Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

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United States of America - Maine - Boothbay

Institution Code:

BGCI Member: No

About the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Botanical gardens come into being in a variety of ways, and they offer vastly different amenities; but no matter where they are or how long they’ve been in existence, they have more than plants in common. Their true roots are in the geology and natural and human history of their sites, topography, and geographical location. Their past, present, and future are the work of highly committed individuals.

On Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ 248 acres, the natural elements are more evident than in smaller, more-manicured properties or urban settings. Our size enables our designers, including acclaimed landscape architects Herb Schaal, FASLA, principal of EDAW in Colorado, and Bruce John Riddell, ASLA, of Bar Harbor and Boothbay, Maine, to create gardens and landscapes on a scale seldom found in botanical gardens.

You’ll see glorious formal gardens here, and an overall design that’s both appealing and impressive; but you’ll also find antique stone walls; nearly a mile of sparkling waterfront; massive ledges covered in mosses, lichens, and ferns; and native forest – in fact, the essence of Maine.

The combination is unbeatable, as we’ve heard over and over again from our visitors. Their enthusiasm will become yours as you discover the Gardens for yourself. You can see the highlights in a few hours; or you can explore forever, experiencing the grounds in different seasons and varying weather conditions. And, of course, you can watch our gardens grow and bloom and transform themselves into something altogether different within a familiar framework. After all, if there’s one thing that’s certain about gardens, it’s that they are forever changing.

Main Address:
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
P.O. Box 234
Boothbay
Maine 04537 United States of America

Telephone: (207) 633-4333
Fax: (207) 633-2366
URL: www.mainegardens.org
Primary Email: info@mainegardens.org

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Gretchen Ostherr, President & CEO
    Curator's Name: Andy Brand, Interim Director of Horticulture
    Plant Records Officer's Name:
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 6
    Educational Staff Number: 5
    Research Staff Number:
    Administration Staff Number:

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: Private: Yes
  • Date founded: 1991
  • Physical Data
  • Total Area: 100 Hectares
    Latitude: 43.8758710
    Longitude: -69.6592430
    Altitude: 0.00 Metres

Features and Facilities

  • Herbarium: No
    Arboretum: No
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Shop: Yes
    Disabled access: Yes
  • Number of Visitors: 90000
    Number of Volunteers: 600

Plant Collections

  • Accession Number: 9679
    Cultivation Taxa Num: 2571
  • Special Collections:Rhododendron, kousa dogwood, rose, native plant, fern, Polygonatum

Conservation Programmes

Research Programmes

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: Yes
    Education Signs in Garden: Yes
    Public Lectures/Talks: Yes
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: Yes
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: Yes
    Special Exhibitions: Yes
    Courses for School Children: Yes
    Courses for General Public: Yes
    Education Programme: Yes