Garden tours abound Georges River Land Trust sponsors viewing in midcoast area

‘Tis the season for garden tours throughout Maine. Some of our state’s most interesting and unique gardens will be on view during these colorful months of summer. One fabulous tour in the midcoast region is “Gardens in the Watershed,” sponsored by the Georges River Land Trust. This year’s tour will feature seven gardens in the lower watershed and will be held 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, rain or shine.

The gardens of Louise and Neville Lewis, Susann and George Conover, and Helen Wisdom will be featured in the town of Cushing. The Lewis’ garden overlooks Maple Juice Cove. An outdoor model railroad running through a pine grove and a display of bonsai arranged around the garden add interest. The Conover garden highlights native and old-fashioned plants, including hollyhocks, delphiniums and roses. The gardens of Helen Wisdom represent a collaboration between the owner and Gregory Moore and Kathleen Starrs of Hands and Knees Gardens. The Wisdom gardens contain climbing roses, extensive herbs and a blue border with lavender, nepeta, baptisia and hydrangea. The central focus of the garden is a Celtic cross planted with numerous perennials and annuals.

Across the St. Georges River are the gardens of Margaret Rode in Tenants Harbor. Rode’s home dates from the 1880s and is located right on the coast. Rode’s husband, cabinetmaker Kevin Solsten, helps some, but she does most of the gardening herself. Rode has a full-time career as a social worker and gardens mainly on weekends.

Rode said the backbone of her landscape frames the more cultivated elements of her gardens. “There are some natural rock formations, old apple trees and old rugosa roses,” she said in a recent interview. “I try to use what is there and add in a few things I like to have.”

Flowers and herbs, especially daylilies and old-fashioned dahlias are among her favorites.

“There’s always a new garden space to create every year,” Rode said.

“Growing and dividing perennials helps me fill them in. Mostly what I really like about my garden is that I don’t plan it until I’m out there walking around. I have given up on creating a master plan in winter and then following it at planting time.”

Also in Tenants Harbor, the gardens of Nina and Giorgio Fabbri feature a small fruit orchard and raised beds. A unique birdhouse created from a discarded library cabinet graces the garden. Pete and Carol Cox’s gardens contain many roses and favorite perennial and annual flowers. The property of Nan and David Corbin overlooks Turkey Cove and their gardens are not only decorative, but a place of spiritual healing and learning. In addition to a large formal garden, there is a rock garden, a shaded woodland area, a kitchen garden and beds of lilies.

Three of the garden sites will feature talks by guest speakers. Ernie Glabau of Entwood Nursery will speak on “Bonsai in a Nutshell,” Hammon Buck of Plants Unlimited will present “Out with Invasives,” and “Medicinal Herbs: Growing History in your Garden” will be presented by Lydia Mussulman of the Maine Herb Society.

Brochures and tickets for the tour may be purchased in advance at The Personal Book Store in Thomaston, The Reading Corner in Rockland, Planet in Camden, The Fertile Mind in Belfast and from the Land Trust office in Rockland. Box lunches may also be ordered in advance. Tickets for the tour are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the tour, available at any garden site. Children under 12 are free. For more information call 594-5166

Diana George Chapin is the NEWS garden columnist. Send horticulture questions to Gardening Questions, RR1, Box 2120, Montville 04941, or e-mail them to dianagc@ctel.net. Selected questions will be answered in future columns. Include name, address and telephone number.