CMBG Magazine - Autumn 2020

CMBG M A G A Z I N E

Autumn 2020

FALL FUN! INSIDE:

MEET OUR NEW PRESIDENT & CEO TOP TEN BULBS GARDENS BOOK CLUB

M A I N E G A R D E N S . O R G

BREATHE IN COLOR AND MOVEMENT

Autumn 2020 04 FEATURES

REGULARS

04 HEART OF THE GARDENS:

03 WELCOME

A Conversation with Docent and Donor BJ Dobson Meet the spirited Ms. BJ Dobson, a vibrant volunteer whose ties to the Gardens span nearly 30 years.

08 GREENER (GREENHOUSE)

PASTURES: Horticulturalist and Grower, Dan Robarts, Talks Recycling, Research, and Repurposing

PHOTO: ISAK HEARTSTONE

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With Dan as guide, we walk through the journey of establishing our newest greenhouse, what it means for the Gardens, and how native species like pawpaws and hops might just earn their keep one day.

12 ”G” IS FOR GARDENING: Plants, Literature, and Winter Book Club

Vanessa Nesvig isn’t only CMBG’s Interpretation & Exhibits Coordinator, but longtime moderator of the annual winter book club. This voracious reader lets us in on her process of choosing books as we explore how the darker side of nature lends itself to a good page-turner.

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Gardens’ President & CEO introduces herself and considers the importance of nature, especially during difficult times.

22 TOP TEN This issue, we have horticulturist Jen Dunlap sharing her top ten bulbs for fall.

24 FROM THE CAFÉ Creative Culinary Manager Ginger Dermott introduces our new column with a recipe showcasing the best of the season’s flavors.

26 NEWS A round-up of the newest faces at the Gardens this season.

30 HAPPENINGS

16 A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE:

Discover lots to do this fall at CMBG (and online!), including courses, workshops, and much more.

Meet Gretchen Ostherr, whose steady hand on the tiller has already helped guide the Gardens through 2020’s choppy waters. Learn where she’s been and where she sees us going.

52 CALENDAR

Meet CMBG’s New Executive, Gretchen Ostherr

See a calendar grid of all of our happenings.

20 DEEP WOODS AND GIANT

TROLLS: 2021’s Massive Exhibit is More than Just a Great Story Get a sneak-peek at next season’s new and major exhibit, and learn what Danish recycledmaterials artist, Thomas Dambo, has in store for visitors among the Gardens’ forests.

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Words: Amy Holt Photos: Tory Paxson, Peter Brown, Marianna Mead, and others as noted

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EXPERIENCE AUTUMN ELECTRICITY

Discover the diversity of dahlias in our gardens this fall.

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WE L COM E

FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

U

ndoubtedly, 2020 has been a challenging year—all the more important to have spaces like the Gardens to come “home” to. More than ever, we need the peace and sense of center that being in nature inspires. Perhaps, even, nature has taken on a different meaning for you, for all of us. Personally, while nature has been important to me my whole life, it’s taken on new significance in these challenging times.

As we appreciate nature like never before, we too appreciate what it means to gather together—perhaps what that looks like has changed, but not its value.

Indeed, togetherness means more, at least to me, than it did before. As we move into the ever-changeable autumn, maybe we’re a bit better balanced, a bit more adaptable, better prepared to take each day as it comes, infusing it with gratitude for what we have and where we are—and how far we’ve come.

We need courage and bravery to go forward, and nature helps us find our feet, centering us in the world. And once we’re centered ourselves, we’re better balanced—and prepared—to take care of each other. That means that we are willing to do the work of outreach, including a diverse range people in our mission and in our Gardens.

As a people’s garden, we are a garden for everyone, cultivating inclusivity without limitation. I am committed to making this a community that fosters and promotes equity, accessibility, and diversity, allowing each individual— guests, staff, volunteers, members,

and donors alike—to maximize their potential and, therefore, their experience.

To that end, and in response to the global uprising against systemic racism, we have created a staff committee to promote this work. There is always work to be done, and we will continually—and happily—improve.

Speaking of community, I am very grateful to have been welcomed so warmly into this one—thank you. Please join me in exploring this issue of the CMBG Magazine—whether in print or online (for the first time!). In these pages, you’ll find stories of growth and new directions, like our new greenhouse and what it means for the Gardens (page 8). You’ll also find stories about gratitude and gatherings.

If, like me, you’ve been spending more time in your kitchen over the past few months, maybe try a new dish for your fall table, thanks to our inventive Creative Culinary Manager, Ginger Dermott (page 24). Or get inspired

by CMBG Interpretation & Exhibits Coordinator, Vanessa Nesvig’s, ideas and plan a (virtual or in-person) winter book club. Of course, our back pages are, as usual, packed with plenty to keep your gardening hands busy, either from here or from home.

Regardless of whether you could make it to your favorite garden this season or not, know we value you and your support. Truly, your support is now more important than we ever could have imagined. Read how one docent and donor plans to do her part to keep

Gretchen Ostherr, CMBG President & CEO

these gardens going well into the next century (page 4).

We never know what the future holds—that’s just as true now as it has ever been. But we do know that when we’re overwhelmed, we can step outside and breathe in the certainty that we are here—and that’s no small thing.

Enjoy the season to come, and we look forward to seeing you at the Gardens.

Sincerely,

Gretchen Ostherr President & CEO

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Heart Gardens of the

A Conversation with Docent and Donor BJ Dobson

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J Dobson is not afraid of hard work. Although, to hear her tell it, her nearly 30-year docent career at the Gardens hasn’t felt much like work. With a CV covering everything from plant identification to helping lay the groundwork for the first docent training in 2006, deadheading, manning the front desk, leading many (many) tours, volunteering in the gift shop, writing booklets and guides, brewing tea, stuffing envelopes, driving shuttles, serving as a Gardens’ ambassador, and working countless Gardens Aglow shifts, BJ Dobson has found a place in every department and with almost every staff member.

“She’s a legend,” says Amanda Russell, Manager of Guest Services. “BJ’s life has centered around the natural world, and our world at the Gardens is grateful to the gift of her time, which she bestows on us over and over again.”

“BJ is at the center of the Gardens,” says Jen McKane, Director of

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Philanthropy. “She’s been here longer and knows more than anyone.”

Though BJ spent her career as a registered nurse, “Not a day has gone by that I didn’t have a gardening or plant book open, reading and looking up information. If I can’t sleep, I read about plants.

If it’s a day spent indoors, I read about plants,” she laughs.

After moving to West Boothbay Harbor in 1991, BJ found herself working for Bob Boyd, one of the Gardens’ founders, at Boothbay Region Greenhouses. “It was supposed to be for two

In her role as docent, BJ Dobson orients guests to the Gardens on the Heafitz Wetland Bridge (2018).

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weeks, just to help get the annuals out.

I ended up staying for 18 years before retiring to spend more time in my own gardens.” And more time at CMBG, which, thanks to the timing of that “two week” stint, let her in on the ground floor of the project’s planning.

“That was just when that original group was looking for a place for a botanical garden—we talked about it in the breakroom, looked at maps and surveys. Bob kept me informed, and I eventually became a charter member.”

What did that entail? “Oh, it was very glamorous,” BJ laughs, thinking back to one of her earliest tasks—Friday morning treks through the woods every week, April through October. She helped to record plant varieties, enter data into spreadsheets, and track plant growth. “I did that for two years. It could be pouring rain, or so hot you wouldn’t believe, fighting mosquitoes all the way—it didn’t matter. You were out there.” That research was compiled into two publications, A Guide to the Native and Naturalized

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Vascular Flora of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and the Gardens’ Plant Checklist.

It wasn’t just behind-the-scenes work, either. “We used to have a lot of fun, raising money for the Gardens, staying here until midnight, cleaning up after events—sometimes even during a torrential downpour. One year,” she adds, “I remember dead-heading hundreds of daffodils in the Rhododendron Garden after work for several evenings so it would look nice for a weekend event.

Oh, and the plant sale—I really enjoyed doing that. Now that was a lot of work!”

In her easy and understated manner, BJ glosses over the fact that she was Chair of the Gardens’ first seven plant sales, a title that came with the task of ordering, pricing, setting up the event, and selling the plants.

“It was f un for me, t houg h—I always had such a big interest in plants, and I know most of the botanical names,” a feat that can be attributed to her love for nature, natural tenacity, and a curious mind.

ABOVE: BJ Dobson chaired the Gardens’ first seven plant sales. In this photo from June 2008, she helps another volunteer prepare for the sale.

TOP: Ten years later, in 2018, BJ continues to share her enthusiasm and talent through volunteering.

WORDS OF WISDOM If all insects were to die, nothing else would live.

If all greenery were to die, all else would die.

If all four-legged creatures were to die, all else would die.

If all creatures with wings were to die, all else would die.

If all humans were to die, all else would survive.

—a favorite of BJ’s

“Touch the earth, love the earth, honour the earth, her plains, her valleys, her hills, and her seas; rest your spirit in her solitary places.”

—One of BJ’s favorite quotations, by Henry Beston, The Outermost House: A Year of Life on the Great Beach of Cape Cod

But it was a trip to Wyoming to visit one of her four sons that initiated the love for Latin names. “I went on a birding walk up into the hills of Jackson. One of the people on the trip was the town manager, and she and I got sidetracked, looking at wildflowers.

She knew the botanical names of every plant,” BJ recalls. “Her grandmother in Poland shared it with this woman’s mother, who shared it with her. I remember thinking, ‘I could learn those names, too,’” BJ says. “And so I did.”

That specialized knowledge has seen her though countless guided tours, docent trainings, plant sales, and the identifying and organizing of miscellaneous slides of plants growing at the Gardens—plants she knows well. “I was in the first docent training class in 2005—two hours every week for most of the summer,” time spent learning all the plants—names and

stories—growing along the newly created paths. “There were no formal gardens then,” BJ adds, “just wonderful woodland plants that we learned so much about.

“But that’s what’s so special about this place—it’s our history and our dedication,” she says. “It’s taught us that you can carve something like this alongside a forest like we did.”

This year, in the wake of a global pandemic, that lesson is more poignant than ever.

“I’m so grateful we were able to open this year, especially during a difficult time when people have been inside for months, all winter long. They come here and come alive—people who can’t travel anywhere else can come here,” BJ says.

“I always ask people where they’re from,” she adds, “and this year, so many people are from Maine—here for the first time! But everyone says they’ll be

In 2011, then Volunteer Coordinator Amanda Russell (far right) honored the Gardens’ amazing volunteers— including BJ Dobson (third from the left).

back—they just can’t believe this has been in their backyard, and, though they knew of the Gardens, they had just never made it here until now.”

That’s the magic of this small piece of the coast, according to BJ, and that’s why she’s not only a docent, but a member, donor, and participant in the Perennial Society, too—a group of donors who have elected to include CMBG in their estate plans. “Private donations are so important to the Gardens. So much goes on here, and all of that costs so much— it makes you feel good to contribute whatever you can to make the Gardens successful,” she says.

“For those thinking of becoming donors, I want to tell them that we have people visiting here, not only from every state, but from all over the world—that’s how special it is,” she continues. “I’d also make sure they had a tour to see where we’ve been, what’s here, and where we’re going. I mean, we pulled it off!” BJ laughs. “I remember opening day in 2007, wondering if we’d be able to do enough, make enough money to continue, attract enough people. A thousand people came that day, and that summer, our visitor numbers were more than what we’d hoped to see in ten years’ time!”

Planned giving means that this remarkable history won’t be lost, that the Gardens’ legacy will continue. “Gifts like BJ’s will make sure we’re here in a hundred years,” says Jen McKane. “It means giving further, joining the heart of the Gardens.”

“I love my time here,” says BJ. “I feel part of everything—we volunteers and docents, we feel so valued. I couldn’t live without plants,” she adds. “I wake up with gardens, and I close my day with gardens.” •

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GREENER (greenhouse) PASTURES

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Horticulturist and Grower, Dan Robarts, Talks Recycling, Research, and Repurposing

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an Robarts, grower and horticulturist at CMBG, would, like most of his colleagues, rather be in the field than in the car. But for the past few seasons, that’s exactly where he’s had to spend more time than he’d like—until this year’s new acquisition changed all of that.

“Over the years, our plant needs have increased,” Dan says. “We’ve long outgrown our two small greenhouses behind the horticulture building.” With limited room, literally, to produce plants for expanding display spaces, the hort team had to rent greenhouse space (and labor) from Unity College’s McKay Farm and Research Station in Thorndike.

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Dan Robarts in the new greenhouse.

While having a place to grow plants, rather than buying and bringing them in, was convenient, the three-hour roundtrip commute was not. It wasn’t just the high cost of renting space, but the high environmental cost of those bi-weekly trips that finally solidified the decision to purchase our own greenhouse. (Well, that, and it makes our horticulturists happy, and happy horticulturists equal happy gardens.)

While the 96' × 32' structure was a significant investment, it’s bigger and more functional than the existing two greenhouses combined, with better heating, cooling, and air circulation. The projected productivity, self-sufficiency, and fossil fuel savings it offered the Gardens made it a relatively easy decision. But that’s where “relatively easy” ended, and the real work began.

“We ordered the structure in fall of 2019, and we were going to have a professional team install it, but they couldn’t get here. So, of course,” says Dan, taking a deep breath, “I volunteered.” Eased by help from Adam

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Harkins, CMBG’s Director of Facilities, and Guy Marshall, “volunteer of the year,” according to Dan, many hours of sorting greenhouse pieces, finding the right tools, and figuring out how to put it together followed.

“It’s not done-done,” Dan says, “but it’s close. We’ll finish the structure this year, but it’s worked out well so far. We get more productivity per square foot than we did at Unity.” Indeed, so far, twenty-two to twenty-five thousand plants have moved through the greenhouse. Native fill (i.e. ecologically sound, fauna-friendly plants) for buffer zones in parking lots and perimeter spaces and cold-tolerant perennials made up the first wave. Annuals followed, and now some high-end crops for the Kitchen Garden Café have taken up residence, and the Gardens has already seen some savings.

“Growing and reproducing plants here, on-site, saves a lot of time, labor, and energy,” Dan says. “It costs around $5.50 to bring in a ‘finished’ plant, while it only costs a dollar and change to grow it—and that’s including labor, pots, and materials.”

Growing our own isn’t the only source of savings, either. Organization-wide, CMBG is constantly working toward sustainability and a closed-loop system of production and recycling— meaning we build it and grow it, then recycle it or compost it. This is something the horticulture staff have been doing for years.

“I built a potting bench in the greenhouse that I love very much,” says Dan. “I collected pallets and old boards and used some leftover paint to finish it. So not only is it totally recycled, it’s also branded in CMBG colors,” he jokes.

Dan applied his ingenuity to more than the potting bench. “Instead of buying big, stainless steel plant tables, we made some out of what we have—cinderblocks are topped by pallets scrounged from the loading dock.” So successful, in fact, were Dan’s gathering trips that he had pallets to spare. “Using leftover steel from the Butterfly House and old bulb crates, [Curator of Living Collections] Andy Brand and I made them into cold frames.”

As it weathers, all of this wood will, most

not threatened or imperiled, and they’re sustainably collected,” Dan explains.

Eventually, the idea is that these specimens will be mass-produced in test tubes in a tissue culture lab, a process used for mass production that can offer a huge jumpstart to getting plants into the market—a process that can take decades. If a big distributor were to sell any of these plants, CMBG would receive a small percentage. This bit of revenue would go toward helping sustain the Gardens’ operations.

“This is about creating new products, plants for home gardeners on the national market as well as working partnerships, not competing with local businesses. These plants will get our name out there and a wide range of people interested in the Gardens.”

Other current projects include cultivating native and specialty crops for partnerships with local producers of alcohol—brewers, distillers, and more, like growing hops found on the old farmstead on the south end of CMBG’s acreage. “We’re doing some research,” Dan says, “but that site might be the oldest farmstead on the peninsula.” Those hops may one day become a CMBG product. “We’re also growing Aronia melanocarpa, or black chokeberry, a native super-fruit. It makes a great jelly,” Dan adds. Other

STEVEN SEVERINGHAUS (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

likely, end up being used next season in artist Thomas Dambo’s troll-building project (see page 20).

This rec ycling effort embraces making do and mending—“All of our pots are reused. They’re washed and sterilized every year; we get many, many generations of use out of them.”

Even vessels that would probably be tossed by anyone else find a use. “Some of mine are split down the side, but I just bolster them up with surrounding pots.

There are pots and trays limping along that have been here since I started,” Dan laughs. That’s more than five years—a good age for a plastic pot. “The goal,” Dan continues, “is to create structures and tools with easily replaceable parts, rather than having to scrap it all and start again.”

In that vein, eventually, more greenhouses will join this one. And, speaking of repurposing, if that’s the case, then the current house may one day house research plants or “plants we want to put in the trade,” Dan says. As a researcher and plant developer, propagation is definitely part of his master plan. Indeed, the long-held dream for the research arm of CMBG’s mission includes studying and documenting Maine’s native species and the geographical spread of plant species northward as well as growing more on-site and developing plants for the larger market.

With the help of the new greenhouse, we’re better equipped to do all of this.

“Andy and I have both spent time in research and in the nursery trade, and we’ve been collecting interesting plants from the Gardens that we think might be commercially viable,” Dan explains.

“We’ve found some cool plants, like this hosta I picked out from the Giles Rhododendron and Perennial Garden,” his horticultural home turf.

“With our experience,” he continues, “Andy and I are pretty good at finding the oddballs. The hosta I found was really interesting, irregularly striped, tri-colored leaves, big and abstract. Right now, market-wise, streaked hostas are a horticultural hot item.”

As far as the selection process goes, “Many of our selected candidates for commercialization are native plants collected from the Gardens—they’re

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

local, sustainable native crops currently growing include fiddleheads, ramps, and pawpaws. The pawpaws, hops, and aronia are all going to be effectively farmed, and, using partnerships with local food artisans, create adult beverages or mixers for them.

“Pawpaws are fun,” Dan says, “and considering they’re only ripe for about a minute and ship poorly because of their very thin skin, they don’t have a large area of distribution. But as a local, seasonal product they have possibility.

Maybe,” he muses, “in a mead made with Gardens honey?”

Well, whatever he decides, Dan’s creativity, ingenuity, and skill will see that it succeeds. And to that, we can only say cheers and pass the pawpaws. •

Hops growing outside the new greenhouse.

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IS FOR

Gardening At the Gardens, it’s easy to strike up a conversation about plants—that’s a given. But how many of us realize that it’s equally as easy to strike up a conversation about books related to plants?

Certainly the more than 30 members of the Winter Gardens Book Club are savvy.

Begun in 2013 by Research Biologist Melissa Cullina, then Director of Education, our annual winter book club is a testament to the fact that reading about gardens is as much fun as planting—or talking about—them.

PUBLIC DOMAIN (CC0 1.0)

Plants, Literature, and Winter Book Club

Agatha Christie’s medical background and love of gardening informed the many toxins in her books.

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Who doesn’t remember the garden of live flowers in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, or Mary Lennox’s discovery in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden? Where would Romeo and Juliet be without the Capulet’s garden as setting for their balcony scene?

And, of course, there’s the intrigue surrounding the myriad plant-derived poisons that grace the pages of the many mysteries of plant (and poison) aficionado, Agatha Christie.

Indeed, Agatha Christie, with her fiendishly clever plots and unforgettable sleuths, had other expertise that often go unnoticed: gardening and pharmaceutical poisons. Researchers who study these sorts of things tally her toxins to 30 compounds, used creatively throughout her oeuvre. In fact, so accurate was her use of plant poisons that her books (i.e., 41 out of her 66 detective novels) have been studied by pathologists working on actual poisoning cases.

Christie had a long affinity for plants; after garnering success from her novels, she bought Greenway, a country house and garden where she restored over 30 acres of historic gardens. And though this landscape, disguised, appeared from time to time in her fiction, Christie’s knowledge of poisons was far more clinical. During the First World War, she

Poppy (Papaver somniferum)

volunteered with the Red Cross both as a nurse and in the pharmacy, where she prepared prescriptions by hand. This was skilled work—and accuracy was paramount, requiring chemistry studies and the passing of a number of exams.

She continued this work during World War II. Though those were the days, at least in the beginning of her medical career, of arsenic and strychnine, she didn’t limit herself to pharmaceutical compounds in her novels; though no one has ever

MONKSHOOD: LEXNGER (CC BY-NC 2.0)

POPPY: ANN ALTHOUSE (CC BY-NC 2.0) NIGHTSHADE: NICOLAS SCHWAB (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Foxglove (Digitalis)

Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna)

prescribed cyanide or ricin (a derivative of the castor bean), these compounds were used “successfully” in stories like A Pocket Full of Rye and “The House of Lurking Death” (from Partners in Crime), respectively.

Of course, most of these novel poisons are derived from plants— morphine from poppies, aconite from monkshood, belladonna from deadly nightshade, digitalis from foxglove, and taxine from yew trees, to name a mere few. Indeed, Christie’s books and

Monkshood (Aconitum)

her use of toxins continue to be so popular that an entire arm of the gardening world is dedicated to poison gardens.

But if we’re getting back to books (and we should), and this subject intrigues you, try A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn

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Vietze. We like to include books that are relevant to Maine, and it’s always a plus when we actually know the author.” Not only does she know the author, but, “Lisa Mossel-Vietze, Andrew’s wife, is in our photography club. She’s an excellent photographer.”

Lisa also happens to run the Island Institute gallery, Archipelago, in Rockland.

Commitment to creativity is a family affair, it seems.

“I’ve included Michael Christie’s Greenwood, a novel for those who loved, or wanted to love,” she laughs, “last year’s Overstory

by Richard Powers.” She Join Vanessa Nesvig online this winter for the Gardens’ book club. pauses. “I realize that’s a lot of books about trees, but it’s fitting, given Harkup. Will this book end up on the next season’s theme.” book club’s reading list? Potentially.

Unsurprisingly, Vanessa—wearing “I love, love nonfiction,” confesses h e r two hats as interpretation Vanessa Nesvig, the book club’s majorcoordinator and book club coordidomo since 2017 and the Gardens’ nator—is thinking about next season’s Interpretation & Exhibits Coordinator. theme, which does indeed revolve “And I really love learning new things, around the woods. “But I won’t overdo even if they get heavy and depressing,” it. I’m also including Barbara Kingshe laughs. So, A is for Arsenic may solver’s Flight Behavior, which we can very well show up one day. But not easily relate back to our work with the this year.

Butterfly House.”

“This year, I’m looking at White While the books don’t always have Pine: American History and the Tree that to relate to the Gardens or its current Made a Nation by Maine guide Andrew

White Pine: American History and the Tree that Made a Nation by Andrew Vietze is part of this winter’s book club lineup.

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theme, it’s a bonus. Past selections come from a number of places, local inspiration being just one of them. With a two-hour, round-trip commute and a voracious appetite for audio books, Vanessa never lacks for options. “It’s not so much a question of coming up with possibilities, but culling selections from my long list.”

Members of the club contribute, too.

“We’re always talking about what we’re reading,” she says, “and during the last meeting of the season, we make time for sharing the great books we’ve read that we might want to include in following years. We’re just a group of people who love getting wrapped up in how plant people see the—fictional and nonfictional—world.”

Pa s t s e l e c t i ons h ave i n clu d e d Brother Gardeners and The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf (“so good,” raves Vanessa), Lab Girl by Hope Jahren, State of Wonder by Ann Pachett, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben (“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read that book,” Vanessa admits), Anthill by Edward O. Wilson, and In the Land of Blue Poppies

by Frank Kingdon Ward. “That one,” she says, in reference to Poppies, “is actually part of the Modern Library Gardening Series curated by Michael Pollan—there are seven more, and I want to include them all.” One, Old Herbaceous by Reginald Arkell puts in an appearance on this year’s list.

If you count yourself amongst those captivated by books about plants, gardening, and the natural world, you have an open invitation—anyone is welcome to join book club. This year, in fact, the club will include a Zoom option as well as in-person meetings. “COVID has taught us a lot about supply and demand of online offerings. Having a remote option means we can expand our reach and,” she pauses, chuckling, “we won’t have to cancel every time we have a snowstorm, which happens two out of our four gatherings.”

Of course, Zoom participants will have to make their own tea and cookies—a small sacrifice to spend a few hours in such notable company.

To learn more about this year’s selections, visit page 31. •

CMBG MOVES ONLINE M A G A Z I N E

Every gardener, every lover of the outdoors knows that a life spent in nature means becoming comfortable with change. This year, and specifically COVID-19, have certainly challenged our resilience, testing us all at every turn.

And so it is, in the spirit of adaptability, yes, but also in upholding our mission to connect as many people to nature as possible, that we evolve the CMBG Magazine we all love into an online format. We hope that by embracing the advantages technology offers, we not only expand our reach but honor our core value of sustainability—caring for the well-being of our natural world and organizational resources for the long term.

Our chief desire for this publication is to foster interconnectedness, between people and with nature, with our community, near and far. We will always seek out the best way to do that work.

We look forward to seeing you—in person or virtually— at the Gardens.

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Global

A PERSPECTIVE

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t seems Gretchen Ostherr, CMBG’s new President & CEO, came into the world with a global perspective. “I’ve always been inspired to change the world, to do my part to help save the planet from climate change,” she says, “to have a large-scale impact on people through nature.”

Luckily, she loves a challenge. “I do!” she says, laughing.

“I love a challenge, and I love continually improving. I want to make things better in all aspects of my life, from home to work to self.” Whether taking on the world or her own backyard where she and her family are currently renovating a house and acres of gardens, Gretchen is, by all accounts, a formidable force for compassionate change and continuous improvement. “It’s like this,” she explains. “At the end of the day, I say, ‘okay, that was great—what went well, and what could I do to make it better next time?’”

This penchant for the comprehensive point of view might be thanks to a childhood spent by woods and water in North Andover, Massachusetts, or her extensive time with Outward Bound, an international, outdoor education organization. In either case, there’s no doubt that these early, in her words, transformative experiences in nature shaped who she’s become.

“My dad was a founding trustee of Hurricane Island Outward B ound in Camden, so I grew up in an environment that encouraged independence and creative thinking. On family campouts, I’d see the Outward Bound students doing their thing, and I wanted to do it too. I loved everything about the experience.” So much so that both she and her younger sister received Outward Bound courses for their sixteenth birthdays.

“After that, I really wanted to be an instructor, so I started training while I was still in college,” Gretchen says. “I also did a 26-day Downeast course and sailed all the way to Cross Island up near the Canadian border.” That kind of experience was inspiring and transformative.

“I always wanted to facilitate connections between people and nature, and my experiences with Outward Bound taught me that not only was it achievable, it was reciprocal,” she explains. “Beauty in nature inspires beauty elsewhere. When

people spend time outdoors, they become stewards of the environment—and that’s what we need now. That’s how we make large, lasting impact.”

The first step is getting people outside and allowing their own experiences to show them how influential nature can be. “And it’s so accessible!” Gretchen says. “The Gardens, the woods, or even our own backyards—if we can get people out there, they quickly realize they can be happier, healthier, more effective, and more creative. And it’s not just that I think it’s a good idea,” she adds, laughing. “There’s plenty of ongoing scholarship and research out there that proves it.”

Besides an innate love of nature, the ability to unpack large goals and find inroads is one that seems to come naturally to Gretchen. For her, the common thread is education. “I watched the effect Outward Bound had on its students, and I knew I could have a similar impact through traditional education,” she says. So after several years with Outward Bound, she went back to school for an MA in education from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

But eventually, the siren song of the outdoors, in the form of a leadership opportunity with Hurricane Island, called her back. From there, she moved into more senior roles in Outward Bound USA before taking on her most recent position as Director of the Outdoor Discovery Programs at L.L. Bean.

As her connection to nature has proven to run deep, so too does her connection to Maine. Essentially a full-time Mainer since 1990, Gretchen now lives in Hope in a house she and her husband, Mark, an architect and designer, built together. Both daughters, Annabelle (18) and Abby (15), also embrace the outdoors through an interest in environmental studies, sailing, and competitive alpine skiing. “And gardening, of course!”

Gretchen laughs. “I love gardening, but I have a feeling that joining a local CSA instead of putting in a veggie garden this year was a wise move.”

Indeed, a prescient decision since the Gardens will now take up a fair amount of her time—but time is a sacrifice she’ll happily make. “I love the work I did with Bean’s, but I wanted

“Beauty in nature inspires beauty elsewhere.”

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Meet Gretchen Ostherr, CMBG’s President & CEO

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“What I love about the Gardens…is that ‘A People’s Garden’ isn’t just a tagline—I’ve really felt that here.” to move back into the nonprofit world and bring my loves together—bettering the planet and making people happier and healthier through time spent outdoors.”

She continues, “I’ve been so fortunate in my career, and I’ve been so fortunate in my mentors, people who saw potential in me and helped encourage it.” From these influences, Gretchen learned resilience, compassion, and that “your disability is your opportunity—this has framed my entire approach to life, personally and professionally,” she explains. “This drives creative, out-of-the-box thinking for me—I welcome the challenges and see problems as an opportunity to come up with an even better solution.”

True to her trademark perspective, she also has a vision for the Gardens. “CMBG is so accessible—gardening and being outdoors, most people can do that. We have a unique opportunity to educate people on many levels—passively through interpretation, our gardens, our exhibits, our landscapes, and our wetlands, and actively through our education programs. There’s endless potential here.”

Gretchen’s goals—and her arrival—are timely. These relationships and the Gardens’ facilitation of them have become more profound in light of current events. “For so many reasons,

the pandemic has had us thinking more about all kinds of connections, especially juxtaposed against increased screen time,” she explains. “We’re feeling the need for balance, and time outdoors can give us that balance.”

And in Gretchen’s vision, the Gardens can amplify that connection. “Bringing more people to the Gardens to experience what we have to offer is so important right now, and connecting to other people through nature has an exponential effect. I have no doubt we can do it,” she says. “Everyone I’ve met is excited to do this work. I see my job as facilitating each member of the team to do their best. It’s about everyone pulling on the oars together, in the same direction, getting us where we want to go.”

It will take energy, but luckily she—and we—have that in spades. “What I love about the Gardens, and what I’ve seen in the short time I’ve been here, is that ‘A People’s Garden’ isn’t just a tagline—I’ve really felt that here. The beauty of this place, both curated and wild, is transformative. Everyone, every constituency, feels ownership here, from the staff and volunteers to the Board, visitors, members, and donors. That is truly unique to this place. In every aspect, this really is a people’s garden.” •

Gretchen Ostherr met with Gardens staff in July. A sign of the times, everyone wore masks and practiced social distancing.

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MAKE AN IMPACT! Gardens have long been places of healing, tranquility, and beauty—especially during times of crisis. We hope that, either in person or from a distance, you have enjoyed the beauty of CMBG in these very challenging times.

Your support is what makes it possible for us to provide a place of beauty, learning, and connection to the natural world.

When you support the Gardens, you support the connection between people and nature, helping to foster a deeper understanding of conservation, botanical diversity, and the importance of regional ecosystems. Together, we are creating a resource for the community, for local wildlife, and for present and future visitors.

While we have seen an overwhelmingly positive response to opening the Gardens to a limited number of guests this season, it is difficult to predict how the global pandemic will impact us long-term. One of the few things we do know is that we’ll have dramatically fewer guests than we expected. This means decreased admissions revenue, which also means reduced shop, café, tour, and membership income. The Gardens is heavily reliant on earned revenue, and when visitorship is down, our budget suffers, potentially endangering our maintenance and operations.

We need your philanthropic help now more than we ever could have imagined. Whether your gift is $10 or $10,000, it will help to sustain the Gardens you love. We know that the avid support of our community will carry us through this crisis, helping us to continue as a leader in horticulture, education, and research.

HOW TO GIVE:

MaineGardens.org/give

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207–633–8013 We are here to answer your questions and provide assistance with donations or bequests. We would love to talk with you about the impact you could have at CMBG.

MAINEGARDENS.ORG

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Deep& Woods

GIANT TROLLS 2021’s Massive Exhibit is More than Just a Great Story

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n 2021, our theme revolves around Maine’s woods—their history, their importance to our state’s industry, and the measures being taken toward their sustainability. Anchoring our theme will be Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s magical, mysterious, and mammoth recycled-wood sculptures hidden throughout the Gardens’ native, natural wooded areas. Through The Great Story of the Little People and the Giant Trolls, our guests will find new ways to lose—and find— themselves in our forests.

Thomas Dambo is considered the world’s leading recycled-materials artist, famous for his troll sculptures. Dambo’s pieces are staggering, and each sculpture simultaneously invites seekers into the depths of our woodlands while telling a story of conservation.

Per Dambo, “The project becomes an open-ended fuse that initiates wonder,” inspiring people to see the natural world through a whimsically different lens. Since all of Dambo’s work uses recycled materials, it reinforces the value of using what we have to create something new, while also pulling together people of many skills and backgrounds from throughout our community.

Over eight weeks in the early spring, the building of the trolls will become a major community event, including volunteers from our existing corps and those from local schools, businesses, and community groups.

The exhibit’s launch, scheduled for Maine Days, 2021, will be a celebration of this community effort and an invitation to see, in Dambo’s words, how, by protecting nature, “nature will protect you.”

Born in Odense, Denmark, Thomas Dambo lives and works in Copenhagen. As one of the fastest growing personalities in the Scandinavian art world, his trolls are on the list of the most significant attractions in Denmark.

Our exhibit’s self-guided tour will help each visitor explore the trolls’ trails. Each troll’s path will begin with a story telling the particular tale of the troll inhabiting that area, and each will link itself to a part of a tree—roots, trunks, branches, leaves, or seeds.

These innovative, whimsical, surprising, and inspiring sculptures will be an extraordinary experience not to be missed. •

“The project becomes an open-ended fuse that initiates wonder” THOMAS DAMBO

Artist Thomas Dambo (above, at left) constructs one of his newest trolls, Bjarke Cirkelsten, this June in Amager Nature Park, outside of Copenhagen, Denmark.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS DAMBO

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TOP TE N

TOP BULBS JEN DUNLAP’S

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for fall planting 1 Allium giganteum

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3

Allium schubertii

Camassia leichtlinii ‘Blue Danube’

Bellevalia paradoxa

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Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Woodstock’

Fritillaria persica

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LAURA GOOCH (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Narcissus ‘Blushing Lady’

Muscari armeniacum ‘Valerie Finnis’ DOLLY442 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

ERIC HUNT (BY PERMISSION)

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JERRY OLDENETTEL (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

RACHELGREENBELT (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

WUNDOROO (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

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JOHN WINDER (CC BY-NC 2.0, USED BY PERMISSION)

TODD BOLAND (BY PERMISSION)

SIMONE (CC BY-SA 3.0)

JAY PEG (CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Nectaroscordum siculum ssp. bulgaricum

Tulipa ‘Antoinette’

Jen Dunlap, horticulturist, herbalist, and bulb enthusiast, curated her top ten bulbs for fall planting. Jen says:

“These perennial bulbs are worthy of consideration as they’re excellent at extending seasonal color and providing interesting structural elements to your garden. They are easy to grow and most, though not all, are deer and rodent proof.”

How many can you collect (and plant!)?

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FROM TH E C A FÉ

GINGER DERMOTT’S

MARINATED PORK CHOPS & BRUSSELS SPROUT SLAW

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MARINATED PORK CHOPS

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don’t know about you, but as the days get shorter and the winds brisker, I start to crave heartier meals. Plus, if you’re cooking locally and seasonally like I try to, then you’ll notice a distinct produce shift at your favorite farmers’ market—new arrivals might include bright squashes, brilliant pumpkins, dense and hearty greens, crisp apples, and long branches of Brussels sprouts which, as members of the Brassica family, tend to get sweeter as the weather gets colder.

Pork is another ingredient that has a distinctly “fall-ish” feel to me, without infringing on Thanksgiving territor y.

Cooked correctly, it’s thick and juicy—these are the not the tough, dr y pork chops you may have come across in your travels!

So, here we are—my offering for your fall kitchen: Marinated Pork Chops with a Brussels Sprout Slaw accompaniment.

Method: Collect eight 10- to 12-ounce pork chops cut 1½" thick from your local butcher or farm store. For this recipe, I used chops from Broad Arrow Farm in Bristol, Maine.

In a large bowl, combine one cup olive oil, smashed garlic cloves from 2–3 heads (mine are from the Gardens’ Burpee Kitchen Garden), eight big sprigs of fresh rosemary (also from the Burpee Garden) cut into two-inch pieces, the zest of three lemons (careful not to get the white pith in there—it’s bitter!), the juice from those three lemons, fresh cracked pepper, and coarse salt.

Place pork chops in the bowl and toss to coat evenly. Cover them with plastic wrap (we use Bee’s Wrap made from beeswax rather than plastic—you can find it in our Gardenshop) and refrigerate overnight.

When you’re ready to cook, preheat the oven to 425 °F and position the oven racks in the top and bottom of the oven. Pull the chops from the marinade, remove as much lemon, garlic, and rosemary from the chops as you can, then place them back in marinade.

Peel and cut two pounds of parsnips into one-inch pieces (we’re using Goranson Farm organic). Core and quarter six Macintosh apples (ours are from Ricker Hill). Slice three pounds of fingerling potatoes (these are Goranson Farm organic) in half or quarters, depending on size. Peel and slice one pound of yellow onions into ⅓" wheels.

Add these to the marinade and toss to coat, then spread the apples and vegetables (keep the pork chops for the moment) onto two large, rimmed baking sheets and roast for roughly 40 minutes, shifting pans and stirring halfway through.

Using a large Dutch oven (or two skillets), heat one tablespoon of olive oil per pan and cook your chops over high heat until golden brown on each side, about 8–10 minutes total. Divide the pork chops over the roasting apples and vegetables on each baking sheet and continue roasting, 5–10 minutes. Before removing, grab your meat thermometer—pork should be cooked to 145 °F.

BRUSSELS SPROUT SLAW

Ginger Dermott is the Creative Culinary Manager of the Kitchen Garden Café

Serves 8

Serves 8

Method: Using a food processor fitted with the shredding blade, feed through two pounds of Brussels sprouts. Whisk together lemon juice and lemon zest from two lemons, a glug of olive oil (to taste), and salt and pepper (also to taste), and toss with the shredded sprouts. Grate Parmesan cheese (use as much or as little as you like—ours is from City of Ships, Hahn’s End in Phippsburg, Maine), and toss to combine. Adjust flavor if needed by adding more lemon, salt, pepper or cheese. Bonus: top your chop with a dollop of local or homemade (ours was made in-house) apple sauce.

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WHO’S NEW? KARL ALAMO Horticulturist

Karlmathew Alamo, CMBG’s newest horticulturist, has deep roots in the local community. A native of Boothbay and former intern at the Gardens in 2018, Karl has certainly come full circle.

T h o u g h g r a d u at i n g f r o m t h e University of R ho de Island w it h a b achelor’s degre e in lands cap e architecture and a minor in community planning, horticulture wasn’t his initial path. “I was originally pre-med with a double major in biological and psychological sciences,” he says. “It’s kind of the family business.”

A family business, indeed—swayed by family and community influence, Karl was certain he was going to become a doctor. His father is a local physician, his older brother is pursuing medical school, his twin brother is in veterinary school, and even his younger sister wants to be a pediatrician. “I knew I wanted to help others. At first, medicine was the most logical and influential field I could think of,” he says. His academic development, however, led him to helping others

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through design to satisfy a greater need and a greater sense of self-fulfillment.

Known for his drawings and calligraphy, Karl knew he needed to provide himself with a creative outlet, while integrating the passions he found in medicine.

As an industry driven by connecting people to people, people to place, and people to the environment, Karl finds landscape architecture a perfect balance of both callings. His understanding of CMBG’s ability to promote human psychology and health through these connections is what led him here as an intern, and ultimately back full-time.

Working at the Gardens will serve as an ideal post-grad position, but no matter where his career leads him, Karl would like to stay near the coast. “I grew up in Boothbay, then went to school in the Ocean State where my program centered on ocean-based green infrastructure.” His award-winning academic career, built on service-learning projects, has allowed him to focus on finding solutions to real problems in real communities—from innovative infrastructure design for sea level rise and storm surge mitigation, to accessible rehabilitative landscapes for military veterans.

Karl is now in charge of the Cleaver L aw n an d G ard e ns . “C M B G h a s always been in my backyard, so this is a good place to find myself, work in my field, and learn from others,” he says. If you think the busy life of a CMBG horticulturist will daunt him, think again. “I’m always busy, always involved,” he laughs. “I’m still trying to figure out what downtime means.”

Having been his department President at URI, Karl served as an educator, critic, and mentor for undergraduate courses and graduate-level workshops, became a sustainable design author, and is certified in green roof system assembly design. “If there was any way I could be involved, I found it.” Good news for the horticulture department, where the work grows like weeds. •

BRENT McHALE Horticulturist

Brent, as one of last season’s interns, certainly isn’t new to the Gardens, but we’re so happy to welcome him this year as a fully-fledged—and full-time— member of the horticulture staff in charge of the Café entrance gardens, the Great Lawn, Arbor, and Terrace Loop garden areas.

Before coming to the Gardens, Brent, a graduate of the Horticulture Business Management program at Morrisville State College, worked for several years in the retail nursery business as a grower and independently as a landscaper—all skills he relies on heavily in his work at CMBG. “My degree consisted of half business, half horticulture. I even studied home brewing and home electrification,” he adds, skills that—who knows?—may also find a home at the Gardens one day.

In the meantime, Brent is a good person to have in the field, so to speak. “I like interacting with people, advising them, when they ask, on plants for their own gardens. I like turning an ‘ordinary’ landscape into a lovely landscape, making everything look better.”

NE WS

Though a native of Buffalo, New York, Brent feels at home in Maine.

“Being here is awesome—everyone on the hort staff is so much fun to work with.” And though his work keeps him busy, “I’m learning more about the role of education in public gardens; I’ve already learned so much from the staff and through the docent training about how to educate the public, the best way to get people and children interested in nature. It’s why I love public gardens.

There are so many ways, so many tools to teach people about plants. I’ve visited other gardens, but there’s not nearly as much education going on in other places as there is here.”

Speaking of education, this longtime gardener has his grandmother to thank for his interests. “She grew 200 blueberry bushes, 40 fruit trees, pumpkins, vegetables, flower gardens. When I was younger, my room was filled with plants. It was all trial and error, seeing what would grow.”

He’s certainly found his place here.

“I’ve been working since I was 14,” Brent says. “Even at school, I had a 40-hour workweek. I’m definitely up to the challenge of being on the hort team here—I’m having so much fun.” •

ALICIA MILLER

Butterfly House Specialist Alicia Miller, Butterfly House Specialist and former CMBG intern, graduated from UMaine and holds a BS in wildlife ecology with a wildlife management concentration. “My studies included everything from entomology to ecology to soil sciences,” she says. “I applied to CMBG because I’d been looking for something specifically related to wildlife.”

Alicia, always an outdoor person, grew up in Bradford, Maine, and spent as much time as possible in the woods.

But for someone who served as a New Hampshire Moose Technician with the University of New Hampshire and as

JOSH PEARCE

Membership Coordinator

a Maine Moose Intern for the Student Conservation Association, an interpretive and field park ranger at Mt. Blue State Park in Weld, Maine, and a volunteer for the Maine state biologist, were butterflies the kind of wildlife she had in mind?

She laughs, “Butterflies weren’t necessarily what I thought I’d be doing with my life, but I took an entomology class in college, and I loved butterflies. I didn’t know a ton, but I’ve already learned so much. I can definitely see myself working with them for the indefinite future,” she says. “They’re just as important as the moose I’ve been studying since college.”

That sentiment is lucky both for Alicia and for CMBG, because it seems she’ll be doing just that. Now that she’s the official butterfly ranger, in her new role, Alicia will be in charge of the gardens surrounding the Native Butterfly and Moth House, species ordering, and future permitting.

“I love being here—I’ve already connected with so many people, and everyone is great. They have such a passion for what they do, no matter what department they’re in. It makes me want to be more passionate, too.” •

Josh Pearce, Membership Coordinator, could be a poster-child for the Gardens.

Born and raised in Boothbay, Josh first came to CMBG twenty years ago. “It must have been fifth or sixth grade,” he says. “I remember arriving here on a school bus and helping to build fairy houses in the new Fairy House Village. Nothing else was here yet, no formal gardens.”

Little could he know what that first visit heralded. Before taking the job as Membership Coordinator this year, Josh had worked in Admissions since 2018, and held the position of Admissions Lead last season. He’s grateful to Amanda Russell, Manager of Guest Services, for his admissions training.

“It prepared me for everything, from the front desk to the café to driving the shuttle, even giving last-minute group tours,” he says.

“I knew Josh was perfect for the Gardens,” adds Amanda, “when he said in his interview, ‘I want to give back to the community that I grew up in.’ He was so genuine and warm that I knew guests and staff alike would respond

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to him. I am thrilled he is with the CMBG family.”

T h at w ar mt h an d af f i n it y for customer service is par for the course for Josh. “In early June this year, I facilitated a virtual member tour of our apiary—I had only just learned I was leading it,” he laughs. But he rose to the challenge and adapted easily.

Perhaps it’s his upbringing that helped with this quality—necessary in any customer service position, especially one in an outdoor venue where conditions can change quickly. “I grew up fishing with my father, lobstering with him since I was 14. After I graduated high school, I helped him full time for a few years.”

After that, Josh went to school for business administration, focusing on database management and digital marketing. In his spare time, Josh loves to spend time outdoors, camping in Baxter State Park and Mount Desert Island every summer, if he can. “I also love the beach and I love swimming—I have spent a lot of time in and around the water,” he says. He also loves to travel and ski the mountains. “There’s also a good chance you’ll find me reading—I’ll read anything. I love sci-fi, history, historical fiction, nonfiction—seriously, anything.”

A dog-lover, Josh has always raised golden retrievers. “My dog, Chase, is two-and-a-half years old, and his name says it all! He’ll run after a ball all day if you let him.” It seems Josh’s pets are as inexhaustible as Josh himself. A good thing, too, because the Gardens keeps him busy. But no matter what job he’s called on to do, “I love it here,” he says.

“The Gardens has brought so much to the Boothbay peninsula. It’s investing in the community, and that helps people like me stay in the region that raised them.” •

“The Gardens… helps people like me stay in the region that raised them” JOSH PEARCE

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and—like so many of us—chose to stay.

What does he like about CMBG? “The people. I like being part of the team— that’s what attracted me here from the beginning—even while volunteering, I knew I’d really like to work here. I love the people and I love the diversity of the work.” •

MIKE WIRTH

Food and Beverage Supervisor

PETE RAWDEN

Lead Carpenter and Director of Special Projects Pete Rawden joined the Gardens staff this year as Lead Carpenter and Director of Special Projects. Having worked here as a contractor since 2017 and a volunteer before that, he has been a welcome addition to the staff. With his many years of experience in construction, including building houses and cottages in the Boothbay region and in remote, ecologically sensitive sites, he’s a good fit for the Gardens’ off-the-beaten-track terrain.

Building in challenging environments meant Pete had to dabble in everything from electricity to plumbing, from welding to building with fiberglass—even hauling building materials via golf cart.

But there are even more hidden talents lurking here. “Before I was officially hired, I was the volunteer train guy for Gardens Aglow. For three years now, I’ve set up the model train in the education building. It’s beautiful—I love trains, and that’s what got me involved with CMBG. I look forward to it every year.”

We do, too—Pete’s attentions keep our display consistent—and growing— year to year. “After working on the train, I was hired to build the Snack Shack, and I’ve never really left!” It seems like Pete has indeed found a home here, and we’re grateful for it!

After joining the Coast Guard at 17, Pete was stationed in Boothbay Harbor

Easygoing and seemingly unflappable, CMBG’s Food and Beverage Supervisor, Mike Wirth, has a long history in restaurant management. But like so many of us, where he ended up isn’t where he began. “I went to school for sales and marketing,” he says, “and after interviewing for a job as a sales manager with Hyatt, their food and beverage manager stopped me for an impromptu interview.

That’s where it began, as the Hyatt’s Assistant Executive Steward.”

Mike stayed with the company for a little over a decade, working his way up to Executive Steward and then Banquet Manager. “I traveled all over the country, and it was a great experience, but eventually, I wanted to settle down in one place.”

Coming to Maine, where Mike had spent his early years, “was a bit of a whim,” he laughs. “I was in Aruba, of all places, and happened to pick up a magazine with an ad for Portland. I realized I hadn’t been to Maine in a long time

“I can just go out and harvest this amazing produce, fresh for the literal picking.”

MIKE WIRTH

and thought, why not?” Even though he arrived a few days ahead of a winter storm, he soon decided Maine was where he wanted to stay.

Now living in Bath with his fiancée, Emma, and their three-year-old daughter, Acadia, Mike spends his free time working on his house (“carpentry and DIY—it’s a learning curve,” he laughs) and gardening. Bath also happens to be where he met CMBG’s Creative Culinary Manager, Ginger Dermott.

“I worked with Ginger at her restaurant, Concinnity Deli & Lounge. I came in as a customer and loved what they did there. I ended up prepping food in the kitchen, running it when Ginger had a day off. Later I managed the bar and lounge. When Ginger started working here, she asked if I’d like to come in for an interview; I said I’d love to.”

Luckily for us, he’s still loving it.

“The Burpee Kitchen Garden is amazing—I’ll be low on something in the kitchen and realize I can just go out and harvest all this amazing produce, fresh for the literal picking.” He also loves the creative freedom he has in the kitchen.

“For example, I have this favorite cookie recipe, so today I just made it. That kind of freedom is rare,” he says. “Plus everyone here is so nice. It’s a singular experience to find a group of people so welcoming.”

“I am very pleased to have Mike join our team,” Ginger enthuses. “The energy and dedication that I have seen him bring to his work has been very complimentary to my goals for food at the Gardens. He is simply an outstanding and energetic person! Welcome aboard, Mike!”

And how is it to be reunited with his boss? “Ginger’s amazing, and she loves creating flavorful, seasonal dishes. I’ve seen what she’s capable of, and she can do anything.” (We have a feeling Mike probably can, too.) •

BECOME A MEMBER:

JOIN THE FAMILY!

The global coronavirus pandemic has thrown into sharp relief a renewed appreciation for the importance of a connection to the natural world—during these times, supporting the Gardens through your membership is more crucial than ever.

At CMBG, we consider members part of the family. We benefit from their collective talents, wisdom, and enthusiasm every day—especially in times of crisis. It’s a reciprocal relationship and our members benefit, too, in a variety of ways.

We invite you to select a membership that’s just right for your needs and budget. We hope you’ll sign up today; and remember—memberships make great gifts!

To our members: thank you. These are your gardens.

HOW TO JOIN:

MaineGardens.org/join

GO

207–633–8015

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HAPPENIN G S

Special Programs

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o sh are t h e imp ortance of these unique natural communities, this year we introduce our theme, Wicked Wetland Wonders. In Maine, 25% of our land area consists of wetlands—that’s four times the wetland area of all other New England states combined.

The Gardens alone hosts over 50 wetlands and vernal pools— which is why we’re dedicating an entire year to their exploration. Sign up for a class, enjoy an art exhibition or take a tour, and learn much more about these critical habitats.

GARDENS TOURS MaineGardens.org/programs › Tours

NATIVE PLANT TOUR WITH VANESSA NESVIG

WETLANDS AT THE GARDENS TOUR WITH VANESSA NESVIG

August 25, September 8, and October 6 2–3:30 p.m.

Meet outside the Café Free for members, $10 nonmember

August 26, September 9, and October 7 2–3:30 p.m.

Meet at Visitor Center Free for members, $10 nonmember

This tour explores CMBG’s native plants from fern glens and wetlands to the spruce-fir forest. Please note this tour moves swiftly over hiking trails. Registration is strongly suggested.

Join us for a walk through CMBG’s many wetlands down to the Back River. This tour moves swiftly over our steeper hiking trails. Registration is strongly suggested.

To sign up for programs in this publication, call 207–633–8000 or go online by clicking on the icon. Unless otherwise noted, program fees include Gardens admission.

Preregistration is required.

DOGTOOTH77 (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0), MODIFIED

» Look for this icon marking courses that relate to this year’s theme, Wicked Wetland Wonders.

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Lobelia cardinalis

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WINTER GARDENS BOOK CLUB with Vanessa Nesvig 2–3:30 p.m.

Online $25, Members only

Tuesday, December 8

Greenwood

by Michael Christie Trees are the center of a compelling, multi-generational portrayal of one family. This gripping, well-crafted saga will be difficult to put down! From a plausible depiction of what the world may look like in 20 years, to the history of a family that may never know its truths, this book will capture your heart.

Tuesday, January 12

Now that the garden is put to bed, it’s a great time to get to those books you’ve been wanting to read.

Join the conversation as we discuss four acclaimed books with plants at their core. Please sign up and read the selection, then join our Zoom conversation on the specific date by clicking the link that will be sent to you via email after registration.

MaineGardens.org/programs › Adult Education

“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.”

E.B. WHITE

White Pine: American History and the Tree that Made a Nation

by Andrew Vietze This book about our beloved state tree is more than a collection of facts. It is a beautifully written tale that makes this majestic tree a central character in moments of dramatic American history—monarchy, finance, power struggles, diseases, and massacres. For our club, the award-winning author and Maine state guide, Andrew Vietze, will join us to talk about what motivated him to write this book and how he did his research.

Tuesday, February 9

Flight Behavior

by Barbara Kingsolver This National Humanities Medal-winning author does it again with a story featuring butterflies and unforgettable characters to tackle larger issues. Climate change science is clearly depicted by Kingsolver, who has biology degrees from DePauw and Arizona Universities, while her character development and story weaving demonstrate her mastery of the art of writing.

Tuesday, March 9

Old Herbaceous: A Novel of the Garden

by Reginall Arkell To continue our journey through the Modern Garden Library Series of benchmark garden writing, we’ll delve into the classic from 1950, Reginall Arkell’s Old Herbaceous.

This timeless tale about a rural orphan who grows up to be a famed horticultural judge is funny and wise, full of interesting tidbits. Taking place on an English country estate, it is aptly given an introduction by the famous garden designer Penelope Hobhouse. A must-read for people who love to garden.

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Sprouts MaineGardens.org › Learning › Learning for Families & Children

Come see what we have available for children and families this fall:

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CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

UNLEASH YOUR INNER ARCHITECT

Request a Field Notebook at the front desk when you arrive, and begin a choose-your-ownadventure at the Gardens!

Visit the Fairy House Village on the Shoreland Trail, and let your imagination guide you as you collect building materials and construct dwellings for our tiniest residents!

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FIND INSPIRATION IN THE CHILDREN’S GARDEN The Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden is rife with activities—look for our chalkboards bursting with ideas for you to try.

MATTHEW BEZIAT (CC BY-NC 2.0)

DISCOVER THE AMAZING WORLD OF POLLINATORS

EXPLORE OUR WICKED WETLAND WONDERS

Fascinated by our pollinators? Drop by t he Nat ive Butterfly and Moth House or our Learning Apiary—new this year!

For older children, check out our self-guided wetlands tour, Headlands to the Harbor. Maps are available at the front desk.

CONNECT ONLINE AND FIND MAGIC AT HOME And, as always, drop by our CMBG for Families Facebook page, filled with projects for home and away!

FACEBOOK

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BUDDING NATURALISTS Does your child love nature and want to expand their identification skills? In this special COVID-adapted program geared toward older students, participants can join our specialists for weekly two-and-a-half hour, small-group outdoor sessions. Though programming will take place outdoors, participants are required to wear a face covering at all times. Whether you are homeschooling this year, supplementing remote learning, or just looking for something special to do with your child this fall, join us for dedicated discovery and exploration time with our in-house experts. Session fees cover child and one adult.

MaineGardens.org/programs › Youth and Family Programs

POND EXPLORATIONS with Bridget VerVaet and Erika Huber Thursday, September 10 9:30 a.m.–noon Visitor Center $10 per student/adult pair Ages 10-14

MOMMAMIA (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

APIARY TOUR AND NATIVE BEE WALK with Jade Christensen Thursday, September 17 9:30 a.m.–noon Visitor Center $10 per student/adult pair Ages 10-14

FALL BIRDING with Andy Brand

PUBLIC DOMAIN

Thursday, September 24 8:30–11 a.m.

Visitor Center $10 per student/adult pair Ages 10-14

MAINE TREE ID HIKE AND UNDERSTANDING FALL FOLIAGE with Erika Huber Thursday, October 1 9:30 a.m.–noon Visitor Center $10 per student/adult pair Ages 10-14

DENDROICA CERULEA (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

IDENTIFYING FALL WILDFLOWERS with Melissa Cullina

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Thursday, October 8 9:30 a.m.–noon Visitor Center $10 per student/adult pair Ages 10-14

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FALL EXPLORATIONS Beginning Monday, September 7 Throughout the Gardens $25 per student/adult pair Ages 4-9

Looking for something to do with your kids this fall? Join us for our new selfguided, nature-based program, Fall Explorations, geared toward ages 4-9. Whether you’re homeschooling this year, supplementing remote learning, or just looking for fun hands-on activities for your child, this program is for you!

Beginning September 7, participants can visit the Gardens’ Visitor Center any day during the week to pick up their first installment of activities and supplies (packed in accordance with CDC guidelines for COVID safety). Every week thereafter, new activities will be made available each Monday for a total of five weeks.

Activities take place both at home and at the Gardens and include nature surveys, journaling, games, experiments, art projects, virtual content, and book recommendations. Topics include insect lives, habitats, seeds, trees, and hibernation/migration.

The $25 fee covers the entire series and comes with free Gardens admission for the student/parent pair; participants will receive a special bag to keep filled with tools for investigation and discovery such as binoculars, magnifying glass, clipboard, journal and a bug box.

Botany & Ecology MaineGardens.org/programs › Botany and Ecology

SOLD OUT

A BEACHCOMBER’S BOTANY: Wild Plants of Monhegan’s Seashore with Melissa Cullina and Jenn Pye

Monhegan Museum of Art & History

Wednesday, September 9 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Monhegan Island On-island: $50 member, $60 nonmember; with ferry: $92/$104

In partnership with Monhegan Island Museum of Art and History, we’ll spend a day exploring iconic Monhegan Island, learning about the wild flowering plants of Maine’s rocky beaches and headlands. CMBG’s Research Botanist, Melissa Cullina, will point out various plants, describing the identifying features, traits, and life cycles of each. Both common vernacular and botanical names will be used and discussed. In the afternoon, Jenn Pye, co-director of the museum, will host a private viewing of island artist Geraldine Tam’s breathtaking botanical illustrations. This class, appropriate for beginners, is ideal for any adult interested in beach or headland flora. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, a bag lunch, and a hand lens if you have one. Meet at Pier 8 at 42 Commercial Street in Boothbay Harbor to board the Balmy Days II, or meet at the Monhegan Wharf at 11:00 a.m.

JR P (CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Gardening & Horticulture MaineGardens.org/programs › Gardening & Horticulture

DESIGNING A KITCHEN GARDEN with Ellen Ecker Ogden Saturdays, September 19 and 26 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Online $60 member, $72 nonmember

Grow i ng you r ow n fo o d i s t r u ly rewarding, and a kitchen garden can be a beautiful addition to any property.

Kitchen garden designer and author, Ellen Ecker Ogden, will guide you through the process of designing a vibrant kitchen garden, setting you up for success in the spring. In this comprehensive class, perfect for beginners or those needing a refresher, learn first how to map out your new garden, then transfer your design into reality.

Participants in this class will have the opportunity to take the follow-up class occurring in early spring, 2021, covering everything pertinent to growing a kitchen garden. Ellen’s book, The Complete Kitchen Garden Book, will be available for sale at our Gardenshop or sold online.

GARDENING WITH NEW ENGLAND WETLAND PERENNIALS with Hildy Ellis Tuesday, August 25 9:30–11 a.m.

Online $15 member, $18 nonmember

T h i s c ou rs e w i l l e x pl ore gardening opportunities with those native perennials typically found growing in wetlands. Join Hildy Ellis, botanist for Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation, for this online and combined indoor/outdoor seminar to learn about specific native perennials suitable for human-made garden features such as rain gardens, stream beds, ponds, roadside storm water trenches, and more.

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“Water is the driving force of all nature.”

LEONARDO DA VINCI

PLANTING AND WATERING FOR SUCCESS with Irene Barber Thursday, September 3 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Online $12 member, $15 nonmember

Just in time for fall planting—a discussion of proper planting and watering techniques for new plants! Join Irene Barber and our staff horticulturalists to update your planting repertoire and evaluate pertinent considerations for transplanting new and existing garden plants. These tips will help conserve energy and water and lead to healthy plants and happy gardeners!

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CREATING OUTDOOR SPACES THAT CONNECT CHILDREN TO THE NATURAL WORLD with Nancy Striniste Tuesdays, September 22 and 29 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Online $150 member, $180 nonmember

Now more than ever, in the time of COVID-19, children urgently need safe places to play outdoors. Nature play spaces use tree parts, sculpted earth, stone, plants, soil, and water to create adventurous, imaginative, magical spaces for play.

Spaces like CMBG’s Fairy House Village help connect children to the natural world.

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In this two-day intensive online course, we will think deeply about the ways that we, as parents, grandparents, educators, caregivers, and designers, can create rich, meaningful, and nearby nature spaces for children. The course will consist of a combination of lecture, presentation, and application, including images of exemplary children’s environments, active hands-on investigation of an outdoor area of your choosing, and applying design principles to your space.

Through pre-class readings, we will explore theoretical frameworks for understanding children’s drive to connect with nature and consider how the natural world supports healthy human development. We will examine our own relationship to the out-of-doors and how that informs what we offer and provide for children.

Students will carry out their own documentation, analysis, and assessment of a real outdoor space. Working in teams or individually, students will develop design directions and a sketch plan for enhancing their site’s potential for children’s play and exploration.

Led by Nancy Striniste, founder of EarlySpace and author of Nature Play at Home: Creating Outdoor Spaces that Connect Children to the Natural World, this course will give families, neighborhoods, church groups, educators, and designers the tools needed to understand, plan, and create a backyard, churchyard, schoolyard, or community park nature-play space.

Participants are encouraged to join the class in teams of 2–4 people so that, together, they can advocate for and implement the vision created in the class. Limited to 10 teams.

PRUNING: “FALL”ING INTO WINTER with Lesley Paxson and Brent McHale

AUTUMN GARDENING: Watch Nature at Work with Irene Barber

GROWING DAHLIAS: Harvesting and Propagating with Courtney Locke

Saturday, October 3 9:30–11 a.m.

Online $15 member, $18 nonmember

Saturday, October 3 1:30–3 p.m.

Online $15 member, $18 nonmember

Saturday, October 10 9:30–11 a.m.

Online $15 member, $18 nonmember

For certain plants, autumn and early winter offer another pruning opportunity. Join CMBG horticulturists Lesley Paxson and Brent McHale to review material covered in the spring class, discuss the herbaceous plants that lend themselves to pruning, and virtually tour the Gardens, examining good candidates for seasonal attention.

No need to tax your physical well-being.

Let nature lend a hand in the autumn garden and, in doing so, biodiversity will thrive. With autumn comes a significant decline in insect and pollinator populations, including native bees and birds. As gardeners, what can we do to encourage populations and stave off noxious invaders? Class will address why our autumn preparations are so important and identify ways to help you budget your time and labor while “closing down the garden.” We’ll also identify how proper gardening practices embrace biodiversity, leading to the increased health and wellbeing of our beloved plants.

Come virtually see CMBG’s dahlias in bloom, and judge your favorites firsthand while learning about varieties new to you. This class will focus on how to grow, harvest, and store dahlias properly in order to keep your favorites for many years. When you love a dahlia variety and want more of it, there’s no need to spend extra money. Courtney Locke, staff horticulturist and enthralled dahlia lover, will cover the best methods of harvesting, dividing, and storing dahlia tubers for the winter months. Students will also learn about how to propagate dahlias with a live demonstration.

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CERTIFICATE IN NATIVE PLANTS AND ECOLOGICAL HORTICULTURE MaineGardens.org/programs › Certificate in Native Plants and Ecological Horticulture

“The pine tree seems to listen…”

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE

Classes are open to all, though priority will be given to certificate enrollees. » Classes that earn credit in the Certificate in Native Plants and Ecological Horticulture are identified by this icon. Classes are open to all.

SELECTING NATIVE WOODY PLANTS FOR THE MAINE GARDEN with Dan Jaffe Wednesdays, September 9 and September 16 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Online $130 member, $155 nonmember

In c r e a s e y o u r knowledge and appreciation of North American woody plants useful in Northeastern landscapes.

We’ll cover the motivations and philosophy behind using these plants in the garden and recommend species, cultivars, and sources for materials.

Dan Jaffe will introduce students to native trees and shrubs for different horticultural settings, based on their habitat preferences in nature. This online class includes two half-day sessions along with additional student fieldwork, such as identification and plant-selection assessment, as assigned. Dan will be available to students during specific “office hours.”

Right: The white pine (Pinus strobus) is a Maine native tree. Learn more about the white pine in this winter’s book club (page 31).

Here, a needle bud emerges.

USANPN PHENOPHASES, EGDENNY (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

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ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN with Irene Barber and Lisa Cowan Wednesday-Friday, September 30-October 2 9:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m.

Online $150 member, $180 nonmember

Presented online with independent s tu d e nt d e s i g n wor k b e t we e n sessions, this course focuses on landscape design inspired by, and inclusive of, nature pertinent to ecological systems throughout New England. Landscape architect Lisa Cowan will introduce essential design principles through the lens of natural systems, and landscape designer and horticulturist Irene Barber will guide students through the process of identifying and incorporating the components that achieve an ecological landscape design.

Students will critically examine naturally occurring systems that influence design decisions, practice environmental site analysis, and design conceptual plot plans for a selected site (i.e. student’s home landscape). Class content will include ecological materials, native plant selection, planning for succession and transition, permeability vs. compaction, and more.

Students will have brief assignments to complete between sessions. Our spring course, Basics of Garden Design, or equivalent experience, is recommended as a prerequisite.

The Haney Hillside Garden is an example of the principles of ecological landscape design at work.

INVASIVE PLANTS: Issues, Identification & Ecology with Ted Elliman

Plants such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) can become invasive and crowd out native plants like cattails.

Wednesdays, October 7 and 14 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Online $130 member, $155 nonmember

Join Ted Elliman to find out why invasive plant species have been getting such bad lip service from botany, ecology, horticulture, and conservation professionals. In this two-day online course, students will learn the basic ecological problems surrounding these aggressive and tenacious plants, the complicated (and sometimes political) issues surrounding invasive plant species, and the process by which a plant is labeled “invasive” in the first place. Finally, through images of specimens and independent fieldwork, students will familiarize themselves with some of New England’s most common invasive species. The instructor will set up individual student office hours for Q&A regarding findings.

TIMOTHY VALENTINE (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

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Wellness

Garden Crafts

MaineGardens.org/programs › Wellness

MaineGardens.org/programs › Garden Crafts

MAKING HERBAL TEAS with Jennifer Dunlap

LANDSCAPING FOR FLORALS: Your Yard as a Vase with Diane Walden

Saturday, September 12 9:30–11 a.m.

Online $15 member, $18 nonmember

Thursday, September 10 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Tea is a beverage that graces many global celebrations and special occasions, from peace treaties to spiritual celebrations, from mindfulness sessions to social gatherings. Not only is tea delicious, it also offers many health benefits, such as stress reduction, increased metabolism, and boosted immunity. While the Camellia plant is the shrub from which tea is most commonly harvested, we can make flavorful teas from many of Maine’s wild and cultivated plants. Join herbalist and horticulturist Jennifer Dunlap in this online class to learn how to make herbal teas for specific purposes, whether for relaxation, joint support, or the simple enjoyment of a good cup of tea.

Online

$15 member, $18 nonmember

Would you like your home landscape or garden to become one large floral arrangement from which you can pick and enjoy on a smaller scale? Join Diane Walden to learn which plants provide exquisite floral and foliar appeal both in your landscape and your personal compositions, all while making an arrangement to take home.

After all, if the display looks good in a vase, then shouldn’t it look just as good outside in the garden? There are cultivation variables to consider, and Diane will share from her own experience where—and with whom—certain plants are grown in order to create a dynamic and healthy outdoor garden design.

TINY TERRARIUMS with Brent McHale Saturday, October 17 9:30–11 a.m.

Online

$15 member, $18 nonmember

Autumn is a perfect time to create a terrarium! From the comfort of your own home, join our staff horticulturist and terrarium enthusiast, Brent McHale, to compose your own mini garden under glass. Mixed natural features like twigs, river rocks, sand, and blue glass become miniature landscapes—indoor green oases perfect for the New England winter.

Brent will present a host of terrariums for inspiration, including those that support both flora and fauna. A materials list will be sent several days before class begins.

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Butterfly houses like these in the Gardens can help provide possible places for butterflies to roost and add an element of fun and whimsy to the garden.

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Botanical Arts & Photography MaineGardens.org/programs › Botanical Arts and Photography

PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB SOLD OUT

Every other Thursday, through September 17 7–9 a.m. $25 members only Resource Room and Gardens

Roam the Gardens before daily visitors arrive and enjoy early-bird photography class registration.

Sold out—join us next spring.

CREATIVE LANDSCAPES IN WATERCOLOR with Erica Qualey Friday–Sunday, September 11–13 4–6 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Online and in the Gardens $170 member, $195 nonmember

Watercolor is a fun, beautiful medium, and, with basic skills, you can produce rich and illuminating paintings. In this class, we will dig into some core techniques, focusing on integrating water into landscapes.

Together, we will try our hand at capturing light and reflection.

After meeting virtually on Friday afternoon for instruction and demonstrations, students will spend the following two days at the Gardens, painting en plein air at a safe social distance. Erica will visit with each student, offering plenty of individual instruction. Masks will be required during these one-on-one sessions. At the end of Sunday, we will gather at a safe distance to share our work and discuss our experience.

Individuals who would like to participate, but who are unable to meet at the Gardens in person, will be provided with a collection of reference photos and a scheduled time to review your work with Erica virtually. A supplies list will be mailed in advance. Rain dates are September 18–20.

“I think of myself as an explorer who has spent his life on a long voyage of discovery.”

PHOTOGRAPHER PAUL STRAND

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Erica Qualey, The Lily Bridge

DRAWING WETLAND PLANTS WITH COLORED PENCILS with Kate McGillivary Monday–Wednesday, September 21–23 4–6 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday–Wednesday Online and in the Gardens $170 member, $195 nonmember

Learn and enhance your skills in the splendid medium of colored pencil—an opportunity perfect for those who love to draw, paint, and study botanical specimens. Class will begin with basics like the proper way to hold a pencil then progress to cover learning to make your pencil drawing look like a watercolor painting.

With a concentration on wetland plants as subject matter, there will be an online instruction and demonstration on Monday afternoon. Tuesday and Wednesday, we will be at the Gardens drawing in plein air, at a safe social distance. Kate will circulate among students to offer individual instruction; masks will be required during these periods of interaction. On the final afternoon, the class will gather safely to share their work and discuss their experience.

A supplies list will be mailed in advance. Rain dates are September 28–30.

Artwork by Kate McGillivary

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Art Exhibits MaineGardens.org › Visit Our Garden Art in the Gardens

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”

HENRI MATISSE

MAINE ORCHIDS

by Katy Gannon-Janelle Through October Kerr Hall

Katy Gannon-Janelle earned her Certificate of Botanical Arts at CMBG in October, 2019. She chose to feature orchids native to Maine in her final project. Katy explains, “The hunt for orchids became as much of a challenge as the painting was! I learned to be a better artist, botanical student, and observer of the natural beauty that surrounds us here in Maine.”

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Orchid by Katy Gannon-Janelle

FLOWERS AND FAIRIES

by Helen Farnham

SEAGRASS AND RIVERBEDS

by Jeffrey Fitzgerald

Through October Market

Through October Café

Helen Farnham is a Maine native whose stunning, colorful needle-felted work is inspired by the beauty found in her own backyard.

Jeffrey Fitzgerald lives in York, Maine.

His abstracted paintings evoke the fervor and emotion in nature with which we connect.

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SCULPTURE by Dan West Through October Throughout the Gardens

Dan West’s bird sculptures will be nesting in our pond throughout this season. He uses driftwood and other found materials for the bases of his exquisite bronze sculptures.

SCULPTURE

by Meg Brown Payson Through October Throughout the Gardens

Meg Brown Payson’s dye-sublimation printed aluminum sculptures are simultaneously artistic and scientific—often reminiscent of patterns found in the natural world.

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SEE WHAT HALF A MILLION LIGHTS DO TO A GARDEN!

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G A R D E N S To ensure the safety of our guests as we continue and honor this seasonal tradition, Gardens Aglow will be a drive-through experience this year. Dates and other details are unfolding.

Please visit GardensAglow.org for more details as they emerge.

GardensAglow.org GO

For more winter fun, visit:

BOOTHBAY LIGHTS.COM S H O P • D I N E • S PA R K L E

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Our Instructors

IRENE BARBER coordinates CMBG’s Horticultural Therapy Program and Adult Horticulture Education for gardeners and professionals in the landscape industry. Irene has worked at the Gardens since 2010 and started full-time in 2018 to focus on education and horticultural therapy. She still enjoys consulting landscape clients under her business, Greenscapes Design LLC. LISA COWAN, PLA, SITES AP is the principal and founder of Studioverde, a leading naturebased sustainable design consulting landscape architecture practice. Lisa has successfully led teams on complex projects resulting in collaborative design solutions that achieved multiple economic, environmental, and social benefits. She serves on the Executive Committee for the Boston Society of Landscape Architects and is an officer in ASLA’s Sustainable Design Professional Network. H MELISSA CULLINA is the Research Botanist for Coastal Ma i n e B ot a n i c a l G a rd e n s .

Formerly a botanist with the Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Cullina specializes in aquatic and coastal botany, field identification, and rare species conservation.

JENNIFER DUNLAP is a staff horticulturist at CMBG where she spends her time cultivating the Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden. A native of Brunswick, Maine, she has a degree in horticulture and landscape design and holds a certificate in Western Herbal Medicine. After gardening in the Pacific Northwest and Colorado for 12 years, she is happily settled back in Maine raising her young sons alongside a bountiful vegetable and herb garden.

TED ELLIMAN has been engaged in botanical work in New England and the Northeast for more than thirty years. Most recently, he was a botanist and plant ecologist for the Native Plant Trust in Framingham, Massachusetts, where he conducted botanical inventories, natural community surveys, invasive species control programs, and helped publish Wildflowers of New England.

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HILDY ELLIS is the Program Manager of Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District in Rockport, Maine. She received a B.S. in horticulture from the University of Maine. Before taking on her present position, Hildy was the education coordinator at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

DAN JAFFE is a photographer, aut h or, an d prop a g at or of native species. He is the co-author of Native Plants for New England Gardens, has developed an extensive native plant horticultural database, and has years of nursery management experience. He earned a degree in botany from the University of Maine, Orono, and an advanced certificate in Native Plant Horticulture and Design from Native Plant Trust (formally New England Wild Flower Society). He is the Horticulturalist and Propagator for Norcross Wildlife Sanctuar y in Wales, MA, and is c ur rent ly building his own home-scale homestead, growing and foraging numerous edible species, preserving and cooking whenever possible, and raising small animals.

COURTNEY LOCKE, Coastal Maine B otanical Gardens horticulturist, has been a plant addict since her childhood when her mother instilled in her a love of lilacs, peonies, and dahlias.

Before coming to CMBG nine years ago, she and her husband owned and operated a small ornamental plant nursery in Woolwich, growing and selling perennials, ornamental trees and shrubs, herbs, and heirloom tomatoes at both MidCoast region farmers’ markets and their nursery.

KATE McGILLIVARY discovered botanical art and colored pencils while attending Denver Botanic Gardens’ School of Botanical Art and Illustration where she graduated with a certificate of completion. Every winter, Kate sits at her drawing table and depicts many of the plants she nourishes in the landscaping season or discovers while traveling. Kate’s chosen medium of colored pencils fulfills her desire to capture the wonderful, fine details of plants, allowing her layer upon layer, making it seem as if one could pluck the subject right off of the paper.

BRENT McHALE is a member of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens horticulture staff. He is in charge of the Café entrance gardens, the Great Lawn, the Arbor, and the Terrace Loop garden areas.

Brent first got into gardening with the help of his grandmother, followed by a lot of selfstudy. A few years later, he got a job working below the owner at a greenhouse operation.

This past May, he received his B.S. degree in horticulture from Morrisville State College in Central NY, followed by an internship at CMBG. Brent is very good with ornamentals and loves to grow unusual plants.

VA N E S S A N E S V I G i s t h e Interpretation and Exhibits C oordinator at the C oastal Maine Botanical Gardens and is both an artist and a garden w r it e r. Hav i n g t au g ht p a s t e l a n d oi l painting for over ten years, Vanessa brings a love of being outdoors and experience helping people translate the visual outdoor world. Coming to the Gardens from the Portland Museum of Art, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Art History from Boston University and is a professional painter w ho has exhibited widely throug hout New England.

ELLEN ECKER OGDEN is the author of six books on kitchen garden design and a frequent presenter at botanical gardens, garden clubs, and national symposiums. She is a freelance writer and blogs at ellenogden.com. Ellen’s career as a gardener, designer and garden wr iter includes features in national publications such as Martha Stewart Living, Horticulture magazine, Better Homes and Gardens and PBS’s Victory Garden. A Vermont resident, Ellen knows first-hand the challenges and benefits of growing in New England.

LESLEY PAXSON is a member of the Gardens’ horticulture staff. She hails from greater Philadelphia, where she worked for almost 20 years as a landscape and floral designer before beginning her own design-build business. Her goal to bring people closer to nature is achieved through her sustainable landscape designs.

At CMBG, Lesley manages and makes garden design decisions for the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses.

E L I Z A B E T H P OT T E R i s a teacher and poet residing in MidCoast Maine. Her latest collection of poetry, T’ai Chi of Leaves, was released by Moon Pie Press in September, 2016. Her poems have been widely published in literary journals locally and nationally, most recently in On the Issues magazine and Yankee magazine. Elizabeth is a certified Amherst Wr ite rs an d Ar t i st s wor k sh op l e a d e r (amherstwriters.com) and has been leading creative writing workshops for all ages for the past nineteen years.

JENN PYE is the Co-Director and Chief Curator at the Monhegan Museum of Art & History. Jenn has been part of the Museum’s curatorial staff s i n c e 2 0 0 2 . S h e l i v e s y e a r- r o u n d o n Monhegan, and for the last 10 years has been focused largely on sustainable collections organization and management, balancing the preservation needs of the Museum’s collections with the environmental and economic impact of achieving conservation conditions.

ERIC A QUALEY lives in MidCoast Maine and works as a watercolor artist and illustrator. She received her BFA from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has exhibited throughout New England and is a member of the New England Watercolor Society. See examples of her work at ericaqualeyart.com.

NANCY STRINISTE is the founder and principal designer at EarlySpace, LLC. She has a background as both a landscape designer and an early childhood educator. She teaches at Antioch New England University in their naturebased early childhood graduate certificate program and serves on the leadership team of NoVA Outside.

DIANE WALDEN is a horticulturist at CMBG. Her beautiful garlands have graced many ribbon-cutting celebrations, including those for the Haney Hillside Garden, the Bosarge Family Education Center, and the Fairy House Village. She creates many of the arrangements and container plantings throughout the Gardens that visitors so admire.

FIND NATURE IN ART SEAGRASS AND RIVERBEDS The work of Jeffrey Fitzgerald is on display through October.

CO A S TA L M A I N E B OTA N I C A L G A R D E N S / M A I N E G A R D E N S . O R G

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August 2020 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

Gardening with New England Wetland Perennials 9:30–11 a.m.

— Native Plant Tour 2–3:30 p.m.

30 The Caterpillar Lab Residency 9:30 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m.

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THURSDAY

31 The Caterpillar Lab Residency 9:30 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m.

CMBG Magazine / AU T U M N

2020

Wetlands at the Gardens Tour 2–3:30 p.m.

The Caterpillar Lab Residency 9:30 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m.

Artwork by Helen Farnham

The Caterpillar Lab Residency 9:30 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m.

The Caterpillar Lab Residency 9:30 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m.

ART EXHIBITS: All exhibits run through October. üF LOWERS AND FAIRIES by Helen Farnham ü MAINE ORCHIDS by Katy Gannon-Janelle ü SEAGRASS AND RIVERBEDS by Jeffrey Fitzgerald ü SCULPTURE by Dan West ü SCULPTURE by Meg Brown Payson

September 2020 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

1

THURSDAY

2

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

3

4

5

10

11

12

Photography Club 7–9 a.m.

— Planting and Watering for Success

4:30–5:30 p.m.

6

7

8

A Beachcomber’s Botany

9

9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

— Selecting Native Woody Plants for the Maine Garden

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Fall Explorations for ages 4–9 begin.

13

Native Plant Tour 2–3:30 p.m.

14

— Wetlands Tour 2–3:30 p.m.

15

Making Herbal Teas

Pond Explorations 9:30 a.m.–noon

— Landscaping for Florals

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

16

17

9:30–11 a.m.

Creative Landscapes in Watercolor 4–6 p.m.

18

— Creative Landscapes in Watercolor 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

19

Photography Club 7–9 a.m.

Creative Landscapes in Watercolor

Selecting Native Woody Plants for the Maine Garden

10 a.m.–4 p.m.

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

20

21

22

— Budding Naturalists: Apiary Tour and Native Bee Walk 9:30 a.m.–noon

23

Creating Outdoor Spaces that Connect Children to the Natural World

Designing a Kitchen Garden

24

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

25

26

9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Drawing Wetland Plants with Colored Pencils 4–6 p.m.

27

— Drawing Wetland Plants with Colored Pencils 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

28

29 Creating Outdoor Spaces that Connect Children to the Natural World 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Drawing Wetland Plants with Colored Pencils 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Budding Naturalists: Fall Birding

8:30–11 a.m.

Designing a Kitchen Garden

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

30 Ecological Landscape Design

9:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m.

Don’t miss our Native Butterfly & Moth House.

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October 2020 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

October is all about color at the Gardens!

THURSDAY Budding Naturalists: Maine Tree ID Hike and Understanding Fall Foliage

FRIDAY

1

SATURDAY

2 “Fall”ing into Winter 9:30–11 a.m.

9:30 a.m.–noon

— Ecological Landscape Design

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

4

5

6

7 Invasive Plants: Issues, Identification & Ecology

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Native Plant Tour 2–3:30 p.m.

11

12

13

— Wetlands at the Gardens Tour 2–3:30 p.m.

14

8

Ecological Landscape Design

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Budding Naturalists: Identifying Fall Wildflowers

1:30–3 p.m.

10 Growing Dahlias: Harvesting and Propagating

9:30 a.m.–noon

15

— Autumn Gardening: Watch Nature at Work

9

9:30–11 a.m.

16

Invasive Plants: Issues, Identification & Ecology

CLOSING DAY

3

17

Tiny Terrariums 9:30–11 a.m.

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

HALLOWEEN

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ESCAPE TO OUR WOODLAND TRAILS

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

LUCY MAUDE MONTGOMERY, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

CM BG R AN K ED #1 PU B LI C G AR D E N I N T H E U. S . AN D #1 AT TR AC TI O N I N M AI N E BY