Wetlands Tour

Wednesdays, May 24, June 21, July 26, August 23 & September 20

Join us for a staff-led walk through the Gardens' many wetlands down to the Back River. On this tour, learn how important wetlands are to our ecosystem, how they provide vital habitat for wildlife, and what we can do to preserve them. From ponds to vernal pools to small rivers, we’ll see how water affects each natural community. Please note: this tour lasts about an hour and a half and moves swiftly over our steeper hiking trails. Registration is strongly suggested. To join, please meet outside the Lyn and Daniel Lerner Visitor Center by the Heafitz Wetland Bridge.

Location: Lerner Visitor Center
Price: Free / $10

Native Plant Tour

Tuesdays, May 9, 23, June 6, 20, July 11, 25, August 8, 22, September 5, 19, & October 10

The Native Plant Tour begins with a stroll down the Haney Hillside, moving from cultivated native plantings to the natural landscape of the Shoreland Trail. From there, we walk along the Maine Woods Trail, past fern glens and wetlands, to the upland spruce-fir forest off the Birch Allée. Please note: this tour lasts about an hour and a half and moves swiftly over hiking trails. Registration is strongly suggested. To join the tour, please meet by the Great Lawn outside the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses.

Location: Great Lawn
Price: Free / $10

See Change: Climate Impacts Around Us Tour

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, July 31 - October 20
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

How can we build climate-resilient communities? By engaging with stories about the natural world and exploring how our relationships with the environment are impacted by the changing climate. Join us on this BRAND-NEW tour of the Gardens as, together, we examine shifts in human values and behaviors and discuss the future of nature’s interactions. Enjoy the chance to share your perspectives on the changes you see occurring around you in this unique, supportive conversational format. The tour lasts an hour and a half, starts on the Great Lawn, and concludes in the Vayo Meditation Garden.

Location: Great Lawn

Highlights Tours

May 1 - July 4, tours Monday-Friday
July 5-September 3, tours daily
September 4-October 20, tours Monday-Friday

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.

Location: Great Lawn
Price: Free

Trees of the Trolls

Fridays, May 5, 19, June 2, 16, July 7, 21, August 4, 18, September 1, 15, October 6, and 20

Dive into forest ecology and discover how to become a better steward of our ecosystem, just like the Guardians of the Seeds. These trolls have emerged at the Gardens to save the seeds of Maine’s most important tree species—help them protect the trees by deepening your connection to the forest around you. In this guided tour, learn not only how you, too, can become a guardian of the forest like our giant trolls, but all about these important trees, their significance in our landscape, and some of the many threats our forests face. Note that the emphasis of this excursion will be on the Maine forest, and we will only see three trolls on this tour.

Location: Lerner Visitor Center
Price: Free / $10

Accessible Cart Tour

May 1-October 20, Monday-Friday, 9-10:30 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m. & 3-4:30 p.m.
Our one and a half hour accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. 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. Accessible Cart Tours are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers, except for Wednesdays when tours are free.

Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.

Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Price: $12 / $15

Maine Days

Friday, May 31–Sunday, June 2 | FREE for Maine Residents

Each year during Maine Days, we invite our fellow Maine residents to visit the Gardens at no cost—simply get your tickets ahead of time, and bring your Maine State ID or driver's license. Long a family tradition for many, this year’s event takes place Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2. We can’t wait to see you at the Gardens.

Please note that, while it is free for all Mainers, advance registration is required for this event.

Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay

Chewonki at the Gardens: Owls of Maine

Chewonki returns to the Gardens with their popular drop-in naturalist residency program, which is open to all and included in the daily admission price. This is the second of four focused on animals and their unique adaptations.

Two live owls, native to Maine and New England, are the highlight of this program. Participants will learn the identifying characteristics and calls of each owl using pictures and sounds. Get a close-up look at the talons, wings, and skulls of these silent nocturnal hunters.

Location: Seagull Pavilion
Instructor: Chewonki Science Educator

Deconstructing the Boundaries: The Land Fights Back

Saturday, July 20th, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Our Northeastern United States indigenous citizens are the Maliseet, Micmac, Penobscot, and Passamaquoddy, collectively make up the Wabanaki Confederacy. They are also known as “People of the Dawnland.” As members of a global community, we are people of the land. With the growing climate crisis and its reverberations in our societies, we bear witness to how the land fights back. Indigo Arts Alliance and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens commissioned the work of Anna Tsouhlarakis, Shane Perley-Dutcher, Daniel Minter and Arisa White to envision and create a permanent public art piece that amplifies Indigenous wisdom, artistry, and presence.

This year’s 2024 symposium and public art commissions will focus on environmental justice in urban and rural spaces and why it is critical that Black and Brown experiences and knowledge be centered. The work will unpack methods of reparative justice and challenge systems in place today. Witnessing through the lens of scholars, artists, historians and members of our community, we will honor our collective wisdom and forge new ways to be in harmony with the land known as Maine and beyond. Participants will have an opportunity to learn actionable steps that they can take to help create a better world.

Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Indigo Arts Alliance

Biodiversity Tour

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. This important part of our ecosystems is currently being threatened though, with reports showing that we have lost 60% of the global biodiversity in the last 40 years. In this new tour, we'll explore the rich biodiversity at the Gardens, learn about its value, and discover how you can help protect it in your communities.

Learn More
Location: Lerner Visitor Center
Price: Free

See Change: Climate Stories Tour

How can we build climate-resilient communities? By engaging with stories about the natural world and exploring how our relationships with the environment are impacted by the changing climate. Join us on this new tour of the Gardens as, together, we examine shifts in human values and behaviors and discuss the future of nature’s interactions. Enjoy the chance to share your perspectives on the changes you see occurring around you in this unique conversational format. The tour lasts an hour and a half, starts on the Great Lawn, and concludes in the Vayo Meditation Garden.

Learn More
Location: Great Lawn
Price: Free

The PopUpCycler is coming to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens from July 27 to 29! 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 colorful collaborative sculptural installation for all to enjoy. Participation in this event is included in the price of admission.

Learn More
Location: Alfond Children's Garden Boothbay

The Caterpillar Lab

Wednesday-Sunday, July 31-August 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Back by popular demand! Join us July 31–August 4 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 is held in the Bosarge Family Education Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Caterpillar Lab is generously funded in loving memory of Tree Robbins.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: The Caterpillar Lab

Chewonki at the Gardens: The Bugmobile

Chewonki returns to the Gardens with their popular drop-in naturalist residency program, which is open to all and included in the daily admission price. This is the third of four focused on animals and their unique adaptations.

Explore the world of insects, spiders, and more with Chewonki's "Bugmobile"! Discover the unique characteristics of four major arthropod groups, often referred to as "bugs," through models, costumes, and live specimens. 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.

Location: Seagull Pavilion
Instructor: Chewonki Science Educator

Chewonki at the Gardens: Scales & Tails

Chewonki returns to the Gardens with their popular drop-in naturalist residency program, which is open to all and included in the daily admission price. This is the fourth and last of four focused on animals and their unique adaptations.

Many people conjure up images of slimy skin and dangerous monsters when they hear the word "reptile." This hands-on program dispels some of those fears by allowing guests to examine snakeskins, turtle shells, skeletons, and other unique reptilian artifacts. Using live, non-releasable reptiles, we'll compare these species and discuss their adaptations.

Location: Seagull Pavilion
Instructor: Chewonki Science Educator

Five Senses Family Tour

Putting our five senses to work, we'll wind our way through the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, experiencing this garden in a new way. Participants will be encouraged to sample different herbs and edible flowers that may be new to them. Free with admission.

Location: Lerner Garden

Butterfly Investigations

Meet us in the Native Butterfly House as we investigate the lives of the butterflies and moths. From egg to adult and everything in between, we’ll search for all stages of a butterfly’s life cycle while learning about their unique adaptations, their essential role in the food web, and how to identify key differences between butterflies and moths. Free with admission.

Location: Butterfly House

Pond Investigations

The pond in our Children’s Garden is teeming with life during the summer months. Drop in and discover which creatures call the water their home as we dip nets into the pond and look for signs of life. We’ll explore life cycles, food chains, differences between reptiles and amphibians, and the proper handling of our froggy friends. This is an open activity appropriate for all ages. Free with admission.

Location: Alfond Children's Garden Boothbay

Queers and Beers Maine Meetup

We are excited to be welcoming Queers + Beers ME to the Gardens on Saturday, 9/14! We are offering free admission to visitors with Queers + Beers ME all day long. We will be finishing the night afterward with a group social at Boothbay Craft Brewery from 5-7 p.m.

Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Queers and Beers Maine

Accessible Cart Tour (Free Wednesday)

Wednesdays, May 1-October 18
9-10:45 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., 3-4:30 p.m.
Additional tours in July-September at 1-2:30 p.m.

Our one and a half hour accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. 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 are free on Wednesdays. Our other weekday Accessible Cart Tours are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.

Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay

Accessible Cart Tour (Free Wednesdays)

Wednesdays, May 1-October 18
9-10:45 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., 3-4:30 p.m.
Additional tours in July-September at 1-2:30 p.m.

Our one and a half hour accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. 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 are free on Wednesdays. Our other weekday Accessible Cart Tours are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.

Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay

Accessible Cart Tour

May 1-October 18, Monday-Friday, 9-10:45 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., & 3-4:30 p.m.
In July-September, an additional tour is available, 1-2:30 p.m.

Our one and a half hour accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. 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. Accessible Cart Tours are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers, except for Wednesdays when tours are free. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.

Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Price: $12 / $15

Cider Saturdays

Nothing says autumn like a sweet apple cider treat. Learn the basics of making this delicious drink and enjoy the fruits of your labors. Free with admission.

Location: Alfond Children's Garden Boothbay

Native Plant Tour

Mondays, May 6-October 14, 1-2:30 p.m.

For a deeper dive into the world of native plants, join our docent-led Native Plant Tour. Free with the price of admission, we begin with a stroll down the Haney Hillside, moving from cultivated native plantings to the natural landscape of the Shoreland Trail. We then travel on the Maine Woods Trail to discover fern glens and wetlands up to the upland spruce-fir forest of the Birch Allée. Please note: this tour lasts about ninety minutes and moves swiftly over hiking trails; sturdy boots or shoes are recommended. Pre-registration is encouraged as tours do reach capacity; drop-ins are welcome. Please meet outside the Café building by the Great Lawn to join the tour.

Location: Great Lawn

Wetlands Tour

Wednesdays, May 1-October 16, 1-2:30 p.m.

From ponds and vernal pools to small rivers, on this free staff-led tour, 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. Please note: this tour lasts about ninety minutes and moves swiftly over our steeper hiking trails. Pre-registration is encouraged as tours do reach capacity; drop-ins are welcome. Please meet outside the Lyn and Daniel Lerner Visitor Center by the Heafitz Wetland Bridge to join the tour.

Location: Lerner Visitor Center

Accessible Cart Tour (Free Wednesday)

Wednesdays, May 1-October 18
9-10:45 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., 3-4:30 p.m.
Additional tours in July-September at 1-2:30 p.m.

Our one and a half hour accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. 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 are free on Wednesdays. Our other weekday Accessible Cart Tours are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.

Hike the Trolls Tour

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 real 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.

Learn More
Location: Great Lawn
Price: Free

Accessible Cart Tour

May 1-October 18, Monday-Friday, 9-10:45 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m., & 3-4:30 p.m.
In July-September, an additional tour is available, 1-2:30 p.m.

Our one and a half hour accessible cart tours are led by trained Gardens' docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. 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. Accessible Cart Tours are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers, except for Wednesdays when tours are free. Registration is required ahead of time. Admission to the Gardens is not included and must be purchased separately.

Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Price: $12 / $15

See Change: Climate Stories Tour

How can we build climate-resilient communities? By engaging with stories about the natural world and exploring how our relationships with the environment are impacted by the changing climate. Join us on this new tour of the Gardens as, together, we examine shifts in human values and behaviors and discuss the future of nature’s interactions. Enjoy the chance to share your perspectives on the changes you see occurring around you in this unique conversational format. The tour lasts an hour and a half, starts on the Great Lawn, and concludes in the Vayo Meditation Garden.

Learn More
Location: Great Lawn
Price: Free

Beekeeping Demo

A group of people stand in front of a wall with beekeeping information on it, holding open a panel to look at a beehive inside. One of the people is holding a cane.Sundays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays, May 2-October 20, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

What's all the buzz about bees? Join us at the Learning Apiary for a demonstration on beekeeping with one of our on-staff beekeepers. Learn about all things bees and beekeeping--from the different bees in the hive and the jobs they have to how we care for our bees here at the Gardens to how we can better support our pollinators in our own neighborhoods. This drop-in program is free with admission.

Location: Apiary

Biodiversity Tour

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. This important part of our ecosystems is currently being threatened though, with reports showing that we have lost 60% of the global biodiversity in the last 40 years. In this new tour, we'll explore the rich biodiversity at the Gardens, learn about its value, and discover how you can help protect it in your communities.

Learn More
Location: Lerner Visitor Center
Price: Free