Spring is blooming! Please join us as we visit the Botanical Gardens in Boothbay! Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is a people’s garden, a grassroots effort that began as a casual conversation between friends and evolved into the largest botanical garden in New England. Located on more than 300 acres along the MidCoast, the Gardens is a true Maine experience. Explore all the gardens have to offer:

Butterfly House | Dahlia Garden | Bee Exhibit | Great Lawn | Founder’s Grove | Lerner Garden of the Five Senses | Slater Forest Pond | Cleaver Lawn | Arbor Garden | Burpee Kitchen Garden | Bibby & Harold Alfond Children’s Garden | Haney Hillside Garden | Vayo Meditation Garden | Fairy House Village | Shoreland Trail & The Landing | Giles Rhododendron & Perennial Garden

What’s in bloom in May? Narcissus (daffodils) add their bright, colorful blooms throughout the Gardens. Hellebores still put on a show. Additional bulbs such as Hyacinthus, Muscari, and Chionodoxa are also painting the ground with shades of pink, blue, yellow, and white. Be sure to check out the soft yellow flowers of Corylopsis glabrescens ‘Longwood Chimes’ in the Alfond Children’s Garden; they smell really yummy! And many small leaved rhododendrons are in bloom in the Giles Rhododendron and Perennial Garden.

Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, bring a water bottle, sunblock never hurts! Pathways in the central gardens are all ADA compliant, and ramps are available anywhere there are stairs. The Lerner Garden of the Five Senses features sensory-stimulating plants and areas dedicated to each of the five senses. They supply wheelchairs and scooters on a first-come, first-served basis. Shuttle Stops - Free 10-passenger shuttles offer service around the perimeter of the Gardens. They run every 20-25 minutes, with numerous hop-on, hop-off stops—guests should be aware that there is still walking required between shuttle stops and nearby destinations. We try to accommodate as many guests as possible, but the shuttle does get busy during high-traffic periods.

After our visit, we’ll head to the Tugboat Inn in Boothbay Harbor for a late lunch! Tugboat Inn’s waterfront Boothbay Harbor restaurant is a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. It was built around the original superstructure of the historic tugboat “Maine.” Don’t forget to climb up and visit the original wheelhouse.

Choose from:

Haddock Monhegan – Baked with seasoned crumbs and lemon butter Or Chicken Pot Pie – Tender chicken with mushrooms, carrots and onions Our lunch is accompanied by chef’s choice of side dish, dessert (Maine Blueberry Pie), and non-alcoholic beverage.

9:00 a.m. Depart from Lawrence Jr. High School parking lot, 7 School Street, Fairfield

10:30 a.m. (approximately) Arrive at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

1:30 p.m. Depart Gardens and head to the Tugboat Inn for a late lunch

3:30 p.m. Depart Tugboat Inn and head home