This year, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (CMBG) will present its 10th annual Heafitz lecture, “Where Nature Leads: Sustainability, Livelihood, and Innovation in Midcoast Maine,” via an online panel discussion, Aug. 13 from 2-3:30 p.m.

Because circumstances surrounding the pandemic have most of us looking for inspiration closer to home, this year’s Heafitz lecture will have a very Midcoast feel—and in the spirit of including the public to join the Gardens in its mission to create connections between people and nature, the lecture is free for all.

CMBG has gathered together a diverse collection of artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and organizers together from the heart of the Midcoast region for a one-of-a-kind forum spotlighting the nature-led innovation unique to Maine.

Via Zoom, the public is invited to join a panel of farmers, aquaculture operators, plant breeders, and craftspeople for a robust discussion about how Maine's natural environment forms the heart of a path forward through turbulent times and creates models for sustainable innovation grounded in our landscape. Highlighted are visionaries working as leaders in their field, all no more than a 15-mile distance from the Gardens.

“We’ve all been looking closer to home these past few months, spending so much more time locally,” says Director of Education, Daniel Ungier. “It made sense to invite people from our region who are working to make a difference.”

Included in the day’s programming are Ryan McPherson of Glidden Point Oyster; Eben Blaney, designer and maker of fine contemporary furniture; Dan Robarts, CMBG horticulturist and grower; Alison Lakin and Neal Foley of East Forty Farm; and David Emerson, geomicrobiologist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. Please register for the panel discussion online at shop.mainegardens.org or call 633-8008.

At nearly 325 acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is the largest public Garden in New England. Voted #1 on TripAdvisor, the nationally recognized public garden is located in Boothbay, Maine. The mission of the Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through horticulture, education, and research. Visit us at MaineGardens.org.