Many different plant collections have been established at Merryspring through the years, and we continue to add to our existing gardens. The Herb Garden, pictured at left, was designed and implemented in the mid 1980s by Nancy Norris, the designer and head gardener at the time. She arranged many different theme beds in the overall shape of two fish chasing each other's tails. Divisions from this garden were the start of our annual Plant Sale, still held in late May each year. Over time, some plants have died and others have done too well; but we are currently returning this garden to its original layout by replanting several beds each season.
Other gardens to see at the Park include the Hosta collection by the Ross Center, the Perennial Border, the Birds and Bees/Winter Color Garden, Wildflower and Children's Garden. In late summer, the 250 foot long annual border is the star of the show, with some flowers blooming well into October. Native plant enthusiasts will enjoy strolling through the wooded 10 acre Kitty Todd Arboretum, which features most of the trees and shrubs native to Maine. Other small memorial plantings, an informal wildflower collection, and occasional specimen trees or shrubs round out the offerings; and many of the varieties seen growing in our gardens can be purchased from our small nursery/greenhouse complex.
The
Rose Garden, shown to the right, was installed under the direction of Camden
rosarian Glenn Jenks. The large William Baffin rose in the photo has its
peak of bloom in late June, and the garden's other roses maintain a steady
show throughout all of July. Of special interest here are many hardy roses
developed by American hybridizer Griffith Buck.It's quite pleasant to just sit on a shady bench and look at the gardens, but visitors are also welcome to collect seeds, ask for cuttings or purchase divisions, or even roll up their sleeves and help us with some dead-heading and weeding. A kiosk planned for construction in the summer of 2001 will provide brochures written to enable self guided tours of Merryspring's various gardens.