Lily Jacobi shares photos from her recent visit to a special garden in York, Maine.
"It was a cloudy, gray, rainy day when I decided to do a road trip to York, Maine for The Garden Conservancy-Open Days. This was the first property that I visited and is called Brave Boat Harbor Farm. This garden is situated far from the beaten path on 100 acres bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The garden has been evolving over the last 50 years and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It surrounds and complements a Georgian style stone house that was built in the 50s."
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Comments
Lily, what a delightful place you have shared with us this morning. It has such a calm and peaceful aura. I almost expect to hearing the soft bleating of sheep in the fields and the tinkle of bells on the collars of a couple of shepherd dogs guarding them. It feels as if one has stepped in to a family estate in Ireland or Scotland rather than a home in the US. The vine and tree covered stone walls, that amazing gnarled old tree with the simple headstones behind it, and the pair of stone hands cuddling the baby bird are all lovely and perfect for the spot. Thanks for taking us along on your visit.
Nice comments Sonya.
Thanks! Misty, wet morning here today similar to the one in Lily's photos. Unfortunately, ours is the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Winds gusting to103 km yesterday with 10 cm of rain. Fortunately, we don't have any damage although there are lots of trees down and homes damaged in our area. Glad I live in NE Georgia rather than Texas or Florida. Upside, with the ground so nicely moistened, I will be out planting @ 75 jonquil bulbs and scattering seeds in an area I want to make into a wild flower garden.
Sonya, I feel sorry for your folks in Texas and Florida - and in Mexico. Sounds like the areas affected by the winds and rains from the hurricane were widespread. Glad you are safe and back to your gardening. Cheers from Oz
Ever the gardener, right, Sonya, ...we always try to make lemonade out of lemons!
Sounds like it will be lovely in the spring!
I am glad you enjoyed it Sonya. I wasn't sure what to expect when I drove north on that cloudy, gray, rainy day. But I was pleased with the results. It was nice to see a garden under different circumstances.
Hi Lily - Lovely pics. of an historical and interesting garden. The pond and surrounding area is particularly appealing. Great stone work throughout the property. Cheers from Oz
Thank you Frank! I posted some other links about the history of the property, and more information about the homeowners in case you are interested. Always lovely to hear from you, and to read your commentary. a wonderful day to you in Oz!
Good morning, Lily. Thanks for sharing your photos of this beautiful house and garden. The dreary day gives a very mystical effect to some of the photos. I love the stone on the house and surrounding garden walls. I would not like to be picking the fruit from that tree that has been trained up to the top of the house. The pond is awesome. 100 acres. Wow. I keep thinking what I could do with that.
You made me laugh Kevin! What could you do with 100 acres? I think it would be a bit overwhelming for me personally, but I think you should get 100 acres, work your magic on it and I'll come and visit and admire !
Good morning Lily! Wow, those pics don't look like the Maine I know...I agree with Sonya- it looks like Ireland. I wonder how old those gravestones are. They look a lot like the ones at Old Swedes cemetery in Wilmington, DE that hail from the 1600s and 1700s. Acid rain has washed off almost everything but you can still read a few things. Great post! Love that archway and door.
Hi Rhonda
I posted some other links in the comments here, about this property with more of the backstory. I read it briefly this morning but I don't remember how far back those gravestones go. I think 100 or more years?
Good for you, Lily, (and lucky us) that you are inclined to take advantage of The Garden Conservancy-Open Days opportunities...and take such great pictures. The garden that you shared the photos of today has such an interesting name. I did some quick reading about its history and didn't come across the story behind the name...do you have any idea? I'm hoping that you visited additional gardens up in Maine and we will be treated to future Garden Pictures of the Day from your day trip.
It's always so inspiring when an intrinsically lovely property has been in a caring ownership situation and its beauty has been nurtured and enhanced.
The entrance to the harbor is so narrow that "only brave boats" will try to enter.
Mary R
Thanks so much, Mary. I love that back story.
Love it!
Thank you Michaela...I did post a few more links about the property. I'm not sure if you saw those or not.
I did see a couple more properties that day, one of which was also on the water and absolutely stunning. Not to take away from this one at all, but it was a masterpiece in color, form and texture. I'm still in awe of it
Thanks for sharing your visit. Nice photos with the etherial, foggy day.
Thank you Tim!
Love your photos, Lily! The overcast day seems to have brought out the colors and details of the house and garden. My favorite photo is of the door in the stone arch...wouldn't I love to walk through it right now! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Cynthia!
More info about Brave Boat Harbor Farm
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_Boat_Harbor_Farm
http://www.nhhomemagazine.com/May-June-2016/Nurturing-a-historic-seacoast-family-garden/
https://tclf.org/landscapes/brave-boat-harbor-farm
Thanks for sharing additional about the farm. Very interesting place & family.
LOVE IT, LOVE THE POND AND THE HOUSE,
Oh, to have a walled garden! It calls to mind The Secret Garden that I read when I was about 12. It looks wonderfully peaceful there with the water lapping softly nearby and the mist in the far trees. Don't we all need some of that these days?
Yes! I actually went down to the water is edge, to put my feet in, but there were too many rocks, and no sand. But it was a lovely view just the same.
Lily - what a beautiful garden tour! One of my favorite things to do is tour other gardens. Thank you for sharing.
Me too! I am glad you enjoyed it Joanna?
Hi Lily. Thanks for another wonderful garden tour and for the extra info. It's hard to believe that this place is as new as it is since it has such an old world feel to it. The stonework and gnarly old vines viewed through the mist set the perfect tone. Keep touring and sharing please.
They have done a great job there. I'm not sure if you saw the link that I posted in another comment, but there's a lot of history and more information about this lovely Gem.
My own garden is going through a renovation, so until I am feeling better about my own yard, I'll be sending in pictures of other masterpieces in this area. ???
Beautiful garden and photos. I especially like the mental chair on the lawn. Thanks for sharing.
A wonderful garden antique!
What a magical place! Thanks for the additional information sources - very interesting. Love the pond. and the stone walls. and...
I am glad you were able to learn more about this Maine treasure Shirley
The sculpture of the hands cradling the bird is so wonderful. This is a place to spend hours just being still.
I loved it too!
Stunning, simply stunning!
I am pleased you enjoyed it so much!
Lovely scenes, Lily! How did you manage not to have other people's knees and elbows photo-bombing your pictures? It looks like you were the only one there. The absence of people and the mist really contribute to a contemplative mood. I like a sunny day as much as the next person, but there's something special about the softer light of an overcast day. Thanks for sharing!
Your comment made me chuckle Lorraine! I make a point of not getting other people in my photos. Sometimes I just have to wait a while! I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was a very fun day. I took other photos at other Gardens which I also sent in, so those will be posted at some other time I am sure.
I play that waiting game, too, Lily, but it doesn't always work. Some gardens are just too busy. Sometimes I like to have a person in the photo to give some idea of the scale of a big tree, for example, but usually they are a distraction from the flowers. I did get lucky on our last visit to Monet's garden at Giverny as we were there in the afternoon till closing; as the caretaker was ushering everyone out, I lagged behind a little and took some photos without the crowd.
That sounds like a smart plan!
Such an elegant garden! And your photos capture it so well. I especially love the pond, the stone walls and that wonderful sculpture of the hands so gently holding the small bird. All very wonderful...definitely seems like it is 'from away'.
Thank you Jane! I am glad you enjoyed it
ah, Lily!!
Your views are making me think I've made a mistake in not making a trip of some sort to New England. Y'all do some kinds of Beautiful Magic steeped with History up there!!!
More Please!!
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