New England
These are gardens I’ve been to in the New England states and would recommend as being worthy of a visit. I haven’t been to many up there… yet.
I’d highly advise double-checking on hours before visiting since not all are open every day or year round.
COASTAL MAINE BOTANICAL GARDENS
Location: 132 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay, Maine, along the Atlantic coast in mid-Maine, 1 hour northeast of Portland.
The Alfond Children’s at Maine Botanical.
Overview: Amazing story behind the creation of this young (2007) public garden. A group of residents thought Maine needed a botanical garden, and so they tenaciously pursued the idea, even using their own homes as collateral to buy the land. The result is equally amazing as this garden is only partway into its long-range master plan.
Highlights: Great choice of site gives a mix of coastal land, wooded shoreline trails, a hillside for a naturalistic shade garden, and level ground for a selection of theme gardens. The Alfond Children’s Garden is big and distinctively Maine-flavored with clever exploratory features. The Lerner Garden of the Five Senses is a walk-through, colorful garden with a large central pond. Other areas include a perennial and rose garden, a Meditation Garden, a Burpee Kitchen Garden of edibles, and a woodland garden.
George’s Take: What a gem! And this is only the beginning. If these folks can keep working on the master plan with the same quality and creativity as the initial gardens, CMBG will rank up there with the top-tier botanical gardens in New York, St. Louis and Chicago… and dare I say, Longwood. See pictures I took at Coastal Maine in a Photo Gallery from a trip there in 2014.
Contact info: www.mainegardens.org 207-633-8000
TOWER HILL BOTANIC GARDEN
Location: 11 French Drive, Boylston, Mass., about 10 miles northeast of Worcester in central Massachusetts.
The Systematic Garden at Tower Hill.
Overview: Set on a hill with scenic views of the New England countryside, Tower Hill covers 132 acres featuring woodland trails, open space and 17 themed gardens. It also serves as the headquarters of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, which founded the public garden in 1986 on what had been farmland.
Highlights: The Systematic Garden is one of the most interesting of the gardens, featuring a fountain-adorned collection of 26 beds arranged by plant families. You’d never guess some of these plants are related to one another. Other areas include an heirloom apple orchard, a cottage garden, an orangerie, a vegetable garden, a winter garden, a wildlife garden, a garden for those with mobility impairments, and a “secret garden” built on the lowest terrace below an impressive stone staircase. Nice garden shop, too.
George’s Take: This one is still relatively young and working on growing. It’s a peaceful setting for a public garden and has a good mix of plants and theme areas. The Systematic Garden is the one that stands out from the crowd to me.
Contact info: www.towerhillbg.org 508-869-6111