Bring your family and friends to be delighted by the sights, scents and textures of the gardens and woodlands of coastal Maine in August. Stay for lunch at our cafe and stop by the Visitor Center Resource Room for the annual CMBG Photo Club’s “Pollinators in the Gardens” exhibit and the Bosarge Family Education Center for original artwork of New England Society of Botanical Artists. June LaCombe’s “Pollinators” sculpture exhibit is woven into the gardens for added animation and surprise.  Join a class, bring your children or grandchildren for Daily Garden Activities or a Fairy Friday, and stop by the Gardens Gift Shop. A full calendar of events appears on www.mainegardens.org.

Cocktails and liqueurs

August in Maine is the time to host family and friends; treat them to fresh cocktails with ingredients from your summertime garden. Start your evening in the gardens, learning what to grow and collecting herbs, veggies, fruits and berries to use. Then, the class will move to the Kitchen Garden Cafe to learn to create (and sample!) signature garden drinks - like bloody Marys with chili pepper vodka, minty mojitos, basil martinis, and infusions like blackberry brandy. You’ll even learn to whip up a blueberry soda for the kids. Reservations required.

Local foods, local flowers

Most folks are familiar with the "slow food" movement and the benefits of gardening, shopping and eating local include a healthier lifestyle and diet. Now it's time to learn all about "slow flowers." On September 4, Diane Walden, CMBG horticulturist and floral and landscape designer, will describe how the slow flower movement is changing the way we select and use cut flowers. Plus, learn to design and grow your own nectar niches and flower pockets; the birds and bees will thank you! Reservations required.

Learn about pollinators

Come learn about the special relationship between humankind and honeybees this Saturday August 16 in “Beekeeping — an Ancient Art Facing Modern Problems with Phil and Meghan Gaven”. Sample different varieties of local honey and see live bees in an observational hive. Phil and Meghan will discuss the history of honey and beekeeping, the bees' role in traditional agriculture, and the way modern agriculture has changed that role. Call to reserve your spot.

While you’re here, visit “Project Monarch” in the Children’s Garden greenhouse where we have a live Monarch butterfly habitat. You can observe the life cycle of Monarch butterflies up close, many of which are already fluttering through the gardens. Learn more about monarchs at www.monarchwatch.org.

Daily activities and Fairy festivities

You’ll find fun and games 7 days of the week in the Bibby and Harold Children’s Garden with admission through August: storytime, garden puppet theater, chicken feeding, and nature investigations. On Mondays we have our very own Miss Rumphius, Pat Jeremiah, as guest storyteller.

Join the festivities on Fairy Fridays, including fairy stories, fairy puppet theater, fairy yoga, sugar plum fairy dancing, great bubble machine, chicken feeding and a flower fairy walk. A trip down to Fairy House Village near the shore for some fairy house building is a great adventure for families, too.

For preschoolers we also offer a parent-and-child “Little Diggers Gardening and Nature Series with Erika Huber.” There is one more session this summer on August 28, 9:30-11:30 a.m. for ages 3-5. They’ll enjoy stories, crafts and planting activities in the Learning Garden. Reservations required.

Photography gurus

Outdoor DSLR photography is an art form and you can hone your skills with Maine photography guru Rob Smith on August 19 and September 2, 8:30-9:30 a.m. or with CMBG executive director and guru Bill Cullina on September 16, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Your own equipment and reservations are required.

Artisan stone

Come discover one-of-a-kind creations from a select group of artists working in natural stone, each with a distinctive approach. August 15-22 at the Gardens Gift Shop.

Culinary experiences

Make your reservations now for a gourmet dinner with executive chef Mitchell Kaldrovitch of Sea Glass at Inn by the Sea at our Kitchen Garden Café on September 10. With a culinary focus on creating the freshest fare from local and seasonal ingredients, Kaldrovich is known for adding an international touch to Maine flavors. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Reservations required.