This year, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens will present its 16th annual garden symposium, “Designing with Water,” via three online sessions, June 10, 17 and 24. Honoring CMBG’s seasonal theme, “Wicked Wetland Wonders,” the symposium will focus on water as an ornamental and sensory feature that also serves as a stormwater management system and water source for wildlife in any landscape.

Because of safety concerns surrounding the global coronavirus pandemic, the symposium will not be held onsite; instead, the event’s format has been revised for online viewing. Using the virtual conferencing platform, Zoom, it will be presented in an interactive lecture format with each of its three speakers featured on three separate dates.

“We wanted to keep the tradition of the symposium alive,” says Director of Education Daniel Ungier. “For convenience, we decided to spread the speaker sessions out over several weeks instead of over the course of a single day.” Participants can choose to register for one, two, or all three sessions. “No matter which presentation sparks their interest,” said Ungier, “each of our presenters will help viewers understand the power of water, its ability to transform any landscape while also providing valuable service to the environment.”

On June 10, Paul Maue, PLA in Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire, will host the first session, discussing how water’s current use in designed landscapes relates to historical water usage in various cultures. As a landscape architect whose passion lies in water, Maue will offer a visual and narrative journey through various residential projects, sharing design-build stories and inspiring viewers to create their own water designs, from pools to fountains and waterfalls.

Next, on June 17, Chris Paquette, owner and designer of Robin’s Nest LLC of Hollis, Maine, will discuss constructed pool, pond, and stream systems — features that function as holistic water spaces for people and wildlife. He’ll outline what goes into creating these water settings, how they sustain long-term, and the ecological benefits that also support human well-being.

Finally, on June 24, Rebecca Jacobs, manager of educational programming at Maine’s Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District, will discuss rain gardens and the other stormwater infiltration systems that catch and treat stormwater before it enters waterways. Sharing various settings, applications, and conceptual designs, Jacobs will illustrate how such designed systems can be as ornamental as any perennial garden.

Each symposium session runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m., June 10, 17, or 24; reservations are $20 for Gardens’ members, $24 for nonmembers. To allow for audience Q&A, space is limited for each session—please register online at shop.mainegardens.org or call 207-633-8008.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is a nationally recognized public garden located in Boothbay, Maine. The mission of the Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through horticulture, education, and research.