Setting out on a garden path, mind and pulse begin to relax, no modern life sounds, no deadlines. Peace surrounds us. We enter the garden greeted by the scent and sight of herbs and flowers. And our mind's eye remembers the sweet, intoxicating rugosa rose, lily-of-the-valley, dianthus, clematis, peony and phlox; memories from past lives come into focus fleetingly as you walk the path now scented with lavender, rosemary, geranium, English roses, hydrangea, sweet peas. Like the Fey, you're sorely tempted by foxglove, columbine, day lily, pansy, moss and creeping thyme ...

But a seaside garden, ahhh, a seaside garden entreats mind, body and soul; human, The Fea (fey) and other magical folk adore floral scents mingling with the salt-laced sea air, intoxicating scents sating the senses: rugosa roses, cries of seabirds, the rhythm of the sea, lull us into tranquility.

July 18 was a most perfect day for Boothbay Region Garden Club’s bi-annual Home & Garden Tour, “The Sea Around Us.” Always sold out, this event is one gardeners and home enthusiasts just cannot resist. Comments most often shared with BRGC members about the 2025 tour were “wonderful” and “fabulous.”

Homes on the walking tour: Beach Rose Cottage, Spruce Cabin, The Rockmere, 1877, Hiwata, and Wharf House. And the charming Wilson Memorial Chapel was also included.

Two years ago, BRGC transported folks to the homes on tour by bus. This year, the Club decided to take a few steps back returning to a walking event.

Said BRGC President Kevin Bowler, “When I asked about it being a walking tour, everyone said it was great without the busses. This way they could linger at a particular home as long as they wanted and take their time to the next one. And most of them wanted to know what link/contact we have with Mother Nature to have a spectacular day weather wise!”

A trio of musicians, Genie O’Connell on piano, Kerry Jackson, cellist, and floutist Carolyn Lanigan, created a lovely garden party atmosphere for people checking in and picking up their tour packets of booties (all footwear had to be covered) and map to the homes. Playing on the Ocean Point Casino porch, the trio played mid-Baroque period sonatas, “Flower Duet,” traditional English ballad “Scarborough Fair,” and “Down By Sally Gardens.”

Inside the Casino vendors, including Ocean Point Woodworkers, Mae's Baby Cakes, The World Is Your Oyster; Starfish Studio art, notecards, baked goods, and refreshments tempted tour goers both before and after exploring properties.

Beach Rose Cottage, dating back to 1985, has expansive water views. Some of the gardens meandered through the property fairly lead guests to the view. There wasn’t a single side of this property not adorned by flowers including foxglove, delphinium, lilies of all sorts, cosmos, cornflowers, clematis and hydrangea ... The cottage was aces, too.

The gardens at Hiawata cottage were charming accented with outdoor art pieces of various materials. Designed like mini-vignettes, each one delightful. For example, one had a small tree with an iron star hanging on one end, surrounded by blue hydrangea, lillies, daisies … flowers of purples and pinks, bordered by stones and an iron sculpture of what looked to be a dragonfly or perhaps a fictional flying summer being. This garden wound around toward the back of the yard where stonecrop, more hydrangea and other assorted flowers provided delightful eye candy. Window boxes adorned the house – the charm never ended here. And with the white Adirondak chairs looking out to that gorgeous western water view, this was a yard to relax and dream in.

Ocean Point was a busy locale July 18 filled with garden and home fans walking from one location to the other on a gloriously sunny day on the coast of Maine.

"Without all the hard work of the H&G tour committee (Ida Lancaster, Julie Krug, Ann Marie Mahoney, Linda King, Roseanne Bourassa and Laura Blake) this fabulous event would not have happened,” said Bowler. “Yes, we had to wait a year due to the January 2024 storms but it was worth it. Wonderful homeowners, Wilson Chapel docents, and great cooperation of the Ocean Point community."