Fruits, flowers and foliage are spectacular at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in October. Come explore 270 acres of gardens, water features, and woodland trails. Looking for a family activity or group activity? Join us for Cider Sunday, Storytime and plan on coming to this year’s new family event, The Great Pumpkin Hunt! The Kitchen Garden Café and Gardens Gift Shop are open regular hours through October and our calendar still has programs and art exhibits, for all ages. Visit us online for a schedule of fall and holiday events: www.MaineGardens.org.

 Final weeks of art exhibits

June Lacombe’s sculpture exhibit, “Pollinators” features the original artwork of New England artists and will be installed in the gardens through Oct. 15. You can also see “Pollinators in the Gardens by CMBG 2014 Photography Club Members,” a striking exhibit of close-up photography on display in the Visitor Center through Oct. 31, and a large show of original painting and drawings, “From the Mountains to the Sea: A Juried Exhibit of Native New England Plant Portraits” from the New England Society of Botanical Artists (NESBA) in the Bosarge Family Education Center, through Oct. 31. All exhibits are included with Gardens admission.

Family activities

Storytime with volunteer Pat Jeremiah is a year-round favorite for young children at the Gardens. Join Pat each Monday (except holidays) at 10 a.m. in the Bosarge Family Education Center. Storytime is included with Gardens admission until the end of October and no reservations are required. We hope to see you here!

Children’s Garden Weekend Activities are happening on Saturdays and Sundays, through Oct. 26 with all the favorite activities, including Storytime, Garden Puppet Theater, Chicken Feeding and Nature Investigations.

We’re having one more Cider Sunday in the Children’s Garden this fall: October 12.  Join in for a hands-on lesson in the basics of making this fresh apple drink and enjoy the fruits of your labors! Cider pressing is included in the regular Gardens admission on Cider Sundays, and reservations are not necessary.

“The Great Pumpkin Hunt!” is a new and free family event to be held on Oct. 25 (rain date Oct. 26) at the Great Lawn and Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden. Bring your best pumpkin pie for the judges! There will be prizes, activities, and 5,000 pounds of pumpkins to enjoy in the gardens. Bring your children for the hunt for “Golden Pumpkins” at 1 p.m. — the lucky finders win gift certificates to purchase their family’s Thanksgiving meal. We’ll also have Pumpkin Pie Judging at 2 p.m. and Pumpkin Carving Judging at 3 p.m. Open to the public. Donations to the Boothbay Region Food Pantry at the door will be gratefully accepted.

Other activities

“Selecting Native Woody Plants for the Maine Garden”, staff horticulturist Justin Nichols will introduce students to native trees, shrubs, and vines to use in various horticultural settings based on their habitat preferences in nature. He will cover recommended species, cultivars and sources of materials. To see authentic examples of woody plants in natural and landscaped settings, Justin will take the class on short forays in the Gardens and locally. Oct. 16-17. Reservations are required.

Join Kim Scheimreif of Shepherds and Such Farm for an afternoon of crafting with beeswax on Oct. 24. Kim will discuss the many uses of beeswax and demonstrate how to make beeswax taper candles and wax-coated flowers. Then, with her guidance, you’ll make your own beeswax creations — perfect for holiday gift giving. Reservations required.

The Fireside Book Club with Director of Education Melissa Cullina is the perfect way to enjoy reading on these cooler fall days and get cozy by the fire. The group will read four different books that blend the botanical with the literary, each specially chosen for plant and garden enthusiasts. The first book is “Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful” by Amy Stewart and the discussion date is Nov. 11. Registration is required and includes all four sessions.

Field Trips are welcome at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens! Our program offers three types of experiences for school groups, through Oct. 31. There is a limit of one school group per day, so please make your reservations soon. Call Barbara Fellenstein, Education Program Assistant at 207-633-4333 ext. 150.

A full calendar of exhibits and events may be found on www.mainegardens.org.