Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Set For Major Expansion

What was once a place to see some pretty plants has turned into a full-blown destination for those throughout Maine, as well as those visiting the state.

That would be the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, which has seen visitor rates increase by more than 50 percent over the last decade.

Now, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is embarking on a massive expansion.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Will Add New Labs, Offices and a Science Center

According to MaineBiz, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is set to break ground on a $32 million expansion that will bring more than 40,000 square feet of new space to the sprawling estate.

The project is being funded by a fundraising campaign.

“We are so grateful to the Asplundh Family for their catalytic gift to this project, along with many other individuals and foundations who helped fund it.” President and CEO of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Gretchen Ostherr said in a press release. “Additional thanks go to local and state elected officials for elevating our project to ensure its success and the continued impact of our mission.”

The new science center will be the crown jewel of the expansion, offering scientists new ecology and microbiology labs as well as bringing together a new herbarium.

There will also be new greenhouses and hoop houses that will "support the growth of native and ornamental plants for display, conservation, restoration," according to the press release.

The project is expected to take more than a year to complete, with the expectation of a ribbon-cutting in 2027.

This is the Second Major Expansion For Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in a Decade

The new $32 million dollar expansion is the second major project undertaken by Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in less than a decade.

In 2017, the gardens caught some flak for a $30 million expansion. That expansion transformed Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens for guests, adding a new visitor center, restaurant, and expanded parking and walking paths.

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that the revenue from increased visitor numbers contributed to the funding of the expansion. A spokesperson for the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens said that this project and all previous major infrastructure projects are funded by fundraising campaigns. Additionally, while they hope to have plants for sale to the public through their Gardenshop, plants will not be available for purchase from the Horticulture and Plant Science Center.