Forest Therapy and Tea (Sold Out)

Deepening your connection to nature through moving meditation offers enormous benefits for personal well-being. In this gentle class, experience how the simple practice of walking mindfully through a forest can provide deep serenity. By engaging with all five senses, we can enhance awareness and presence. Follow Susan Bickford, certified guide in the ancient Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, or forest therapy/forest bathing, and gain the tools needed to begin your own meditation practice. The walk ends with a tea ceremony.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Susan Bickford
Price: $25 / $30

Selecting Native Woody Plants

Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 17 | Learn how native woody plants enhance both our landscapes and local biodiversity. Over two days, study these plants, from identification to habitat to their role as host plants for the insects and pollinators critical for plant management and reproduction.

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Location: Online & Bosarge Family Education Center
Instructor: Andy Brand
Price: $130 / $155

Landscaping for Wildlife (Sold Out)

Habitat loss is the primary cause of declining wildlife populations. This interactive course teaches students how to incorporate select native plants and mechanical practices into their own landscapes to create a welcoming habitat that attracts wildlife, conserves natural resources, and encourages biodiversity.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Deb Perkins
Price: $65 / $80

Edible Natives to Grow at Home

Join Andy Brand, the Gardens’ Director of Horticulture, on a walk to identify native edible plants living in their desired natural habitats, then learn how to incorporate these edibles into your home garden. Rather than foraging, this class focuses on the opportunity to grow these native edibles sustainably at home, leaving the foraging to the wildlife who need these plants for survival.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Andy Brand
Price: $30 / $36

Native Plants: Collecting & Sowing Seed (Ages 14+)

Join Heather McCargo, for a hands-on experience in native seed propagation, from ecologically responsible seed collection and storing procedures to germination techniques. Participants will go seed collecting in CMBG’s native plant gardens and learn about setting up an outdoor propagation area at home. Come learn the best techniques for sowing natives, and take home several pots sown with seeds.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Heather McCargo
Price: $36 / $44

Owls, Butterflies and Other Flying Friends: Working in Encaustic Paint

Monday and Tuesday, September 19 and 20

Enjoy two days exploring the ancient medium of encaustic, a fluid, hot beeswax painting medium perfect for working in rich textures and a range of colors found in nature. Class time will be divided between demonstration, individual work time, and discussion about Maine’s strong contemporary and historical artistic connection to landscape genre. We’ll discuss proper studio ventilation, wax safety, and how to “finish” artwork in terms of framing and care. Students will leave with multiple finished pieces and the understanding of proper studio set-up.

*Starter panels will be provided, but students are expected to bring their own panels for finished works or developed drafts. Upon registration, you will receive further details about panel choices, along with a list of additional materials that you are invited to bring to the course.

Please note this class requires participants to show proof of having received all eligible Covid-19 vaccinations, as recommended for their age by the CDC, in order to participate. Because of the dynamic nature of this situation, we ask that you agree to abide by potential future changes in CMBG’s Covid-19 policy designed to address evolving public health recommendations.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Hélène Farrar
Price: $225 / $255

Invasive Plants: Issues, Identification and Ecology

Mondays, September 19, 26, and October 3 | Invasive species are considered highly undesirable by botany, ecology, horticulture, and conservation professionals—and for good reason. In this two-day course, Amanda Devine, Regional Land Steward for Maine Coast Heritage Land Trust, will identify the basic ecological problems surrounding these aggressive, tenacious plants; the complicated (and sometimes political) issues surrounding them; and how a plant becomes labeled “invasive.”

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Location: Online & Maine Coast Heritage Trust ME
Instructor: Amanda Devine
Price: $130 / $155

Watercolor for Botanical & Nature Enthusiasts (Sold Out)

Monday-Wednesday, September 26-28

Spend three full days exploring the wonderful world of watercolor, in-person with artist Mindy Lighthipe. Learn valuable techniques to help you create nature-inspired sketches and formal watercolor paintings. Emphasis will be on accurate details, color mixing, and application—all helping you gain confidence in your watercolor journey. Each day, a series of techniques will be demonstrated as students work on a variety of subjects from leaves to butterflies to flowers, and so much more.

Please note this class requires participants to show proof of having received all eligible Covid-19 vaccinations, as recommended for their age by the CDC, in order to participate. Because of the dynamic nature of this situation, we ask that you agree to abide by potential future changes in CMBG’s Covid-19 policy designed to address evolving public health recommendations.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Mindy Lighthipe
Price: $350 / $375

Nature of Oaks

Oaks sustain a complex and fascinating web of wildlife. Come learn what happens in their branches, month by month, a tangible cycle of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers harvesting hundreds of acorns to the jewel caterpillars grazing greenery, Tallamy describes and celebrates these backyard wonders. Learn practical advice about planting and caring for oaks and the best oak species for your area. Leave inspired to treasure, nurture, and protect these remarkable trees.

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Location: Online
Instructor: Doug Tallamy
Price: $15 / $20

Plant ID & Ecology: Asters

This class will focus on the identification of 20 - 25 of Maine’s asters. Not only looking alike, but blooming roughly at the same time (late-summer to October) can make them a challenge to identify. Via slideshow, take a close look at our herbarium specimens, and then through field investigations, we’ll look at the features that distinguish one aster from another, becoming familiar with their respective habitats. (This class also pairs well with Plant ID & Ecology: Goldenrods, on Saturday, October 1, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)

We’ll begin at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, then students drive off-site to a nearby nature preserve to continue the class.

Please note this class requires participants to show proof of having received all eligible Covid-19 vaccinations, as recommended for their age by the CDC, in order to participate. Because of the dynamic nature of this situation, we ask that you agree to abide by potential future changes in CMBG’s Covid-19 policy designed to address evolving public health recommendations.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Ted Elliman
Price: $44 / $52

Plant ID & Ecology: Goldenrods

This class will focus on the identification of 10 – 15 of Maine’s goldenrods. Not only looking alike, but blooming roughly at the same time (late-summer to October) can make them a challenge to identify. Via slideshow, take a close look at our herbarium specimens, and then through field investigations, we’ll look at the features that distinguish one goldenrod from another, becoming familiar with their respective habitats. Please come with a hand lens if you have one, otherwise we’ll provide them. (This class also pairs well with Plant ID & Ecology: Asters, on Friday, September 30, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)

We’ll begin at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, then students drive off-site to a nearby nature preserve to continue the class.

Please note this class requires participants to show proof of having received all eligible Covid-19 vaccinations, as recommended for their age by the CDC, in order to participate. Because of the dynamic nature of this situation, we ask that you agree to abide by potential future changes in CMBG’s Covid-19 policy designed to address evolving public health recommendations.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Melissa Cullina
Price: $44 / $52

Fall Botanicals: Still Life in Acrylics

Tuesday-Thursday, October 11-13 | Create beautiful still life paintings in a relaxed atmosphere using fall botanicals. We will aim to complete at least one painting per day with an emphasis on “alla prima” or “all at once” painting. There will be short demos and plenty of individual attention throughout the three-day workshop. Using materials from the Gardens, students will arrange their own still life “bouquets,” keeping the composition simple. Participants will be encouraged to interpret rather than replicate a still life set-up, using brush strokes, colors, imagination, and creativity.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Susan Bartlett Rice
Price: $265 / $290

BRCDWI: Native Plants for Watershed Protection

Join us for this free, special event for Boothbay Region Residents and learn how to take action on climate change, preserve our bodies of water, support healthy ecosystems, and protect locally-sourced drinking water. Keynote speaker Irene Barber, landscape designer, horticulturist, and Adult Education Program Manager at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, will discuss incorporating native plants that increase beauty, biodiversity, and contribute to clean water. Come discover some of the dynamic, striking natives perfect for shorelines, rain gardens, and wetland edges.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Irene Barber
Price: Free

Vertical Moss Tapestries

Using an upcycled frame, design your own vertical moss tapestry. Moss is captivating, from color to texture, and we’ll use several varieties of moss, lichen, and other organic materials. The moss is preserved—no maintenance required! Whether your inspiration is to recreate the feel of a walk in the woods, a birds-eye view of Maine geography, or an abstract color field, participants can create a verdant piece of art that brings the outside-in, all year long.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Cheryl Tyler
Price: $62 / $70

Fungi Ecology: Life Below & Aboveground

Fungi are everywhere! Join us to explore the Gardens’ diverse landscape to learn how fungi get their nutrients, about their role in the environment, and how they help (or hinder) plant growth. Participants will discover the many fungi that are free-living in soil or water; others that are parasitic or symbiotic with plants or animals and those that develop incredible architectural forms. We'll learn lifecyles of some fascinating fungi!

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Dr. Seanna Annis
Price: $30 / $36

Ecological Landscape Design

Fridays, October 21 and 28 and Saturday, October 29 | To design landscapes inspired by—and inclusive of—nature, study essential design principles through the lens of natural systems. In this three-day course led by landscape architect Lisa Cowan and landscape designer and horticulturist Irene Barber, students will learn to identify and incorporate the components of ecological landscape design.

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Location: Online & Bosarge Family Education Center
Instructor: Irene Barber
Price: $155 / $180

Forest Therapy and Tea

Deepening your connection to nature through moving meditation offers enormous benefits for personal well-being. In this gentle class, experience how the simple practice of walking mindfully through a forest can provide deep serenity. By engaging with all five senses, we can enhance awareness and presence. Follow Susan Bickford, certified guide in the ancient Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, or forest therapy/forest bathing, and gain the tools needed to begin your own meditation practice. The walk ends with a tea ceremony.

Learn More
Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Susan Bickford
Price: $25 / $30

Wildlife in the Backyard: Mammals (Ages 14+)

Ages 14-adult are invited to join us for an informative look into the mammals you may not always see, but who are almost certainly living in or around your backyard, relying on your landscape for survival. Explore CMBG’s most common inhabitants, their important habitats, dietary preferences, and learn a variety of management practice approaches. Offered at an active time of year as wildlife prepare for winter, the class will explore the Gardens, learn key points for identification, and look for presence indicators such as tracks, holes, browsing, and more.

Please note this class requires participants to show proof of having received all eligible Covid-19 vaccinations, as recommended for their age by the CDC, in order to participate. Because of the dynamic nature of this situation, we ask that you agree to abide by potential future changes in CMBG’s Covid-19 policy designed to address evolving public health recommendations.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Alicia Miller
Price: $20 / $25

Ferns: Ecology, Cultivation, and Design

This presentation will explore ferns, from their ancient roots to their current evolution, adapting to grow and thrive in a diverse range of environments. This extensive genera of plants can live in open New England meadows, dry or wet woodlands, and in almost any cultivated garden setting to add texture, architectural interest, verdant hues, and essential habitat for native fauna.

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Location: Online
Instructor: Michael Sundue
Price: $12 / $18

Holiday Harvest Centerpieces

In this fun and creative hands-on workshop, learn how to compose a centerpiece that reflects your personality and style. Using fresh and dried floral and greenery harvested here at CMBG, floral designer and Horticulturist Lesley Paxson will guide students through a demonstration and offer one-on-one assistance. Take home new skills and a centerpiece to enjoy during harvest dinners. All materials supplied; students are encouraged to bring their own clippers or pruners.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Lesley Paxson
Price: $55 / $68

Resilient Landscapes in Built Environments | Section II

Mondays, November 28, December 5, 12, & 19th | Continuing the focus on resilient landscapes in built environments, Section II examines New England native plants for function, beauty, and biodiversity in the landscape and achieving high performance with minimal input. Additionally, the final two courses will provide step-by-step information on seasonal implementation and land-management practices relating to strategic planning, plant succession, erosion control, installation of green infrastructure, and contractor-to-client communication essential for establishing and supporting sustainable and resilient landscapes. These virtual courses are designed to be interactive, supporting those students with a working knowledge of native plants to plan for the next level of design and management.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Price: $250 / $295