Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens will once again welcome Chewonki’s Traveling Natural History Program, starting this month, for four single-day naturalist programs focused on Maine’s native biodiversity. Chewonki will set up in the Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on select dates for drop-in programming, free with admission for all guests.

The first of these programs, Wednesday, June 28, highlights the mammals of Maine. Gardens guests can meet one of Chewonki’s non-releasable wild mammals as well as explore their collection of mounted animals, skulls, and skins to understand what adaptations help these animals survive in the wild.

Next, on Wednesday, July 19, they’ll examine biomimicry. Plants and animals have evolved through generations of successes and failures resulting in remarkable adaptations to overcome these challenges. Explore the ways engineers have taken advantage of nature’s bright ideas through biomimicry, and meet some live animals that help draw comparisons between human-made products and animal adaptations. When looking for creative solutions to future problems, perhaps humans can find inspiration by observing backyard nature.

On Wednesday, Aug. 2, guests can meet and interact with Maine’s owls. Two live owls are the highlight of this program, allowing guests to get close to these elusive birds. The fourth and final day, Wednesday, August 23, will feature bats of the world. This interactive demonstration will introduce participants to the role bats play in ecosystems ranging from the Maine woods to the South American rainforests to help dispel common myths about these flying mammals. Participants will leave the program with an appreciation for the tremendous diversity of bats in the world and for their irreplaceable niche in natural ecosystems.

Three of the programs, biomimicry, owls, and bats of the world, fall on the Gardens’ “Outdoor Family Fun Days,” generously sponsored by L.L.Bean, and families can bring their children to the Gardens for free on those Wednesdays.

“Every time Chewonki has been involved with the Gardens, it’s been an exciting collaboration. We love being able to support and connect with other environmental organizations in the area,” says Sarah Callan, Interpretation & Exhibits Program Manager at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. “Following the multi-year success of our partnership with The Caterpillar Lab and their living exhibition, the Gardens is looking for more ways to celebrate the important wildlife that depends upon our healthy forests for their survival.”

While the Gardens may be known for its focus on the botanical world, nature is complex and interrelated and, “whether it’s the flowers that bring people here or the owls, we hope that these programs help people connect to the world around them in new ways,” Callan continues. “Beyond stewardship, we want guests to be able to create lifelong relationships with the amazing organisms they meet here.”

At nearly 325 acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is the largest public garden in New England. The nationally recognized public garden features two miles of hiking trails, 19 acres of ornamental and themed gardens, a children’s garden, a sensory garden, and so much more. The mission of the Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through horticulture, education, and research. To learn more, visit MaineGardens.org.