One of the clear indicators that summer is on its way is the annual opening day of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. In addition to welcoming field trips and community groups, the team at the Gardens has been planning an exciting season since the Gardens closed to the public in early January.

“We’ve been busy planning family-friendly events, planting hundreds of beautiful spring flowers, and preparing our buildings to ensure that every guest has a warm welcome and a memorable experience,” states Gretchen Ostherr, president and CEO.

Now in its 19th season, the Gardens is well established as one of the best botanical gardens in the country, recently ranking 7th Best Botanical Garden in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards. With a winter feature in three episodes of “Antiques Roadshow,” the Gardens staff are expecting another busy season, welcoming guests from across the USA and the globe.

“We are excited by the potential first-time visitors joining after seeing us on ‘Antiques Roadshow’ this winter,” Ostherr shared. “And, of course, we’ve missed seeing our amazing volunteers, members, and local community every day. We hope to see them early in the season and often!”

Local year-round residents can access free tickets through several programs. Boothbay residents can visit the Gardens every weekend for free. The Gardens also extends free tickets to all Lincoln County residents on the first Wednesday of every month. Proof of residency is required. The Gardens are partnering with more than 70 libraries across Maine this year, sharing family passes to the Gardens. If you are interested in loaning a pass, library card holders should inquire at their local library. And L.L.Bean continues to sponsor the Gardens Kids’ Free Wednesday program that runs every Wednesday in July and August.

To learn more about these programs and other events, including Gardens Aglow, head to MaineGardens.org. Now through Oct. 18, guests can visit seven days a week, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or in person. Online purchases receive a $4 discount per ticket.