This drop-in exhibit is included in the price of admission.
Monday-Tuesday & Thursday-Friday, May 1- October 19, 9-10:30 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1-2:30 p.m., 2-3:30 p.m., & 3-4:30 p.m.
Our ninety-minute electric accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' staff and docents, rain or shine. 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. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately. Cart tours are free on Wednesdays.
Wednesday, May 7-October 15, 1-2:30 p.m.
From ponds and vernal pools to small rivers, on this free hike, we'll explore the Gardens' many wetlands to see how water affects each natural community. Learn how important wetlands are to our ecosystem, how they provide vital habitat for wildlife, and what we can do to preserve them. This hike lasts about ninety minutes and moves swiftly over our steeper hiking trails. While this tour is free, pre-registration is encouraged; drop-ins are welcome. Please meet outside the Lyn and Daniel Lerner Visitor Center by the Heafitz Wetland Bridge to join the tour.
This fall, New England Botanical Society and the Gardens are co-hosting a research conference, Plant Migration in a Changing Climate, on October 3-4, 2025, at the Gardens. Featured plenary speakers will be Jesse Bellemare, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Smith College; Bethany Bradley, Professor of Environmental Conservation at University of Massachusetts Amherst; and Jay Wason, Associate Professor of Forest Ecosystem Physiology at The University of Maine.
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.
Copyright 2025 Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
