Today Julie Hustvet is taking us along on a visit to one of the premiere botanical gardens in New England.
I took a trip out to Maine last fall (September 2021), so of course I had to visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden (which happens also to have an extensive dahlia display).
Syneilesis aconitifolia (Zones 4–8) also goes by the common name of shredded umbrella plant, and it is easy to see why it got that name. Its beautiful leaves are especially dramatic when they first emerge in the spring, but they look wonderful well into fall.
Giant butterbur (Petasites japonicus var. giganteaus, Zones 5–9) makes truly huge, dramatic leaves. This plant loves wet locations, and though the leaves are amazing, it can spread aggressively, so plant with care.
In late summer, the ornamental grasses come into their peak, making an airy cloud of flowers at the back of this planting.
This is part of a special exhibit of recycled wood sculptures by Danish artist Thomas Dambo.
This beautiful pond is lined with naturalistic plantings that fit into the New England landscape all around.
This panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata, Zones 5–9) may be the variety ‘Fire Light’ or a similar cultivar that turns a strong red color as the flowers age.
These dahlias (Dahlia variabilis, Zones 8–10 or as a tender bulb) can bloom most of the summer, but they always peak in the fall.
Informative signage welcomes you to the butterfly and moth garden, which is filled with plants for these beautiful animals to feed on.
Silver and white dominate this planting to magical effect.
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Comments
Love that wood sculpture. Thanks for including it.
We visited the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens within their first several years of being open, and it was already an impressive and inspirational series of gardens. Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories. I would strongly recommend that all GPOD'ers jump at the chance to visit this amazing place.
That was fun seeing pictures of the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden!
I'm especially excited to learn from you, about the hardy tropical looking Shredded Umbrella Plant- it's something I've never heard about before...maybe I can squeeze in one more plant into my little garden.
What a wonderful garden and I especially love the wooden sculpture. Giggled in an extremely mature fashion at the "giant butter-butt"!
My parents owned a summer home in Maine for many years. There's something very special about gardening there. Maybe the Botanical Garden didn't exist then but my Mother had a beautiful garden with the most beautiful blue Hydrangeas. That wood sculpture is truly an amazing delight!!!
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in