Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/391858
boardwalks, trails and additional water features," Cullina says. Also on tap are a demonstration farm where visitors can learn about growing vegetables and a canopy tree walk. "It's quite ambitious and will involve a 15- to 20-year rollout," Cullina says. "We will need a lot of help from the landscaping community." Depending on the size, landscape projects are either put out for bid or negotiated. For example, Jorgenson Landscaping out of nearby Bath, Maine, built the Central Gardens and have been contracted since to do stonework, grading and construct water features. "We have stringent requirements on soil qual- ity, minimizing soil compaction, damage to existing trees and minimizing erosion," Cullina says. The gardens' staff handles maintenance. The Maine-based Leighton & Associates land- scape architecture fi rm designed the gardens' fi rst master plan, and several landscape architects have added to this initial effort, including Bruce John Riddell, ASLA and Herb Schaal, FASLA, Terrence J. DeWan Associates. A signifi cant part of the gardens' mission is edu- cation; for adults, that includes a certifi cate course in Maine native plants and ecological horticulture. A children's Little Diggers Summer Series this year teaches preschoolers about seeds, fl owers, vegetables and animals. "We operate our gardens organically," Cullina says, "using a compost-based mulch in the spring. We're hopefully providing inspiration to profession- als that you don't need a huge infl ux of chemicals." The gardens are fi nanced by a combination of admission fees, private donations, foundations and government grants. 8 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m O C T O B E R 2 014 fi eldreport: Quick Facts Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, year round Admission: From April 1 to Oct. 31, prices are $14 for adults; $12 for seniors; $6 for children 3-17 years old; and children younger than 3 are free. From Nov. 1-April 14, the garden is free. Children can see a variety of plants and structures in the children's area, including this unique archway. The gardens have plants in bloom throughout the year including spring ephemerals, azaleas, roses, hydrangeas, grasses and berries. The more than 100,000 visitors walk the grounds and see a variety of plant colors, textures and varieties.