Resources
Maine is a mecca for gardens, gardeners, and experts of all kinds. Need seeds? Help? Inspiration? You’ll find it here.
Blogs, Podcasts & Instagram
The Bioversity Audit is just one program highlighted on the Beth Chatto Gardens YouTube Channel. Suggested by member Astrid Bowlby, it’s a walkthrough of the Dixter Gardens in England.
Maine Garden Blogger Jean Potuchek is a retired college professor who gardens in South Poland and is one of the original garden bloggers, with posts going back to 2009. Search her posts for a particular topic or browse by month or category (design, Maine, wildflowers, problems)
Margaret Roach Award-winning NPR radio host and New York Times garden writer, Margaret often tag teams with author Ken Druse. Find her podcasts in your email inbox, on iTunes or at her website.
Edgewood Nursery Based in Falmouth, Maine and specializing in unusual edible and medicinal plants, owner Jesse Stevens also offers podcasts on such unusual topics as “How to Cook a Weed,” Hardy Kiwi, and Paw paws.
Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Environmental topics you won’t find in the mainstream gardening press.
Fernwood Nursery – Always a poignant missive in the blog or breath catching photo in instagram, subscribe to this propagator and purveyor of native plants.
Wild Seed Project A nonprofit focused on building awareness of the importance of native seed, Wild Seed distributed 14,000 seed packets in 2021. Extensive free resources at their website, but stay current by subscribing to their blog.
Waldo County Soil and Water Conservation District Learn the dozens of ways this organization works to make the planet healthy. With conservation advice, woodlandstewardship, new eco-landscapes, improved water quality, and environmental science to our school systems, the district has been helping the county meet its conservation goals since 1941.
Honey Petal Plants – Find this great source of locally grown native plants on Instagram.
Gardens, Arboretums & Others
A different garden each week in the summer. $5 donation towards community efforts.
A 15-acre park designed in the early 20th century, with an ocean shoreline and a swimming pool. The arboretum supports more than 300 trees and 80 species, as well as amenities such as picnic areas, sports facilities, and a trail.
Belfast Garden Club public gardens 13 gardens maintained by BGC.
A downloadable trail map of points of interest in Belfast divided by walkable segments. Includes walking directions to postage-stamp habitats for wildlife, urban gardens, some private land, public shoreline access, and more. Joint effort of the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition, Belfast Garden Club, Our Town Belfast, and Friends of Belfast Parks.
Mainely Gallery and Studio Garden Belfast
Lovely gardens beds and paths are open to the public behind the studio on Route 1 in Belfast. Featured many times by the Belfast Garden Club, this decades old garden has a rich depth of variety with many plants that will stop you in your tracks.
Merryspring Nature Center Camden/Rockport
Open sunrise to sunset; access to 66 acres of gardens with 4 miles of wooded trails, is free. The Maine chapter of the Daylily Society has display gardens here. Also contains a restoration project of the Maine Chapter of the American Chestnut Society. Subscribe to receive the topics of their Tuesday talks.
Schleppinghurst Lincolnville
Japanese-inspired garden created in an old granite quarry over 40 years. Small pond, pruned shrubbery, outcropping, specimen conifers. By appointment only.
Viles Arboretum Augusta
224 acres located at 153 Hospital Street Augusta. A botanical garden and arboretum with 5 miles of trails, open year round without charge. The plant collection contains over 300 species or varieties of trees and shrubs.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Boothbay
A mecca for gardeners, this 300-acre property contains many garden themes: Garden of the 5 senses, Meditation garden, Butterfly House, and Children’s Garden, just to name a few. Habitats include ponds, streams, forest, and lawn creating a botanical showcase that differs from season to season and year to year.
Wild Gardens of Acadia Bar Harbor
A bit hard to find. Look for sign to Sieur de Monte. Park fees apply.
Annie Sturgis Sanctuary Vassalboro
Maintained by the New England Wild Flower Society. Lime-loving plants and woodland wildflowers such as blood root, trout lily, and purple trillium thrive on 40 acres along the Kennebec River. A peaceful sanctuary trail passes through this unique plant community, noted for its stand of rare wild ginger.
Langlais Art Preserve. Cushing
12 very large “edgy and imaginative” wooden structures are dispersed on the 90-acre property. In addition to the ADA accessible path woven amongst the structures created by Blackie Langlais, there is a .5 mile path through woods and a pollinator garden.
Harvey Butler Rhododendron Sanctuary Springvale
Discover woodland wildflowers and a rare (in Maine) 5-acre stand of Great Laurel (Rhododendron maximum), spicebush, Clinton, Painted trillium, and 39 species of wildflowers. Gently sloping site of 56 acres borders a red maple swamp and wet meadow. Get directions at the Native Plant Trust website.
Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wild Flower Reservation Woolwich
Find hilly woods, sandy shores, a tidal marsh, and more than 100 wildflower species at this 177-acre preserve on the shore of Merrymeeting Bay.
Avena Medicinal Garden and Botanical Herb Walks Rockport
Tours are narrated by Deb Soule, the owner of this biodynamic garden where the herbs and plants used as the basis of the Avena Botanical line are grown. $5. Wednesdays, 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Garland Farm Bar Harbor
5 acre historic landmark being the home of noted Maine Landscape Architect, Beatrix Farrand’s Property Manager and where Mrs. Farrand spent the latter part of her life.
Gardens at the College of the Atlantic Bar Harbor
Several areas are rich with horticultural and visual interest. Among them: the Beatrix Farrand Garden with formal rock wall rooms designed in 1928; the Turrets garden with its views of the gardens and ocean beyond; a sunken garden; a sculpture by Dan Farrenkopf of Lunaform Pottery.
Celia Thaxter’s garden Appledore Island
Raised beds and flowers follow the plan laid out in her acclaimed book, An Island Garden. Some of Celia’s original plants are still in the garden; six-foot tall hollyhocks spill down to the water’s edge, and brilliant red poppies are planted each year so that the garden echoes the famous paintings of impressionist Childe Hassam. Limited to 33 participants.
Eastern Maine Native Plant Arboretum Bangor
University of Maine Cooperative Extension arboretum on grounds of the Penobscot County office. Displays 24 different native tree and shrub species that can be used in home landscapes.
Bog Walk Orono
Several different peatland environments, including hummocks, moss lawns, heath and wooded fens. A list of wetland plants is on the website.
Fay Hyland Botanical Garden Orono
Created in 1934, this 10-acre botanical garden features indigenous and non-native species from throughout the world. Considered the oldest organized extant garden at UMaine, the site has played a vital role in research and teaching. Views along the Stillwater River, an opportunity to wander among tall trees and interesting shrubs. Corner of University Ave and Fraternity Row.
UMaine Littlefield Ornamentals Trial Garden Orono
A collection of more than 2,500 woody and herbaceous plants, landscaped with benches, a small pergola and a garden pavilion. Known for its extensive and diverse lilac hedge, and flowering crabapple trees. On Rangeley Road.
University of Maine Orono Herbarium Orono
Fully catalogued collections of preserved specimens of plants, many collected over 175 years ago. Explore 100,000 specimens of vascular plants; algae, lichens, mosses, and fungi; entomology collections rich in mayflies, stoneflies, bees, and grasshoppers, and there are fish, birds, mammals. Of particular note are specimens of birds and mammals formerly held by the Portland Society of Natural History, the Paul F. Eckstrom Bird Collection.
Rogers Farm Garden Stillwater.
Maine Harvest for Hunger, MGV Demonstration and Community Garden. Also a UMaine research farm.
UMaine Extension Gardens at Tidewater Farm Falmouth
Maine Harvest for Hunger, MGV Demonstration and Community Garden. Display garden of All American Selections. Experience a variety of growing techniques at this farm with views of the Presumpscot River. Pollinator, meadow, children’s and wildflower gardens. Adjacent to Portland Trail System.
Asticou Azalea Garden Northeast Harbor
Japanese-inspired design. The season of bloom starts with a cherry tree in spring, followed by water lilies in summer and a blaze of fall color mirrored in the pond.
Abbe Aldrich Rockefeller Garden Seal Harbor
Reservations are required to visit this garden. Created between 1926 and 1930 by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller and noted garden designer Beatrix Farrand. With a nod to Eastern garden design influences and British cottage garden style this property is set within acres of moss-carpeted woods. Perennials build the foundation of the flower beds and annuals provide an explosion of color that changes from year to year.
Native Gardens of Blue Hill
A garden with diverse habitats, exclusively planted in native plants. The site contains a small pond, a seasonal stream, forested wetland, a regenerating forest/woodland, and more.
Leslie Clapp Blue Hill
Follow Downeast Audubon on Facebook to learn when the private garden of its president will be open to visitors. This 10-acre garden is home to over 100 species of birds.
Don Church Blue Hill
This licensed Maine nurseryman invites you to schedule a visit to his home display garden containing a botanical collection of 280 specimens of conifer, heather, lilacs and various unique trees that was featured in Better Homes and Garden Magazine and photographed by Belfast photographer Lynn Karlin. Bare root daylily plants are for sale and can be ordered on line. Over 30 offerings have been hybridized by Don. Stunning selection.
Ecostat Garden Hermon
Sixty flower gardens containing 280 varieties of trees and over 1,500 perennials create a habitat for many animals, birds and insects. A seasonal display of the azaleas, lilacs, magnolias, smoke trees and mock orange ensures a different experience with each visit. The entire public garden is 88 acres and includes walking trails. Route 2 in Hermon, Maine, at the intersection with Annis Road at the top of Miller Hill.
McLaughin Homestead and Garden South Paris
80-year-old 2-acre garden displays a changing selection of plants including sedum, phlox, cimicifuga, and a diverse collection of Maine wildflowers, and hosts special events throughout the year. Look for their Lilac Festival (200 varieties, the largest collection in New England). Gift shop for gardeners. No entry fee.
Longfellow-Wadsworth Garden Portland
Paths meander through a garden on land originally purchased by General Wadsworth in 1784. Myron Lamb’s colonial revival-style garden was crafted in 1924. Free and open to the public from May through October.
Hamilton House South Berwick
Small garden with a big view and lovely trail with water views through the woods.
Gardens at Pineland Farms New Gloucester
This 5,000-acre working farm contains a Certified Monarch Way station, lilacs, raised vegetable beds and cutting garden. Enjoy 6,000 flowering annuals and 20 different apple trees in addition to their marketplace. Free.
Perkins Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary Waterville
Occupying 128 acres of Colby College’s campus, the Perkins Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary features large hemlocks and understory shrubs and trails.
Charlotte Rhoades Park and Butterfly Garden Southwest Harbor
Founded in 1950 as a quiet park for children and parents, the park sprouted a butterfly garden in 1996, thanks to landscape architect Bruce John Riddell. Suggestive of butterfly wings, it includes perennials, annuals, and shrubs and hosts 12 species of butterflies.
Thuya Garden Northeast Harbor
From their website: “Beloved garden on a hill, Thuya Garden is a quiet place to wander, reflect and enjoy nature’s beauty…this garden in the woods has an intimate and private feel though it is open to all.”
Flora Funga Farms Bar Harbor
Guided mushroom foraging ($100 pp), and you go home with baskets of mushrooms!
Research Sources
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
A source for courses, reports, and one of the best fairs around.
Topics include: landscape design, edible gardening, plants of merit, and sustainable (conservation) gardening best practices.
Fact Sheets on Organic Gardening from Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Fact Sheets on Everything for your garden from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/
Learn about efforts to diversify suburban lawns, conserve native plants; tip sheets on plants for tough places and resistant to deer. Class offerings include site preparation, propagating native seeds, restoring your landscape, and more.
Search over 160,000 plants to review feedback from other gardeners. Members can chat and swap plants and seeds with other gardeners in 144 active forums. Identify plants, pets, birds, and butterflies. Need to know what machaeriifolia means because google doesn’t know? Search Dave’s Botanary. Looking for a particular daylily and if the source is reliable? Dave has that covered.
Part of the Native Plant Trust website, this is the go-to site for identifying plants. Join their Plant Share to share photos with other people, create plant checklists, create your own map of plants you have seen, and ask questions.
Cornell University Database of Plant Diseases
Extremely well produced fact sheets profusely illustrated with close-up line drawings and colored photographs. Disease identification, why it happens, and management strategies are discussed.
Easy-to-understand weed tutorials. Identify which is a weed and which is a misplaced flower. If you know what you are dealing with, simply click on the letter of the alphabet to get more information. For real botany nerds, browse their glossary and learn something new.
Plant Societies
You don’t need to be a member to browse their educational offerings, which includes a long list of mini hostas and tips on growing hostas. Annual online auction.
North American Rock Garden Society
Members participate in a seed exchange. Donors receive dibs in choosing seed packets. Non-donors can order up packets as well.
The regional chapter of the American Daylily Society. Members receive a quarterly magazine and regional newsletter, a voucher towards participating daylily vendors, invitations to garden tours, and more.
An auction in June, garden tours, July plant swap and Siberian and Daylily auction in August.
Holds an annual Peony tour in June in the Bangor area. Small fee for 8-10 gardens.
As the nation’s first plant conservation organization, the Trust focuses on native plants of New England. This organization is a portal for everything native: books, research papers and initiatives, reports on controlling invasive plants. Online classes in conservation, biodiversity, rare plants and forests, and more.
A collection of 20,000 rare and heirloom seeds. Seed Savers educates and connects people through collecting, regenerating, and sharing heirloom seeds, plants, and stories. They also publish a quarterly magazine.
UMaine Cooperative Extension
Type any topic into your browser and include “+ UMaine Extension” to get a wealth of information. A sampling:
Maine Home Garden News Want to start a butterfly garden? Set up a rain barrel? Keep rats out of your garden? Subscribe to this newsletter.
Know your Soil Explains soil basics, why you should test your soil and how to use their soil testing services.
Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) Program Rigorous training, which features a minimum volunteer hour requirement.