In Which we meet the Guardians of the Seeds

It was brutally hot on the day we went to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens to meet the Trolls.  

I will admit, I overexerted myself walking in the heat.  But if you'll recall, last time I visited the Gardens, it was dreary and raining (Early Blog Installment Weirdness disclaimer).  I explored all over the northeastern side of the Gardens and it was well worth it.  Not only did I get to see my favorite gardens in the sun, it turns out that this is where the Guardians of the Seeds are hiding out.

 

As you can see in the first photo, the Guardians appear deceptively small at first.  But up close, it's like standing next to a Redwood tree or a Tyrannosaurus skeleton: they are massive and magnificent.  I made sure to get pictures of them without people, but I think the White Pine Roskva is holding here gives you some perspective.  She's huge!

The Guardians of the Seeds were created by Thomas Dambo, as part of what he calls his "Sculpture Fairy Tale", The Great Story Of The Little People & The Giant Trolls.  The installation is worldwide and there are potentially a family of his trolls near you.  They are created entirely out of recycled wood and are beautifully integrated into the landscape. 

While posted rules do not allow people (or adults at least) to climb on them, they do invite interaction.  Indeed, the two smaller (relatively speaking) trolls practically demand hugs.  Look at them!

The Fairy Garden Village sits near one of the younger trolls, and here visitors are encouraged to create their own art out of found forest materials, though on a much smaller scale.  And these are very traditional Maine coast Fairy Houses: they're meant to camouflage into the landscape, made of only found natural objects, and no dollhouse furniture or toys and certainly nothing made of plastic.  You build with what you find on the ground.  The results are adorable and I like the abstract one in the last picture.

The gardens are a spectacular place altogether and here are more highlights, including an unusual vertical garden, a sculpture by Nancy Schön (who also created the famous Make Way for Ducklings statue in the Boston Public Gardens), and beautiful water gardens (and bonus frog).

Pemaquid Point and Eastern Egg Rock Studies

We spent a few days on the Maine Midcoast recently, and I carved out some time to do these landscapes and sketches. All of these are watercolor on recycled watercolor Sketchbook paper. Head over to Flickr to see the bigger versions.



Pemaquid Point Lighthouse



I feel like, with it's lighthouse overlooking a sea as angry as an old man trying to send back soup in a diner, it's "locals only" art gallery and quirky-as-all-get-out gift shop, Pemaquid Point is Maine as imagined by people who do not live in it.



Still, I'm also a sucker for an iconic rocky coast dotted with little islands, like this one in nearby New Harbor.



I was also taken by the surreal world just underneath the piers.

But seabirds are what we came to see. So here are the residents of Eastern Egg Rock including the iconic Puffins and a swimming Bald Eagle:





I'd highly recommend Hardy Boat Cruises' Puffin Safari.  The sea is rough, but the journey to and from the island is quick and the field biologist hosts, many of whom were directly involved in the ongoing Puffin and Arctic Tern conservation project, are informative and entertaining.

The (Rainy) Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

It was pouring rain by the time we made it to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. This fact did not dampen my spirits one bit. Still, my visit (we and the other tourists were allowed to explore the walking paths for free due to the weather) felt a tad rushed. Ah well.


I did get a lot of exploring in. I made it to the Gardens' two most famous features: the Garden of the Five Senses and the massive, massive Children's Garden. You know, I think the weather worked out all right. No crowds.



The Children's Garden feature this lovely stone labyrinth with rock sculptures that kind of remind me of tyrannosaurus skulls. No, really! Here's a closer look:



So cute!



The Children's Garden also featured this gorgeous little pond.



With resident Pitcher Plants! I didn't know they could grow this far north!



The Garden of the Five Senses is a riot of amazing scents. They also feature plants with unusual textures and shapes.



Some kind of unusually-petaled annual, I think.



A virtual forest of sweet Bee Balm.



And would you ever guess that these were artichokes left to their own devices instead of being harvested? My gosh, I need to grow these next year. I love plants that freak out the neighbors.



Sadly, I didn't get to see the famous Fairy Houses; they're on the tram tours, which were cancelled for the rest of the day. But they did have a few on display in the visitor's center. Even better, the Children's Garden had a giant walk-through one. (Which I forgot to photograph.)

And now, random photos from the rest of our week with our Florida relatives:



Linda Bean's Freeport restaurant. Oh deary me, I might have to warn people about this place. See, Linda's "secret recipe" for lobster rolls is to just dump Dill over everything. If this is the "authentic New England cuisine" available at EPCOT's food and wine fest, please don't assume this is what our food really tastes like. Thank you.



"Boom-boom baby! / Wanna get in my Mercedes? / Wanna be a little SAIL-fish! / Be a little SAIL-fish!"



Animal skulls on display in Mangy Moose.



I can't tell if this is adorable or terrifying.



This, however, is terrifying. Straight-up terrifying. I went inside and looked at it. It is indeed exactly what it sounds like: vanilla ice cream with chunks of arthropod innards in it. I didn't taste it; they couldn't pay me to do so. This is some "Fear Factor" sh*t right here. A line that I didn't even know existed has been crossed. Twice. With bulldozers.

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Art of the Day!

Foggy Boothbay Landscape.

Boothbay Harbor Weekend

Boothbay Harbor is what people who have never visited coastal New England imagine the whole place to be like. Not that I blame them; the place is gorgeous and charming. And filled to busting with lighthouses, pine trees, and the occasional giant robot.



Shops along the harbor.



The beautiful rocky coastline held together with conifers.



Eiders lounging on the rocks.



Auks! Black Guillemots I think! It's hard to tell because they are clearly starting to moult into their winter plumage.



Obligatory lighthouse up close photo.



Obligatory lighthouse out in the distance photo.



An evocative look at the sea and sky.



And the stoney beaches in the rain squall that started on our departure day. (More on that in the next post.)



I should have this kind of dedication. What is wrong with me that I don't?



As I mentioned before, lots of lobsters were consumed during our trip. I... think I'm done with eating outside the tetrapod group for a long time after this.

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Art of the Day!

Impressions de Boothbay

The Umbrella Cover Museum: Greatest Attraction in New England

It isn't every day that my sister and I get to share in the most truly incredible experience either of us have had in a long time.



Dear reader, you have to believe me when I say that I have seen the single most amazing thing ever. And that thing is a small building (which itself is, by the way, on a tiny island accessible only by ferry) containing a desk, an accordion, and seven hundred and forty umbrella covers and the truly incredible person who has collected them all.

It's the Umbrella Cover Museum, created and curated by the inimitable Nancy 3 Hoffman. Yes, 3. I was in no position to question it, neither are you. The museum is housed in this building (really a couple of small rooms within said building) and it has to be seen to be believed. Or disbelieved, since so few people will get that you aren't joking about all this when you try to explain it later.

And the Umbrella Cover Museum is no joke. It's the most adorably/eerily sincere attraction in the whole area. Upon entering, Nancy takes you on a whirlwind guided tour through all her umbrella covers and sheaths. She encourages participation, leading your attention to the interactive exhibits lining the walls. And she is mighty proud of the handmade donated umbrella covers, including this one made of some bulletproof material it's creator just happened to have handy:



And then, just when things couldn't get any more amazing, she breaks out her accordion and sings.


Nancy and her amazing collection. The Museum celebrates the mundane and accepts donations from around the world.

As far as other strange Peaks Island things...



Every building on the Island had a name. Some are poignant, some are cute. And some are... like this one.

And while we are on the subject of amusing signage...



Haha, yes.



And good old slightly obnoxious New England humor. Thus concludes our Peaks Island odyssey.

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Art of the Day!

Consider this a teaser for the next trip report.