From its beginning in 2007, when 10 founders used their homes for collateral to purchase 128 acres of pristine coastal land in Boothbay, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens has been a different kind of public garden.

Most public gardens in the United States began as private estates or were originally associated with universities and only transitioned over time to separate entities. The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens began when deeply committed founders saw the need for a public garden on the Maine Coast and began searching for land where that dream could become reality.

Its rapid evolution from untouched land to an entity with a national reputation in less than two decades is another thing that sets the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens apart, said Rodney Eason, director of horticulture and plant curator at the Gardens.

Eason will discuss the formation and evolution of the gardens as well as its new master plan for the next 20 years at a talk at St. Andrews Village on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.

The recently completed master plan calls for roughly doubling the size of the ornamental gardens, the possible addition of a conservatory to extend the gardening season into the early winter and spring, and expanding research to improve the selection of plants available for the Northeast.

Broadening educational offerings is also part of the plan. This year’s educational theme is the “Myth, Magic and Medicine,” of plants. Courses include book clubs for adults during the winter months, an adult certificate series, and educational camps where children can learn about composting or nature illustration.

A North Carolina native, Eason joined the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens about two and a half years ago after eight years at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, where he oversaw the display gardens.

Growing up in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina, Eason said many of his best memories were of the outdoors. After earning a degree in landscape architecture at North Carolina State University and working in that field for a few years, he realized he missed being outside and earned his master’s in public horticulture from the University of Delaware.

Eason said a need for plants and growing things has always been part of human civilization.

The 19th century planners of American cities recognized the importance of a central green space, not just as a means of beautifying the city but also as therapy for city dwellers, many of whom lived in asphalt and concrete deserts and didn’t have the means to travel to rural or wild places.

Horticulture can also be understood in artistic terms. Somebody once described gardening as the “slowest of the performing arts,” said Eason. In the winter, gardens are slumbering, but in the spring they will awaken and then build toward their crescendo in the summer.

This talk is free and open to the public but space is limited, so please call 207-633-0920 to RSVP or for more information.