Maine Residents get in free on Maine Days, Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2. Advance tickets are required. Get them online here.
This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | A core understanding of plant biology will open up the world of plants for any gardener. Through discussion, lecture, and hands-on lab work, this class begins with basic plant anatomy, exploring how every aspect of a plant works to sustain photosynthesis, respiration, and water and mineral uptake.
Whether you're working on a new garden design or revising an existing one, this class at the Gardens will address both the large-scale process and the detailed specifics of design. After a brief recap of the design process to ensure comprehension and strengthen the core intent of our designs, we'll address how to merge the layers of design details, ensuring legibility is maintained. Through a collaborative workshop, students will present their design projects, exchange constructive feedback, and discuss the means for making the design come to fruition. As the series final installment, students should come prepared with a design project they've been working on, no matter the stage. Upon registration, students will receive a list of supplies needed. Class Level: Intermediate
Are you interested in learning more about our Certificate In Botanical Arts Program? Enroll in this 60-minute online orientation to hear about the courses, workshops, and other program requirements. Students who complete the program will receive a certificate and an opportunity to exhibit their work at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. It is a requirement that all Certificate students must be Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Members. The orientation will take place on Zoom and will be recorded for those who cannot attend live.
Every other Thursday, May 9-October 10
Photography Club is one of the unique perks of being a member. Experience the serenity of the Gardens at 7 a.m., where local wildlife and dew-soaked petals wait around every corner. The club runs every other Thursday from May 9 - October 10, allowing you and club members an opportunity to grow your skills over three seasons.
Please note that there is no meeting on July 4.
Plants interact with their garden environments, from abiotic influences like temperature, pH, humidity, and sunlight to biotic influences like other plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and even humans. This two-day hybrid class teaches how plants adapt, compete, and depend on these influences. You'll learn concepts like parasitism, pollination, plant adaptation, and dispersal. Class Level: Intermediate to Advanced.
Strengthen your gardening skills with a focus on best planting practices in this in-person workshop and demonstration. We'll demonstrate how and when to sow seed, plant bare-root plants, and how to transplant both young potted seedlings and much larger, more mature specimens. You'll leave feeling informed about effective planting, including seasonal timing, rootbound plants, planting materials, and proper tools.
Watercolor and wax is an exciting combination, and when you add in a delicately textured rice paper, WOW! The results are fantastic and lovely, with rich, bold colors and soft textures created by the natural qualities of rice paper. Erica will lead you step by step through layering paint and wax, teaching you all the skills you need to know to start creating your watercolor batiks. We'll begin with how to choose a good reference photo, how to design a strong composition, and finally, where to apply wax and how to make corrections when you make a mistake. All levels of painters, from beginners to advanced, are encouraged to join the fun. Suitable for teens 14+.
This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Presented in three parts, native plant expert Dan Jaffe-Wilder will introduce students to various native perennials to use in garden settings. The course will include two online presentations in May and September and an in-person fieldwork day in July. Through the series, we will discuss selecting the right plant for the right place in the right combination, using the best quality for the application, cultivation variables, choosing plants for their ecological role, specialized garden communities, aesthetics, propagation, and proper plant procurement. Class Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Kick off Memorial Day weekend with this field-study class honoring our northeastern forests and learning more about their fragile ecosystems. Wabanahkik (Dawnland), the broader territory that includes the area now known as Maine, consists of a variety of climate conditions that host an assortment of deciduous and coniferous species valuable to thousands of living organisms. We'll discuss individual tree species, their ecological roles, and management practices that support the health of the living matrix. Class Level: All Levels. Suitable for teens 14+.
This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Guided by ecologist Ted Elliman, this comprehensive, two-day hybrid course will introduce students to natural plant communities, their defining physical environments, the plants living in them, and the natural processes affecting them. Online discussion and hands-on field work will evaluate the variety of plant communities throughout Maine and how this information influences your gardening choices. Class Level: Intermediate
Friday, June 7-Monday, June 10
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Calling all artists! Join us for our annual Plein Air Days four-day event. You'll bring your easels, paints, sketchbooks, etc., and we'll provide free admission and beautiful surroundings. Artists must register online or over the phone in advance.
While admission is free to artists, we will be open to the public. For the safety and comfort of all guests, we ask that you do not block pathways and keep easels out of garden beds.
This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Deepening your connection to nature through moving meditation offers enormous benefits for personal well-being. In this gentle and sensory-oriented class, students will experience the practice of walking mindfully through a forest to gain deep serenity and new awareness. Follow Susan Bickford, certified guide in the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest therapy/forest bathing, as she gives you the tools to begin your own meditation practice. The walk ends with a tea ceremony that honors the experience. Suitable for teens 14+.
This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Leave with a beautiful vertical garden in this hands-on workshop. Designers Cheryl Tyler and Jen Dunlap will guide students through a step-by-step process of building and planting an 18"x 14" framed planter. The plant pallet of ferns, mosses, and lichens will be provided for outdoor and indoor applications. Class Level: All Levels. Suitable for teens 14+.
Build your own pin or pendant (or both) based on inspirations from the flowers and foliage in the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. From observational drawing or photography, develop a simple flower or leaf design based on a color palette of your choosing. Employing Bonnie's signature marquetry techniques for surface design, and construct your pendant before making a pin back or pendant bale using wire and clay for a beautiful and fun finish. Basic polymer skills will be helpful but not required. Suitable for teens 14+.
This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Succulents provide the perfect plant for both seasoned and aspiring gardeners. These powerhouse low-maintenance plants add elegance and unique displays for small or large gardens. Join staff Horticulturist and container garden aficionado Brent McHale to show you what plants to use and how to plant your own shallow container garden that you'll take home to display and admire on your patio, deck, or balcony. All materials will be provided. Class Level: All Levels. Suitable for teens 14+.
The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through horticulture, education, and research.
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