Asiatic lilies, astilbe, coneflower, tiger lily, hydrangea, lady’s mantle, daisies, dahlias, beach roses, hosta, Russian sage, roses, sedum, petunias, larkspur, ferns, rock cress, coral bells, aster, coreop cranesbill, small pine trees, a weeping beech tree and other gorgeous flowers, grasses, herbs and statuary accentuated the lovely landscaping of distinctive homes that delighted everyone who went on Boothbay Region Garden Club’s annual home and garden tour, “The Sea Around Us.”

Held on Friday, July 21 the event included one totally upgraded and restored cabin in Sprucewold, a charming Greek Revival Cape (circa 1840) with stone walls and gardens, extensive gardens designed and maintained by Lesley Paxton that adorn the property at Umami Point, a Southport home with expansive gardens – including a weeping beech tree, an infinity pool, a stunning outdoor stone fireplace with lots of comfortable seating; and an architectural wonder of a home designed to look like a snowflake – with water views of the Damariscotta River that lend new meaning to the phrase, “There’s no place like home;” and the sixth on Linekin Bay surrounded by gardens and woods.

BRGC’s new chairs for the event – Ida Lancaster, Julie Krug and Ann Marie Mahoney – hired Country Coach Charters of Nobleboro to transport tour goers to the six locations. A 44-passenger bus went to Southport. The other four picked up at Our Lady Queen of Peace church parking lot, Southport Town Hall and Carriage House restaurant, where the cookies were stashed. Lancaster said a group of garden club members baked 1,000 cookies then placed two per bag. “They went so fast we may have to bake 2,000 next year!” Lancaster said laughing.

Lancaster said the houses on each tour are picked in various ways. Some people contact BRGC and ask to be on the tour – the Snowflake design home is one of these; others are suggested, or known, by club members. Lancaster happened to be visiting Umami Point with a friend. “I said, ‘Oh my gosh! This has to be on the tour.’”

And when one location had to back out of the tour, Lancaster asked a friend with a newly redone cabin in Sprucewold to be part of the tour. A homeowner reached out to the club to be on this year’s tour. He had read in one of BRCG publicist David Applegate’s articles that some of the money raised from the tour goes toward two scholarships for graduating seniors at Boothbay Region High School focusing on environmental studies and YMCA campers. Why? Because he had come to the U.S. as a refugee when he was 20 and was able to attend college due to scholarship programs not unlike what BRCG offers.

Why do people go on home and garden tours? Lancaster said people love seeing homes different than they own or maybe hope to own some day. They get decorating ideas, and maybe going on a tour like this one is the only way they will ever see the inside of an Architectural Digest worthy home, or a period home, like that Greek Revival Cape.

Garden Club members have heard great things from tour goers from loving the variety of houses and the air-conditioned buses to the awesome gardens. Some people disliked the wait time at the bus pick up points, but Lancaster said considering most people were at the pick up points right at 9:30 a.m., there were bound to be some longer wait times between bus pick ups.

“But, overall, it was all wonderful,” Lancaster said. “David (Applegate) did a wonderful job with the posters we hung up all over town and even in Damariscotta. And the articles he wrote about the homes and gardens really helped sell the tour.”

The club already has locations proposed for 2024, five of which Lancaster said are in East Boothbay’s Ocean Point area. And next year’s tickets to ride will be sold online as well as at Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, a longtime ticket location.

In addition to the scholarships, proceeds from this fundraiser are used to promote interest in “the art and practice of gardening, education, and the beautification of the Boothbay Region.” To this end the Club provides window boxes with colorful flowers for municipal buildings, adds wreaths and plants to public gardens, and offers classes from time to time.

For more on BRGC, including membership, visit www.boothbayregiongardenclub.org