C O A S T A L M A I N E B O T A N I C A L G A R D E N S N E W S L E T T E R

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 •

Botanical Thymesthe

If you think you’ve seen it all, well, think again. The Horticulture Department leaves no stone unturned to show you new and exciting plants. With the reduced visitor traffic in the Gardens in the fall, we have a chance to work on new construction, and thanks to a generous gift from Sally Jeffords Radcliffe, we’ve been able to start building a new trail between the waterfront and a very long and beautiful exposed ledge. The terminus of the trail will be a sitting area next to the water, with views in all directions.

WINTER 2008-2009

opening june 19: A Garden for All the SensesPlease make a special note on your new 2009 calendar to join us on Friday, June 19, throughout the day to celebrate the new Lerner Garden of the Five Senses with tours, activities, refreshments, and other treats for your senses. If you’ve seen the plans and the progress this season, you’ll know this is going to be an exceptional addition to the Gardens—and one of the finest sensory gardens in the world. The celebration will continue that weekend during our Garden Fair, and, in fact, throughout the coming season.

Our new trail offers tranquil water views.

PHOTO BY DICK ZIEG

Pavilion and arbor in the new garden

BY DICK ZIEG DIRECTOR OF HORTICULTURE

INSIDE, PAGE 7:

Children’s Garden

SpecialSection

Board of DirectorsPaul G. “Robbie” Roberts, Jr. (President)Trevett, ME; Naples, FLJohn T. Heald, Jr. (Vice President)Southport, ME; Delray Beach, FLPenny Matthews (Treasurer)West Boothbay Harbor, MEGeorge F. Burns, Esq. (Secretary)Capitol Island & Falmouth, MECathy CourtEast Boothbay, MERaymond C. EganBoothbay, MESarah GilesEast Boothbay, ME; Candia, NHDennis J. GleasonWest Boothbay Harbor, MEIna HeafitzEdgecomb, ME; Newton, MAJ. Nicholas HurdSouthport, ME; Vero Beach, FLLeontine L. LaPointeBoothbay, ME; Vero Beach, FLSandra Blake LeonardBangor, MEMary B. Neal, MDWest Boothbay Harbor, MENeil Newton, MDEast Boothbay & Hallowell, MELynne C. NordhoffW. Boothbay Harbor, ME; Naples, FLSusan Reid RussellAlna, MENancy D. TindalBoothbay, MESusan WhitehouseEast Boothbay & Yarmouth, ME

Directors EmeritiRollins HaleBoothbay Harbor, MEJohn R. Giles (Past President)East Boothbay, ME; Candia, NHDonna Phinney (Past President)Wiscasset, MEMaggie RogersWiscasset, ME

Board of OverseersSheryl Kerr (Chair)Blue Hill, MEJ.P. Smith (Vice-Chair)Boothbay Harbor, ME; Ponte Vedra, FLJean Hamilton (Secretary)Barters Island, ME; Durham, NCKaren BartholomewWest Boothbay Harbor, ME; Menlo Park, CALaird Cleaver Southport, ME; Lincoln, MA; Vero Beach, FLFrederick CopelandBoothbay Harbor, ME; Avon, CTRalph DoeringWiscasset, ME; Ft. Lauderdale, FLBlythe EdwardsEdgecomb, MEGayle W. FarrisW. Boothbay Hbr., ME; Boston, MAClaire Hunt, Ph.D. (Past President) Boothbay, MERebecca HutchesonW. Boothbay Harbor; Houston, TXMargaret Barr KulpSouth Bristol, ME; Louisville, KYDaniel M. LernerBoothbay Harbor, ME; Palm Beach, FL; Merion Station, PAHelen A. NortonHarpswell, MEPolly PierceNortheast Harbor, ME; Dedham, MALawrence “Larry” R. PughYarmouth, MESally Jeffords RadcliffeSouthport, ME; New York, NYMartha RobesRound Pond, ME; Boca Grande, FLEmery RoyallSouthport, MEJoseph SchubertTrevett, ME; New Canaan, CTLawrence TownleyDamariscotta, ME

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mission Statement: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is committed to the protection, preservation and enhancement of the botanical heritage of coastal Maine for people of all ages through horticulture, education and research.

2 The Botanical Thymes W I N T E R 2008 - 2009

Refuge for All, Thanks to You

Ihad a wonderful conversation with a member the other day. She said that, ironically, the flux in finan-cial markets has made her more committed than ever to give to the Gardens. Why? Because, she said, we are creating a place, indeed a refuge, of tremendous beauty, peace and consolation, which people need as

much as they need material things. She feels that an invest-ment in the Gardens is guaranteed to increase in value and be a permanent legacy that will not fluctuate with the winds of boom and bust.

Earlier this summer, another member told me she had just been diagnosed with cancer and immediately drove to the Gardens, where she knew she would find the peace and beauty she needed to begin to accept and deal with this life-changing news. She said the Gardens always brought her delight and contentment and reinforced the timeless values and experiences in nature that really matter and bring true joy in life. I felt humbled and proud that we have created such a place that provided the consolation and hope she needed.

In fact, all of you who are members and supporters have helped create such a place, because we can only do what we do with your help. We are grateful to each and every one of you.

The Gardens is poised to emerge as one of the country’s most beautiful and exciting public gardens. We rely heav-ily on our annual appeal to pay day-to-day costs: planting and maintaining our grounds; retaining top-notch staff; and offering special events and programs that further our mis-sion. I urge you to include a contribution to the 2008 appeal in your year-end giving.

The Gardens are a refuge in good times and trying times. Our success in attracting visitors—more than 90,000 in the past two years—also provides a critical economic boost to Maine’s economy. Thank you for being part of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

All best wishes, Maureen HeffernanExecutive Director

MaineGardens.org

Administrative Staff Executive Director: Maureen HeffernanChief Financial Officer: Thomas BoudinDir. of Marketing & Visitor Services: Margaret HoffmanDirector of Communications: Barbara FreemanVolunteer Coordinator: Amanda RussellOffice Manager & Executive Assistant: Gabrielle DiPerriMembership & Annual Fund Manager: Jen Lawlor Marketing Assistant: Valerie Tu’ineau Receptionist: Susan Seagers Head Librarian (volunteer): Pat JeremiahLibrarian (volunteer): Bonnie Ginger

Horticulture/Grounds StaffPlant and Garden Curator: William CullinaDirector of Horticulture: Richard B. ZiegHead Groundskeeper: Bruce McElroyHorticulturist: Justin NicholsAssistant Groundskeeper: Sharmon ProvanSeasonal Grounds Crew:

Dan Bisbee, Chris Cromwell,Gareth Crosby, Don Otto Contact Us

Phone: 207-633-4333Fax: 207-633-2366Web: www.MaineGardens.orgE-mail: cmbg@mainegardens.org

Location: Barters Island Rd., BoothbayMailing: PO Box 234, Boothbay, ME 04537

Seasonal Visitor Services StaffJanet Brennan, Cindy Farnham, Dorothy FerrellElaine Harlow, Tim McFadden, Susan ReynoldsJanice Serencko, Billie Winicov Gift Shop Buyer (volunteer): Anne Vartabedian

COA S TA L M A I N E B OTA N I C A L G A R D E N S www.MaineGardens.org 3

In mid-August, host Joe Lamp’l, producer Jim McCutcheon, and their team from the National Public Television show GardenSmart were in the Boothbay region for a few days to film 3 of the 13 programs for the current season. This

is the first time GardenSmart has visited Maine. Planning and preparing for the Maine shows took many months, during which Gardens Director of Communications Barbara Freeman coordinated with McCutcheon.

Two of the Maine shows are about Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens; the other features people with strong connections to the Gardens. The 13 shows will air on Channel 10 in Maine on Mondays at 2 p.m., beginning December 1 (elsewhere, check www.gardensmart.tv). The shows about Maine are as follows:

û Dec. 1: This show’s theme is “Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens—The Natural Landscape of Coastal Maine Married with Beautiful Gardens.” Lamp’l conducts a brief interview with Executive Director Maureen Heffernan to introduce the Gardens. He then interviews Plant and Garden Curator Bill Cullina during a tour of the Central Gardens, sculpture, Haney Hillside Garden, and the new waterfall.

û Dec. 8: Themes for this two-part show are “Where the Forest Meets the Sea” and “Frog’s Leap: A Garden For The Ages—A Labor of Love.” An interview with lobsterman Rusty Court introduces the show. Then landscape archi-tect Don Leighton shows Lamp’l the gardens at Spruce

Watch the Gardens and the Region on Public TV

Plants may go dormant when the frost is on the pumpkin, but the fun and festivities at the Gardens continue. Our events will appeal to all ages and provide a welcome respite from the holiday excitement swirling beyond the Gardens’

gates. Admission is free for one—our gift to you. Seasonal decora-tions indoors and out will add to the enjoyment.

Winter Wonderlands Holiday TeaFrom 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, enjoy delicious treats in lovely surroundings. Mollie Moore will create the scones for which she’s justly famous. They’ll be served with Devonshire cream and jam. Four types of tea sandwiches—salmon, cucumber, tomato, and herbed cheese made by Mollie—will complete the full plate of sweet and savory delights. The tea itself will be served piping hot at each table.

The price for the Winter Wonderlands Holiday Tea is $25 for Gardens members and $35 for non-members. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Call (207) 633-4333, visit MaineGardens.org, or stop by the Visitor Center.

S’Mores & More Bonfire PartyContinuing the Winter Wonderlands theme, on Saturday, December 19, the Gardens will present a multi-faceted event from 4-7 p.m. The festivities will include candlelight tours,

toasting marshmallows over campfires and making luscious s’mores to savor with steaming hot chocolate, bagpipe music by Donald Duncan, evergreen-swag workshops for kids and adults ($5 charge), and celebrating the return to longer days. The Gift Shop will be open, with great sales.

The Popular Holiday Tea and Bonfire Party Return

Donald Duncan has played his bagpipes at every bonfire party the Gardens has hosted. He’ll be back this year to celebrate the season.

Point Inn, where the TV group stayed. The second half of the show features the Barters Island property of past Gardens board member Dr. Elsie Freeman, where Lamp’l interviews garden professional Gail MacPhee while tour-ing the garden.

û Dec. 15: The theme for the second show from the Gar-dens is “Evolution of a Garden—From Thought to Reality.” Landscape architect Bruce John Riddell introduces the show during a brief interview. Then Lamp’l interviews Bill Cullina as they tour the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses; Cleaver Event Lawn and Garden, where they do some planting; and the Great Lawn and Garden.

Dr. Elsie Freeman’s Barters Island garden is featured on one of the three PBS GardenSmart shows. The other two were filmed here at the Gardens.

If you have wandered down the Haney Hillside Garden this fall you probably noticed a stand of large, shrubby perenni-als with curious lavender flowers along a lower stretch of the path. Pink turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) is a two-to-four-foot-tall wildflower from the southern Appala-chians that spends the spring and early summer growing ever larger and leafier, its thick clumps of stout stems clothed in pairs of deep-green, oval leaves.

As the days begin to shorten, knobby flower buds resembling little ears of corn appear from every stem tip. One by one these pop open to reveal startling flowers with gaping mouths, a single fang and a woolly yellow tongue. Though called turtle-head because of the fancied resemblance of the flower to the front end of a terrapin, to me they look rather like the head and lips of a striped bass about to strike at a baitfish. A large plant stays in bloom for at least a month from September into early October.

PLANT PROFILE

Chelone lyonii PHOTO BY BILL CULLINA

Turtleheads are in the snapdragon family, and like most of their ilk they depend on fearless bees that plunge into each gaping maw to drink nectar from within. The curious woolly tongue is meant to suggest pollen and lures the bees inside the flower where the real pollen and nectar lie. I do not know if bees are ticklish, so I can only imagine the sensation of that yellow rug as they drag their belly across it. The fang guarding the entrance of the bloom is actually the female portion that catches some of the pollen as the bee enters or exits.

Pink turtlehead is easy to grow in full or half-day sun and is winter hardy throughout New England. It prefers moist, fertile soil and is little bothered by pests. There are three other species in this small genus, including the white turtle-head (Chelone glabra), which is common throughout the Northeast along steams and in damp meadows and ditches.

Chelone lyonii: Turtle Heads or Striped Bass? BY BILL CULLINA, PLANT AND GARDEN CURATOR

4 The Botanical Thymes W I N T E R 2008 - 2009

Since long before the Central Gardens and Visitor Center were constructed, our board and staff members have worked hard to

go green and grow green. We recently formed the Sustainability Committee, which is initiating even more programs and efforts to keep us on the path of environmental sustainability and careful stewardship of the remarkable piece of land that is the Gardens.

When visitors admire the lush plant-ings of the Central Gardens, they often ask whether we take an environmentally

friendly approach to gardening. We’re proud to tell them that we use practices that are not only green, but even ground-breaking. We use organic fertilizers and mulches. Members of our horticulture staff have studied and instituted a strict integrated pest management policy. We carefully consider all materials used in the garden areas and on pathways and trails. In every instance, we take the course that is safest and sanest for the Earth.

The Visitor Center is going greener all the time. We started out well with products made of sustainable products, includ-

ing bamboo and marmoleum flooring; energy-efficient windows; and bathroom fixtures that are easy on the water supply. We use environmentally friendly cleaning products and, wherever possible, replace regular light bulbs with compact fluores-cent bulbs, including dimmable CFL bulbs in the chandeliers in Kerr Hall. We are also trying out some solar-powered LED floodlights in some locations.

We are attempting to keep heat-ing and cooling in our buildings to a minimum. To save on heating costs, for example, volunteers recently insulated all our electrical outlets, and the staff are already wearing their winter woolies.

The Gift Shop offers many items that are of recycled, local, and/or sustainable materials. To create the fresh, delicious lunches served in the Kitchen Garden Café, we purchase foods from local grow-ers and producers, buying organic when-ever possible. We even harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs in our own Burpee Kitchen Garden to use in soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts.

As we continue our efforts, we’ll let you know how and what we’re doing. •BHF

HOW

GREENIS OUR GARDEN?

Thank you. As members, you are responsible for making our second season a wonderful success.

Your support in the life of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens by participat-ing in the many events, volunteering, and bringing your families and friends is providing the Gardens with a very spe-cial human touch. The addition of that human touch together with the beauty of the place is truly a winning combination.

Your membership in the Gardens is important to us for many reasons. Your dues represent 18 percent of our operat-ing revenues, and members are critical to the success of the Annual Appeal, which should represent 16 percent of operating revenues. You are the volun-teers in the organization, and you bring your friends and families and provide the oohs and aahs of enjoyment to all whom you tell about the Gardens. As of this fall, the number of paid visitors is 30 percent higher for this year than for the same time period in 2007.

I hope that you visited in early October to see the amazing transforma-tion of the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses from a rough construction site earlier in the summer to being recog-nizable as a garden. It now includes a completed post-and-beam pavilion and an attached fan-shaped arbor, raised beds with stone walls, and paths; it is really starting to come together. It

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Members Make All the Differencewill be so exciting to see this sensory garden finished next June. Herb Schaal, our landscape architect from EDAW who has just received the American Horticultural Society’s Designer of the Year Award, said last week that he believes that it will be the best garden of his career.

Another exciting late-season project is the plant-out of the Cleaver Event Lawn, completed recently by Plant and Garden Curator Bill Cullina and all the horticulture staff. This will grow out next spring and summer to be a significant garden in its own right and is approximately the same size as the Great Lawn and its gardens.

Everyone connected with the Gardens is thankful for all that you do and for the excellent results of our second year. We still need your support to reach this year’s goal for the Annual Appeal, and I urge you to send in your contribution if you have not already done so. The Annual Appeal is critical to help cover the ongoing operating expense such as heat, garden mainte-nance, plowing the road, and of course the salaries of our dedicated and won-derful staff.

Paul G. “Robbie” RobertsPresident

Living on the Ledge• CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

This new trail, which we’ve nicknamed the Huckleberry Cove Trail, will meander a quarter mile along the foot of a ledge, through unspoiled wooded areas. It will extend from the Vayo Meditation Garden to the waterfall/stream at the old property line, adjacent to the 120 acres that the Pine Tree Conservation Society donated to us in 2005. Wild huckle-berry bushes line the edge of the cove there.

The exposed face of the ledge is any-where from four to twelve feet high and is covered by several species of moss and ferns. In some places it is solid green. The habitat is perfect for mosses because of the constant dampness of the area.

We are building this trail ourselves, as opposed to having a contractor do it, because we want it to be a “low impact trail.” Instead of moving in with excavators and skidsteers, we are cutting down the trees, hauling out the brush and logs, and hauling in trail mate-rial with our 4-wheel-drive Kubota ATVs.

The surface material of the trail is a product called Superhumus Soil Mix. It is made up of various sizes of ground tree bark mixed with sandy soil. It is an environmen-tally friendly product that looks very natural in the woods and will not erode in the rain. It is also very nice and soft to walk on.

I know that some of the early mem-bers and volunteers helped in building the first trails in the Gardens. Their original excitement at pathways in wild areas will be renewed with this new trail. And anyone who’s “seen it all” at the Gardens may want to visit again and see what is living on the ledge.

COA S TA L M A I N E B OTA N I C A L G A R D E N S www.MaineGardens.org 5

The 2008 Annual Appeal is well under way, and we are pleased with the response to date. The deadline for this year is December 31, so please keep that date in mind as you do your year-end financial planning.

The Annual Appeal is conducted to supplement operating funds, which are needed to support the wonderful events, programs and services vital to our suc-cess, ensuring that visitors and members have the best possible experience. As the Gardens grow, so does the need to sustain them. Your Annual Appeal support liter-

ally helps keep the plants watered and the lights on year-round!

Currently, we have received a grand total of $67,000, which leaves us short of our goal. We ask you to contribute to the 2008 Annual Appeal as generously as you feel able. We know we ask a great deal of you, and we do so knowing that it has been your belief and participation in Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens that has put it on the national map. We are enor-mously grateful to you and look forward to enjoying with you what we continue to build together.

“To plant a garden is to

believe in tomorrow.”

Annual Appeal UpdateBY LYNNE NORDHOFF, ANNUAL APPEAL CHAIR

Think A Gift Shop ExtraordinaireSales benefit you, your friends and family…and the Gardens

We invite you to discover, or rediscover, our wonder-ful Gift Shop—and take advantage of some great

sale prices from now until the shop closes in mid-December. Till then, members receive at least 20 percent off their pur-chases throughout the store (the usual members’ discount is 10 percent). Special sale tables offer additional discounts of 30-40 percent and even more to all shop-pers on a wonderful array of merchan-dise. In fact, stop by often because nearly every day we add new items to both the shop and the sale tables.

Volunteer buyer Anne Vartabedian has a wonderful talent for selecting appealing wares for all ages and many interests. The staff and volunteers who work in the shop are knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly, and they’ll package your purchases in attractive bags with our signature seasonal tissue paper.

The moment you see the floor-to-ceiling displays, you know our Gift Shop has a lot to offer. Let’s take a turn around the room: There are children’s gifts and toys, some just right for grown-ups, too; artistic umbrellas; Bill Jacob’s sculpted garden heads; jewelry, bags, shawls, and other accessories for all price ranges; decorative linens; pottery, china, glass-ware, and other items to make your home homier. There are also garden tools, plant-ers, and ornaments; posters, cards, and artwork; and plenty of wonderful books.

Selling Maine-made honey, pre-serves, maple syrup, and other delica-cies is one way we’re demonstrating our “green” attitude. We also offer bags made of recycled sails, candles and soaps of environmentally friendly materials, and other items that will allow you to take the first—or latest—step on your way to going green.

We hope you’ll visit often during the holiday season and immerse yourself in a delightful shopping experience while you find the perfect presents for everyone on your list. And don’t forget a gift or two for yourself! •BHF

You may be pulling sweaters out of storage or setting up housekeeping in southern climes, but now is the time

to think about spring travel, specifi-cally the Gardens’ one-of-a-kind tour of Holland and Belgium during the height of tulip time. Patsy West, direc-tor of Valerie Wilson Travel, has put together yet another super tour to benefit the Gardens, but the deadline for reservations is early December. After that, we can’t guarantee there will be space available.

Our April 27–May 6, 2009 journey begins in Amsterdam with two nights in the four-star, well-located Hotel Estheréa. Tours of world-famous muse-ums and the Aalsmeer Flower Auction, as well as delicious food, will set the tone for the remainder of the trip.

On Day 3, we’ll embark on a state-of-the-art riverboat, the Ama-deus Diamond, for a week of cruising quiet waters and expert-led tours of other ancient cities including Edam,

Arnhem, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, and the highlight, Keukenhof Gardens in full bloom.

Kitty and Bob Boyd (a Gardens founder) will represent the Gardens on this tour. The Boyds have a great store of information about plants and flowers and for 26 years have owned and operated Boothbay Region Green-houses. They have ties to the Neth-erlands and will happily share their knowledge and enthusiasm about the plants we’ll see and the areas we’ll visit.

Prices for the tour, which includes tours, most meals, and many extras (but not airfare or travel in the U.S.), range from $3,992.50 to $5,493.00 per person, double occupancy, depending on the Amadeus Diamond stateroom selected and availability. Single-occupancy rates are available. The cost includes a $450 per person, tax-deductible contribution to the Gardens.

To learn more, call Patsy West at (207) 633-4883, or e-mail her at distvoy@gwi.net. •BHF

SPRINGReserve Now for a Very Special Tour

6 The Botanical Thymes

Children’s Garden

e recently received the latest layout for our excit-ing new Bibby and Harold Alfond Chil-

dren’s Garden, and I have to say that there is no doubt in my mind that this garden is going to be one of the most beautiful, enchanting, educational and playful children’s gardens imaginable.

Let me give you a “tour” of this garden in which we’ll bring to life a number of classic children’s books by authors with a connection to Maine.

Meandering the Magical PathImagine a warm sunny day in July in Maine. You’ll enter the garden by descending beautiful stone steps beside our Burpee Kitchen Garden. Several large boulder whales will greet you with their spouting water fountains. They will be in the middle of a large compass rose, along with a sundial where you can raise your hand to tell the time of day. Around the entry court, you can take a seat on your choice of a bench, rocking chair or a swing, under an arbor covered with fragrant vines, to sit back and enjoy watching kids as they delight in the spouting whales and happily get a little (or a lot) wet.

Rising from your seat, you’ll meander along a curving path, passing columnar native trees around which kids will have fun playing hide and seek. Past the trees, you’ll arrive at an open pavilion with a blueberry-sod roof. Perhaps on the day you visit there’s a group of local YMCA campers

gathered under the pavilion planting lupine seeds or making a bird feeder to take home. Across from the pavilion is a lovely lawn—only this is no regular lawn. It has a ground-level maze pattern with embedded stones, and a family is working on finding its way through the maze. Surrounding the maze is a low stone wall, and just outside the wall is a ring of

pear trees.

Hands-On Learning & FunOn a busy July day, you’ll be able to buy lunch right in the

garden, and you can enjoy eating on a picnic tables “plant-ed” throughout a large apple orchard (When you come back in the fall, you can see kids making fresh, delicious

apple cider with a cider press right in the orchard). As you eat your lunch, you may see a group of children from our “Gar-

den Entrepreneur” program planting and tending their raised beds. These children will be growing crops to sell at the Boothbay

Farmer’s Market, as well as using plants they grow to make a food product for sale in our gift shop. In this area, you can go into a small

greenhouse to see seedlings and cuttings growing. Near the greenhouse, kids will be busily filling up watering cans by cranking the handles of old-

fashioned water pumps so they can water container plantings that are thirsty on a warm day. A tool shed in this area houses child-

sized tools; and kids will be asked if they would like to help make compost, pull some weeds, plant some seedlings and take part in

other activities.

for Discoveries and Fun at Every Turn

Tour Our

By Maureen Heffernan, Executive Director

Books Brought to Life!Did I just hear what sounded like a chicken? I thought I was just in a garden. Yes, you did hear a chicken because this garden will have a small homestead-like garden area complete with a cottage with a wildflower roof, a mini-kitch-en and flower garden around the cottage, and a little barn and chicken coop where several live chickens will be busy scratch-ing, pecking bugs and fertilizing. As a tribute to E.B. White and his beloved

Charlotte’s Web, kids will see a mural of this book come to life inside the “barn.” Some garden! They’ll even be able to harvest eggs if

they get to the garden early enough each day!

What is behind that old stone wall with overgrown vines? Oh look, there’s an old door with a big key in the lock. What’s behind it? Can you open it? Let’s try. Oh my goodness, what is this? It looks like the Secret Garden. It is The Secret Garden—Frances Hodgson Burnett’s masterpiece come to life in this mini-recreation of the walled garden that Mary, Dickon and Colin helped to restore (While Burnett is not a Maine author, we couldn’t resist including this beloved classic book in the garden).

A Boat in a Tree & TopiaryThe Keeper’s Cottage, so called because it houses the imagined keeper of the nearby lighthouse and his family, is also the storytelling headquarters. Behind the Keeper’s Cottage will be a special story-teller’s chair—a living willow chair—surrounded by old millstones kids can sit on to hear stories read to them by volunteers. Or kids and their families can borrow a book from the garden’s outdoor library to take and read anywhere they’d like in the garden.

Coming out of the Keeper’s Cottage area and heading down the path, you quickly come to Blue-berry Pond. To a child, this will look like Moosehead Lake and be quite the adventure! Step off the path and

you’ll find stepping stones at the shallow

end of the pond. As you carefully journey along these stones, you’ll be surrounded and hidden by tall cattails, irises and other fasci-nating and beautiful marsh plants.

“Wow, look there are two boats!” you can expect to hear kids yelling out; “Can we get in them?”

Yes, you can. In fact, expect to hear a lot of yeses in this garden: Yes, you can get off the path; yes, you can pick an apple; yes, you can climb on the rocks; yes, you can build a fairy, yes you can pick that chocolate mint leaf; yes! In safely shallow water, kids can have fun sitting

and rocking in Burt’s (Burt Dow, Deep Water-man) row boat and looking out over the pond and up at the pond-side lighthouse. Peering up at the tall tree

growing on Blueberry Island in the pond, kids will ask, “Mom, why is there a boat up in the tree?” And Mom will say, “You’ll have to read the book, dear!” Once kids read Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee, they’ll understand how a whale blew Mr. Magee all the way up into a tree! Kids can also read

The Sea Chest to learn about the treasure chest they will see partly submerged along the pond’s edge.

Across from the pond,

a lupine meadow is

blazing with

color, and who is that figure bending over in the meadow? Why it’s Barbara Cooney’s Miss Rumphius herself, and her little cat—a topi-ary Miss Rumphius and cat, but nonetheless, she is hard at work planting even more of her beloved lupine seeds. “Who’s Miss Rumphius, Mom?” “You’ll have to read the book, dear!”

Into the WoodsNow the path veers off towards the mysteri-ous woods where more adventures await. Kids can build a fairy house in the new fairy house village, build a mini-stone wall in the stone building circle, and then climb up into an enchanting treehouse. To kids, it will seem like they are floating high up in the forest, and they can even experience walking along a swing-rope bridge to get to two “birds’ nests” in nearby trees. Lots of books about trees, birds and other nature-related subjects will be in the treehouse for

kids and families to read. On a warm summer day, this will be a cool reading retreat. Even

kids and adults with disabilities will be able to experience the main treehouse because it will be

fully accessible by wheelchair. Back in the woods, kids will come across an

Abenaki encampment and learn how these Native Americans used plants for everything, from their shel-

ters to canoes, food, medicines and more. Kids will also discover a cave, which a bear might just

have left, and they can touch the soft mosses and lichens grow-ing over boulders that frame the entrance.

Finally, in a clearing in the woods, a bear cub is happily walking towards a patch of blueberries. That bear sculpture looks just like the bear Sal saw in Blueberries for Sal. After climbing on the bear, kids will surely want to read or have read to them Robert McClo-skey’s timeless book to learn more about bears and blueberries.

Pleeease? Can’t We Stay?There is no doubt that as you tour the garden, you’ll hear from moms and dads and grandparents, “Sorry, we can’t stay;

we’ve been here all morning and we have to leave now. Don’t worry, we’ll come back

again soon”.That is our hope—that this

wonderful and amazing new garden will bring Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens many new family, school and youth group visitors and keep them coming back again and again so kids can take advantage of all the educational, imaginative and magical moments of play and discovery that await them each time they

visit this garden. Its nearly two acres of pure fascination and fun will provide

a lifetime of memories and will, we hope, spark a lifelong love of plants, gardens, nature,

environmental stewardship and reading.

T he master plan for the exceptional Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s

Garden at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is the work of Herb Schaal, in collaboration with the Gardens’ Site & Design Committee. Herb is an award-winning landscape architect with more than 30 years’ experience in designing private, commercial and public garden master plans and gardens. He is a principal with the international landscape architecture firm EDAW, Inc., and works out of their Ft. Collins, Colorado office.

Over the past 15 years, Herb has designed brilliantly creative major children’s gardens for more than 25 public gardens and parks throughout the United States,

including the Morton Arboretum in Chicago; the Red Butte Children’s Garden in Salt Lake City, Utah; the

Norfolk Botanical Garden in Norfolk, Va.; the. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Va.; Cleveland

Botanical Garden; Denver Botanical Garden; and the Betty Ford Botanical Garden in Vail, Col. He also

created the master plan for our entire Central Gardens area, including the Lerner Garden

of the Five Senses.

✶ CONTRIBUTE ON THE WEBSITE: Visit MaineGardens.org and click on “Support Us.”

✶ CONTRIBUTE BY MAIL: Make check payable to Alfond Challenge Grant. Either stop by the Visitor Center, on Barters Island Road in Boothbay, or mail it to:

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens PO Box 234 Boothbay, ME 04537

✶ CONTRIBUTE BY PHONE: Call (207) 633-4333 with MasterCard or Visa.

Herb Schaal A Great Partner for the Gardens

• The two-sided children’s garden mural created by Kim and Philippe Villard and painted by visitors at the August 25 groundbreaking is in the center of Kerr Hall to help raise awareness about the $1.5 million challenge from the Harold Alfond Foundation. Posters of these works are available at the Gardens Gift Shop. Proceeds benefit the Gardens.

The job of raising funds to build, maintain and staff this garden remains. Now that you’ve had a taste of what families will experience, we ask you to consider giving as generously as you can to the Harold Alfond Foundation challenge match to make this garden come to life. Any donation you make to the children’s garden will be matched by the Foundation, thus doubling your contribution. We have an unparalleled chance to help create a garden that is sure to become one of Maine’s best, most-treasured destinations for families.

We Need You to Help Us Build This Garden

Thank YouThank you for spending some time touring this garden with me—and thank you in advance for your support of the Gardens through your membership and a special gift to this project in a time of giving.

Special EventsFriday, December 19: S’MORES AND MORE HOLIDAY BONFIRE PARTY

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 4:00-7:00 p.m. Free, no Gardens admis-

sion fee ($5 for evergreen-swag workshops) ¹ Delight in holiday fun and seasonal decora-tions indoors and out at the Gardens. The festivities will include candlelight tours, toast-ing marshmallows over campfires and making luscious s’mores to savor with steaming hot chocolate, bagpipe music by Donald Duncan, a roaring bonfire, ongoing evergreen-swag workshops for kids and adults, and celebrating the return to longer days.

Calendar of EventsCoastal Maine Botanical Gardens is on Barters Island Road in Boothbay, just over a mile from the Boothbay common. Gardens hours are 9-5 daily, year-round (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). Please note that from January through March the Visitor Center will be open on weekdays only. To sign up for events, or for more information, stop by the Visitor Center, call (207) 633-4333, or visit www.mainegardens.org.

Continuing ProgramFirst Wednesdays: FREE ADMISSION¹ Free admission for all year-round residents of the Boothbay peninsula. In 2009, we will extend this courtesy to all year-round residents of Lincoln County.

Saturday & Sunday, May 30 & 31: NATIVE PLANT SALE¹ Members-only sale on Saturday morning.

Friday, June 19: LERNER GARDEN OF THE FIVE SENSES GRAND OPENING¹ Exciting opening festivities will introduce visitors to our exceptional new sensory garden during a day of activities, refreshments, and programs. This one-acre garden will have areas appealing to each sense, including a reflexology-walk labyrinth, water features, hands-on gardening opportunities, and other highlights. The opening celebration will extend throughout the Garden Fair weekend.

Friday-Sunday, June 19-21: GARDEN FAIR¹ Fabulous vendors, renowned speakers, display gardens, a flower show, music, and more.

Sunday, July 5: PLEIN-AIR PAINTING DAY¹ Painters are welcome to set up their easels and paint en plein air at the Gardens with no admission charge and then show, and perhaps sell, their work.

Friday and Saturday, July 24 & 25 (Gala Preview Party on Thursday, July 23): ANTIQUES IN THE GARDENS¹ The Maine Antiques Dealers Association will show and sell their finest wares. The Preview Party will offer fine food , drink, and company in a delight-ful atmosphere, as well as a first chance to see and purchase the antiques.

Friday-Sunday, August 7, 8, 9: MAINE FAIRY HOUSE FESTIVAL¹ This magical and popular event returns for a third year. Enjoy building fairy houses, fairy crafts and games, stories and readings by popular authors and storytellers, fairy teas, live performances, display fairy houses, and the great bubble machine!

SYMBOL KEY: Time Location Cost Note

COA S TA L M A I N E B OTA N I C A L G A R D E N S www.MaineGardens.org 11

Through Friday, December 19: LEE WINSLOW COURT EXHIBIT

Visitor Center 9-5 daily Free with Gardens admission

¹ The late Lee Winslow Court has been called the “dean” of Monhegan Island’s painters. New England snowscapes and wintry seascapes are the primary subjects of the 15 oil paintings by the artist that comprise the Gardens’ fall exhibit. All but one of the works in the exhibit are for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Gardens.

Please Save These Dates for 2009And there are plenty of other events and programs in the works, including a symposium, children’s nature camps, docent training, and classes and workshops for all ages. For additional listings and updates, see www.MaineGardens.org, as well as upcoming newsletters. If you’d like to be on our e-newsletter list, just let us know.

First Wednesdays: FREE ADMISSION¹ Free admission for all year-round residents of Lincoln County on the first Wednesday of each month.

Starting in January: KITCHEN GARDEN SERIES DINNERS¹ Using many locally produced foods and in-novative menus, renowned chefs from the finest Maine restaurants prepare special dinners in the Kitchen Garden Café. Wine is included in the price of these elegant repasts. After the delicious multi-course meal, the chef gives a brief talk and answers questions. Reserve early, please.

Saturday, December 6: WINTER WONDERLANDS HOLIDAY TEA

Kitchen Garden Café 3:00-5:00 p.m. $25 members; $35 non-members)

Reservations required¹ This very special Winter Wonder-lands event is back with Mollie Moore’s delectable homemade scones with Devonshire cream and jam; four types of tea sandwiches: herbed cheese (also by Mollie), salmon, cucumber, and tomato; and pots of perfect tea. Music and holiday decorations will add to the festive atmosphere.

12 The Botanical Thymes W I N T E R 2008 - 2009

What about the Gardens Delights You?

We often receive notes from members and other visitors telling us what they enjoy here at the Gardens. You also send us copies of your beautiful photos. Here are some recent arrivals. We’d love to hear from you!

•“We can't thank you enough for the information about the Botanical Gardens. They were better than you described and we enjoyed them more than words can express. We had a guided tour with a docent, who was not only knowledgeable about plants, but about the gardens themselves, and their history. For some reason, there was no one else who wanted a tour, so we had Pat, the docent, all to our-selves for the better of two hours, and what a grand tour we had. Some fun.”

—Barbara & Jim Kondras, Pennsylvania

•“Just wanted to let you all know that we are so happy with our family membership. We attended the steel drum concert and enjoyed a wonder-ful picnic with it and spent a good part of a beautiful day touring the gardens with out-of-town guests. They loved it and will be back! Look-ing forward to our next visit!”

—Cheryl Lorrain

FROM OUR VISITORS

Hosting a Meeting? A Party? The Visitor Center Is Ready and Waiting

Pat Shubert shared with us her brilliant photo of a frog on a water lily pad in the Slater Forest Pond.

A hush descends over the Gardens in the fall and winter months, but the opportu-nities for a lively gathering are many. Our Visitor Center is a great place to hold a conference, meeting, presentation, party, or dinner in a spectacular setting, no matter what the season. Why not call now to rent our warm and welcoming spaces? Rental Coordinator Valerie Tu’ineau is ready and waiting to help.

Spaces available for rental together or separately include Kerr Hall, with its tow-ering ceiling and massive stone fireplace, and the elegant Kitchen Garden Café. Combined, these areas can accommodate as many as 100 guests; the Café alone holds 50. Use of the Café kitchen equipment is included for those renting the spaces for a catered meal; we have a list of preferred caterers. We’ll even cover windows for slide presentations during daylight hours.

Impressive stone walls and ever-greens line the lighted entry walk, and

sunsets over the Central Gardens create a brilliant backdrop for any event. During the holidays, tasteful decorations and lights add greatly to the atmosphere.

While the building has top-quality visitor amenities, including radiant heating under the bamboo and granite floors, there’s nothing like a roaring fire to warm a winter event; the Gardens staff will even build and tend the fire. Custom Craftsman-style furnishings in both the Café and Kerr Hall contribute to the delightful ambiance.

Hours for rentals vary by space and season. Discounts are available for rentals between Monday and Thursday, as well as for groups of 50 or fewer. Because a por-tion of each rental fee is a donation to the Gardens, a 501(c)(3) organization, some of the total amount is tax deductible.

For more information and reserva-tions, call Valerie at (207) 633-4333, or e-mail rentals@mainegardens.org.

Memberships: The Perfect GiftIf you have a reason to give a gift, whether for a birthday, the holidays, an anniver-sary, retirement, or what have you, we have the solution: gift memberships in Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. They fit all sizes, appeal to all ages, and offer a year’s worth of benefits. And how many gifts are tax deductible? A portion of each membership is.

When you order gift memberships, just let us know whether you want us to send the materials to you or mail them directly to the recipients along with a card acknowledging your generosity.

What are the benefits of Gardens membership? Of course, members always receive free admission to the Gardens. Then there are the discounts on programs and events—and in our Kitchen Garden Café and Gift Shop. Four times each year, The Botanical Thymes will arrive, reminding your gifts’ recipients not only of what’s happening at the Gardens, but also of your thoughtfulness.

No matter where those who receive your gifts live, or where they travel, they’ll appreciate the reciprocal benefits at more

than 200 other public gardens throughout the continent.

While members at many levels receive one-visit guest passes, at some levels they receive passes that are good throughout the season, so they can bring friends and family to the Gardens whenever they want. Seedlings and Savings discounts and other benefits round out the opportunities for members.

For more details on benefits and to purchase gift memberships, please visit “Support Us” at www.mainegardens.org, or call (207) 633-4333.

More Stocking Stuffer IdeasWe can offer other options for great gifts in any price range. How about tucking a few guest passes into Christmas stockings? The attractive passes are available year-round in blocks of 10 for $70, a $30 savings over pur-chasing adult admissions separately. We also have gift cards, which are available in any amount. Recipients can redeem the cards in the Kitchen Garden Café and Gift Shop, or use them for Gardens admission.

For gift cards and guest passes, please stop by the Visitor Center or call the office.

Memberships now number more than 3,000, and we know our members feel strongly about the Gardens and share our desire to make the experiences of all visitors the best they can be.

We’d like to learn about your impressions and ideas and feel a members’ survey is a good way to start.

COA S TA L M A I N E B OTA N I C A L G A R D E N S www.MaineGardens.org 13

Have You Taken the Members’ Survey? If not, here’s a copy for your use.

Member Survey 1. Are you currently a member of

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine? ™ Yes ™ No

2. If you answered yes to question 1, what is your membership level?

™ Individual ($45)™ Dual or Family ($65)™ Contributor ($125)™ Supporter ($250)™ Patron ($500)™ Benefactor ($1,000)™ Student ($25)™ Do Not Remember

3. If you answered yes to question 1, how many years have you been a member?

™ less than 1 year™ 1–2 years™ more than 2 years

4. How likely are you to renew your membership to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens?

™ Definitely will not™ Probably will not ™ Might or might not™ Probably will™ Definitely will

5. Are you a member of another botanical garden or arboretum?

™ YES, please list name(s):_________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________

™ NO 6. Overall, how satisfied have you been

with your membership at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens?

™ Very dissatisfied ™ Somewhat dissatisfied ™ Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied ™ Somewhat satisfied ™ Very satisfied

7. How important is each of the following benefits to you?1 = Not at all; 2 = Not very; 3 = Somewhat; 4 = Very; 5 = extremely

1 2 3 4 5

Contributing to the development of a botanical garden in Maine

Contributing to the science of gardening & horticulture

Supporting land conservation efforts

Giving something back to the local community

Free admission to the Gardens

Discounted program & event fees

Free subscription to The Botanical Thymes newsletter

Reciprocal access to 200 gardens across the US & Canada

Ability to communicate with the Gardens leadership

Ability to influence the operations of the Gardens

8. How important is each of the following? 1 = Not at all; 2 = Not very; 3 = Somewhat; 4 = Very; 5 = extremely

1 2 3 4 5

Borrowing privileges at the Gardens’ Library

Advance notification of special events

Invitations to members-only events

Seedlings & Savings discounts at many Maine garden centers

Complimentary guest passes

Complimentary tickets to lectures, classes & workshops

Invitation to the annual President’s Reception

Receiving the Gardens’ e-newsletter

Subscription to Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine

9. How strongly do you agree with each statement? 1 = Disagree completely; 2 = Somewhat disagree; 3 = Neither agree nor disagree;

4 = Somewhat agree; 5 = Agree completely; NA = Not applicable

1 2 3 4 5 NA

The Gardens are well maintained

The Gift Shop is well managed

The Gift Shop offers a broad range of attractive products

The Cafe is well managed

The Cafe offers an excellent menu selection

The Cafe prices are reasonable

Customer Service is very high at the Gardens

Membership in the Gardens is a good value for the money

There are interesting events and activities at the Gardens

Ability to influence the operations of the Gardens

If you have not already taken the online version of the survey at MaineGardens.org and would prefer a printed copy, or if you were among those who had trouble accessing the electronic version, please take a few minutes to fill out the copy below and either bring it to the Gardens or mail it to PO Box 234, Boothbay ME 04537. Many thanks!

14 The Botanical Thymes W I N T E R 2008 - 2009

10. How strongly do you agree with each statement? 1 = Disagree completely; 2 = Somewhat disagree; 3 = Neither agree nor disagree; 4 = Somewhat agree;

5 = Agree completely; NA = Not applicable

1 2 3 4 5 NA

The Gardens’ staff is knowledgeable

The Gardens’ staff is helpful

The Gardens provide important educational benefits to the community

I would recommend visiting the Gardens to others

Children-specific programs are important

Children-specific programs are well planned and managed

Family-oriented programs and events are important

Family-oriented programs are well planned and managed

There are interesting events and activities at the Gardens

11. Did you visit Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in the past 12 months?™ Yes ™ No

12. How many times did you visit in the past 12 months?™ 1 ™ 2 ™ 3 ™ 4 ™ 5™ 6 ™ 7 ™ 8 ™ 9 ™ 10™ more than 10

13. Did you attend any of the Gardens’ events in the past 12 months?™ Yes ™ No

14. Which events did you attend? (Please check all that apply)

™ House & Garden Tour ™ Fairy House Festival ™ Books & Blooms ™ Cooking Events ™ Gardening Events ™ Art Exhibits ™ Children’s Events ™ None ™ Other

15. If you visited the Gardens in the past 12 months, did you bring guests to the Gardens or to an event? (Please check all that apply)

™ Immediate family (spouse, kids) ™ Other relatives (grandkids, parents,

aunt, etc.) ™ Friends ™ Group with common interest

(garden club, etc.) ™ None ™ Other

16. How likely are you to visit the Gardens in each of these seasons in the next 12 months?

Defi

nite

ly w

ill n

ot

Prob

ably

will

not

Mig

ht o

r mig

ht n

ot

Prob

ably

will

Defi

nite

ly w

ill

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

17. What is your age range? ™ 18 to 24 years ™ 25 to 34 years ™ 35 to 44 years ™ 45 to 54 years ™ 55 to 64 years ™ 65 years or more

18. What is your gender? ™ Male

™ Female

19. What is your highest level of education?

™ Some high school, no diploma ™ High school graduate/GED ™ Some college, no degree ™ 2 year college/vocational graduate ™ 4 year college graduate ™ Post graduate degree

20. During the past 12 months what is the combined income for the members of your household?

™ Less than $25,000 ™ $25,000–49,999 ™ $50,000–74,999 ™ $75,000–99,999 ™ $100,000–124,999 ™ $125,000–149,999 ™ $150,000–174,999 ™ $175,000–199,999 ™ $200,000 or more

21. What is the zip code for your primary residence?

_________________________________

22. If you have a secondary residence,

what is the zip code?

_________________________________

MaineGardens.org

PLEASE RETURN BY MAIL TO ¹

PO Box 234Boothbay ME 04537

Many Thanks for Your Considerable Help in 2008!

Please and Thank You, Volunteers BY AMANDA RUSSELL, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

The Gardens Volunteer Corps now num-bers above 475, with more than 125 new volunteers in 2008. In the year’s five busi-est months, our volunteers worked 6,416 hours. (In the whole of 2007, volunteers worked 6,012 hours!)

Volunteer opportunities at the Gar-dens now include 11 ongoing programs with regularly scheduled hours, in addi-tion to special events. No wonder Gar-dens volunteers logged a record number of hours in 2008!

Listed below are the programs and events for the 2009. I will be contacting and recruiting in January, as I define job descriptions and time commitments. I hope every volunteer will once again be inspired to pitch in and help this wonder-ful garden grow.

2009 Volunteer Programs: û Front Deskû Gift Shopû Docentsû Mailingsû Pink Lady Slipper Survey û Shuttle Driversû Flower Arrangingû Volunteer Cateringû Grounds Workû Last-Minute/On-Call û Literature/Poster Distribution

2009 Special Events:û Portland Flower Showû Artist Receptions û Native Plant Saleû Garden Fair û Antiques Show Preview Partyû Maine Fairy House Festivalû Kitchen Garden Series Dinners

I was able to thank more than 100 volunteers on August 28 at the 2008 Volunteer Appreciation event in Kerr Hall. Acknowledgements of the very important Overseers of Volunteer

Programs (volunteers who oversee and organize other volunteers in their respective programs) and all the Volunteer Co-Chairs of committees and events were as follows, with a huge thank you!

û Martha Heald and Jane Lunt—Co-Chairs, House & Garden Tourû Dick Snyder & Walter McDonough—Traffic Co-Chairs, House & Garden Tourû Anne Vartabedian—Volunteer Gift Shop Buyerû Mollie Moore—Overseer of Gardens’ Mailing Programû Pam Rawden—Overseer of Grounds Work Programû Joanne Sharpe—Overseer of the Pink Lady Slipper Surveyû Jean Hamilton—Overseer of the Gardens’ Flower Arranging Programû Susan Haviland and Heather Livingston—Co-Chairs of the Garden Fair Preview Partyû B.J. Dobson—Overseer of the Native Plant Saleû Bonnie Potter—Chair, Garden Fair Keynote Speakersû Lynne Nordhoff and Ruth Story—Overseers, Books & Blooms Author Receptionû Claudia Greene—Overseer of the Antiques Preview Party û Shery Kerr—Chair of the Moonlight, Music & Magic Party

Nine other volunteers were celebrated for Outstanding Volunteer Service: Todd Poole, Pat Neely, Anne Butler, Carole LaFountaine, Barbara Leonard, B.J. Dobson, Ginger Deucher, Anne Vartabedian, and Pat Jeremiah.

The following volunteers were acknowledged for their dependability and willingness to jump in when the need arose: Larry Wilson, Cathy Miller, and Tom Hilton.

Out of the many, many new fantastic volunteers, four were celebrated for Outstanding Service by New Volunteers: Harold VanSiclen, Cathy Messmer, Pat Schubert, and Carol McCarthy.

And finally, Ned Freeman was awarded a beautiful hand-crafted walking stick for his personal recruitment of many volunteers in 2008. I have found in three short years of being the Gardens’ Volunteer Coordinator that the best recruiters of volunteers are volunteers themselves, and in this Ned is exemplary—he’s a natural, with enthusiasm to boot!

I have been honored to work with all of our volunteers. I appreciate how each volunteer has worked with me, helped me out in my occasional scrambles, given me valuable advice to make the programs run more smoothly, and remained flexible…all for the Gardens. From all of us who love the Gardens, whether we work as a staff member or as a volunteer or simply as a visitor, thank you!

COA S TA L M A I N E B OTA N I C A L G A R D E N S www.MaineGardens.org 15

MaineGardens.org

BY AMANDA RUSSELL, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Continuing a family legacy of generosity and stewardship of Maine’s natural landscape, Sally Jeffords Radcliffe has made it possible for us to extend the Shoreland Trail along our beautiful and tranquil waterfront. Thanks to her belief in the Gardens and her understanding of the possibilities inherent in our shore-front property, visitors will soon be able to enjoy Maine’s natural maritime landscape from a delightfully different perspective on the new pathway we’ve dubbed the Huckleberry Cove Trail.

Sally has made a generous contribu-tion to this project under the auspices of the Pine Tree Conservation Society, which was founded by her father, the late Walter Jeffords. This most-recent donation continues the commitment to the Gardens shown in 2005 when the Society, through

DONOR PROFILE

0 Printed on recycled paper

P.O. Box 234Boothbay, ME 04537

Phone: 207-633-4333

MaineGardens.org

Sally and her family, donated 120 waterfront acres adjacent to the original 128 acres with two-thirds of a mile of waterfront that our founders purchased in 1996. Now, with 248 acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is New England’s largest garden. Our water-front is nearly a mile long.

For a description of the Huckleberry Cove Trail, please read Dick Zieg’s “Living

on the Ledge,” on the front page of this issue. We invite you to stroll along this exquisite pathway next summer to enjoy the views, the peace, and the beauty of this new trail, as well as the waterfall and huckleberry-rimmed cove you’ll find at its terminus. Thank you, Sally, for help-ing to bring a delightful experience to future visitors.

NONPROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDLewiston, ME

Permit #82

The new trail winds between a massive ledge and the waterfront. Before long, it will be ready for Gardens visitors.PHOTO BY DICK ZIEG

A Trail in the Making, Thanks to Sally Jeffords Radcliffe