Fernwood Nursery and Gardens, Montville, Maine

Fernwood Nursery and Gardens, Montville, Maine

My wife and I took off on a car adventure from the small town of Lincolnville, Maine after a friend enthusiastically suggested that we visit the Fernwood Nursery in Mid coast Maine.   We got in the car the following Saturday and started driving northwest to Rt 3, west of Belfast and yes, we found it down the characteristic “dirt road” just off Rt 3.  What a wonderful surprise we had in store!  There were 2-3 other customers walking the nursery, ample parking and a lot to see!  To our left were Ash trees creating a high shade canopy over lightly organized, informal rows of shaded plants.

Fernwood Nursery & Gardens

58 North Ridge Rd.
Montville ME, 04941 | 207 589-4726

Behind one hosta collection there would be another fascinating shade plant, maybe a lady slipper (orchid) or helleborus or trilliums and then an art form of what I call yard art- sited whimsically along with the plantings, maybe standing on its own.  Then we engaged in conversations with our hosts/nursery owners Rick and Denise…..then things began to take on much more definition as were given the cooks tour of plantings, how the property was carved out of the woods, many more plants than we had initially discovered.

What started as a road trip ended up being an adventure into Maine culture, their world, the history of the art they have and the people who had created it; where Rick had perfected his craft as a nurseryman, the plans for classes Denise has in store for those who can participate, their own mozzarella cheese which we tried!

I had no expectations and was transformed completely- now I am thinking about creating my shade gardens and how I can implement, the best plants to incorporate, what Rick was able to create!  Be prepared to become enthusiastic and fascinated.  Meet these people, stray off Rt 1, see something new and beautiful, make your visit to Maine memorable!

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Meet the 'Plant Whisperer' 'Jim Harshbarger; Massachusetts Certified Arborist'

Learn more about THE GARDEN TUTOR
 

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