What a fantastic season we’ve had at the Gardens. We’ve welcomed more than 101,000 visitors of all ages here to the Boothbay peninsula from Maine to California and across the globe from faraway places, including New Zealand, Japan, Russia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Brazil and Chile. Last week we hosted a whole bus-load of travelers from Australia. The season is now drawing to a close, but we have one more big event this Saturday, Oct. 25, The Great Pumpkin Hunt, and it’s free and open to the public. Details are listed below and we do hope you will join us for an afternoon of fall festivities.

Free family event: The Great Pumpkin Hunt!

The Great Pumpkin Hunt, a new and free family event, is this Saturday, Oct. 25 (rain date Sunday, Oct. 26) at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Bring your best pumpkin pie for the judges. There will be prizes, activities, and 15,000 pounds of pumpkins to enjoy in the gardens. Children can hunt for “Golden Pumpkins” at 1 p.m. Lucky finders will win gift certificates to purchase their family’s Thanksgiving meal. We’ll also have pumpkin pie judging at 2 p.m. and pumpkin carving judging at 3 p.m. Donations to the Boothbay Region Food Pantry at the door will be gratefully accepted.

Gift shop sale

October is a good time to visit the Gardens Gift Shop for unique gift ideas. We’re having our end of season sale now with special tables of select merchandise marked 40 percent off.

Other programs, classes and events

Storytime with volunteer Pat Jeremiah is a year-round favorite for young children at the Gardens. Join Pat each Monday (except holidays) at 10 a.m. in the Story Barn in the Children’s Garden. Storytime is included with Gardens admission until the end of October and no reservations are required. We hope to see you here!

Children’s Garden Weekend Activities are happening on Saturdays and Sundays, through Oct. 26 with all the favorite activities, including Storytime, Garden Puppet Theater, Chicken Feeding and Nature Investigations.

The Fireside Book Club with Melissa Cullina, Staff Botanist and Director of Education will begin Nov. 11 with a lively discussion about “Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful” by Amy Stewart. Being in this club is the perfect way to enjoy reading on cooler fall days then come together to sip hot tea and share ideas in front of a warm fire. The group will read four different books that blend the botanical with the literary – each chosen for plant and garden lovers. Registration is required and includes all four sessions.

A full calendar may be found on www.mainegardens.org and please follow us on Facebook.