Art plus gardens plus food equal a great combo. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, on Barters Island Road in Boothbay, has five exhibits on view now for the enjoyment of visitors, including a brand new photography show. There’s also a newly scheduled opportunity to see this year’s sculpture show as its curator sees it. The traditional tea on September 15 is a tasty way to savor spectacular surroundings.

Tour “Living Wood” exhibit with curator June LaCombe

On Thursday, Sept. 12, June LaCombe, curator of this year’s “Living Wood” exhibit at the Gardens, will offer a walking tour of the nearly 30 pieces that represent the work of 10 of New England’s finest sculptors. The tour, which is free for Gardens visitors, will begin at 4:15 p.m. in the Visitor Center.

The sculpture and sculpted benches in “Living Wood” are located along the entry pathway and throughout the Central Gardens. In her tour, LaCombe will provide information about the artists and explain how to integrate sculpture into gardens. There is no need to make reservations.

As curator of Maine exhibitions featuring artists from throughout New England, LaCombe oversees siting, sales and commissions. She has produced numerous popular exhibits at the Gardens, including shows featuring George Sherwood’s kinetic sculpture and Wendy Klemperer’s animals of welded metal.

“Living Wood” will be on view daily through September 22.

New exhibit: plant portraits in every color of the spectrum

Members of the Gardens’ Photography Club have been hard at work this summer taking close-ups of plants of every description and every hue for the new “Color Study: Macro,” exhibit in the Bosarge Family Education Center lobby. Amity Beane, the Club’s coordinator and staff liaison, challenged the Club members to capture the beauty, color, and texture of the Gardens’ plants in macrophotography. The show of twenty 10 by 10-inch images reproduced on brushed aluminum represents a variety of species across the spectrum.

The photos in the exhibit are by Betsy Bass, Peggy Covell, Ann Demeranville, Steve Demeranville, Betsy Found, Cory Gardiner, Jan Hamblen, Susanne Hamblen, Randy King, Brud Maxcy, Susan Saudek, Dodie Wible, and Gail Woods. The show will be open daily until October 8.

The Gardens’ Photo Club, with benefits that appeal to amateur and professional photographers alike, is open to all Gardens members for a small annual fee.

Summer’s End Tea tops off the season

The Gardens will celebrate the advent of cooler weather and quieter times with its annual Summer’s End Tea. This year, the popular event will be on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 4 p.m.

In addition to pots of perfect tea, volunteers will serve guests delectable homemade scones with Devonshire cream and strawberry jam; elegant tea sandwiches (salmon, cucumber, tomato, and herbed cheese); and melt-in-your-mouth sweets. Prices are $22 for members and $25 for nonmembers, and reservations are required.

For more information, visit www.mainegardens.org; call 207-633-4333, ext. 101; or stop by the Gardens.