Catching the Last Bits of Summer

IMGP3566.JPG While Labor Day is the unofficial end of Summer here in the States, the official end of the season doesn't get here for a few more days, which means Mr. Cleaver and I time to sneak in one more excursion under the wire.

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We'd wanted to return to the Coastal Maine Botantical Gardens ever since our last visit there, particularly since we were there about a week before the new children's garden opened.

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It was worth the return visit. The children's garden was designed based on classic children's books: mostly Maine-based ones like Blueberries for Sal

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Miss Rumphis (one of my personal favorites)

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and

Burt Dow, Deep Water Man

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And a few non-Maine tales were represented as well.

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The garden was very interactive with mazes, treehouses, and a playhouse/garden, and interact we did.

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We also visited some of the other gardens, and took note of a few plants we'd like for our own garden next year.

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Roadtrip: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

On Saturday, Mr. Cleaver and I made the drive up to Boothay to visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. This was our second visit to the gardens, the first being in the dead of Winter back in 2009.  THe cold tuend us out of the garden that February, but we vowed to return when the place was in bloom and it was well worth the return trip:

The Rose ArborThe blueberries were close to ripe and since you were encouraged to pick the ripes ones - we managed to fine one or two

Little Bug

My Dad always called Lamb's Ears "Cowboy Toilet Paper"

Water's Edge

Maybe the most beautiful shade of blue I've ever seen:

Blue

Is it weird to take a picture of yourself with a sign with your fake last name?

Cleaver Garden

The Gnome Depot

Some red, white, and blue....

Red, White, and Blue

Which reminds to post a sneak peak of my 4th of July dress!

4th of July Dress Sneak Peak

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Getaway in Boothbay

Mr. Cleaver and I have a somewhat annual tradition of a mid-winter getaway: that time somewhere between late January and mid-February when we get stick of being stuck inside and need to get away from the house. Ironically, we have often gone to somewhere colder than we're leaving, but its always been good for the soul nonetheless.

Valentine's Day Cake

When we were dating it was a rainy day-trip to Boston. Two years ago we went to Lake Geneva, Wisc. where I had hands-down the best meal I've ever had in my life. This year we headed an hour north to Boothbay and stayed at the charming Kenniston Hill Inn

This year's trip was a bit of a last minute decision, but we are both so glad we went. We spent two days at the inn, eating Valentine's cake and drinking tea by the fire, both in the living room and our room at the inn.

Feather and Fire

We wandered around Boothbay and nearby Wiscasset, and while a number of places were closed for the season, we still found some great antiques stores to visit (including one where I got a new apron for my collection), some tasty places to eat and my new favorite fabric store in Maine. 

Off-Season

When it wasn't too windy we took in the area's outdoor area. In a park in central Boothbay someone had hung hundreds of fabric hearts from the trees.

Hearts in Trees

We also attempted to visit the Coastal Maine Botanic Gardens, but the cold and lack of trails turned us back after about 20 minutes. We did see some small bits of green before we left.

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All in all it was a fantastic time, which has bolstered our spirits in the continuing winter. 

p.s. there's more photos of our trip on my flickr account (see the sidebar for a link).

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