Rock Gardens Inn Blog

Fall Projects

Fall at Rock Gardens is a quieter time, but certainly not one devoid of labor.  After the Inn closes we set to work, making sure the cottages and grounds are ready for next summer. Painting, roofing, and redecoration are all on the list at the end of the year, along with any minor repair that might be required.

In addition to the work on the cottages, we have to make sure that the gardens are protected with layers of pine branches. The overlapping needles diffuse the effects of frost and offer a framework for layers of protective snow later in the year. We also drain the plumbing system, as well as the pool, to prevent freezing damage.  And we take advantage of the lovely fall weather for all our projects, including Julie's race to paint as many decks as possible before it becomes too cold.

One of the biggest projects this fall was Randy's focus on repairing the roofs, with help from Chris, and from Rob Stevens. They worked atop Cool Ledge, Broadview, the Main House, the 19th Hole, and Trail's End.  We are thankful both for the good help, and for the long stretches of beautiful fall weather, and now both the cottages and the grounds are ready for next year.  We are looking forward to next summer, when you can see the results for yourself.

Sunshine and Rain

Without a doubt this has been one of the rainiest summers I can remember.  Our lawns are saturated in areas where they never have been before.  One of our small cutting gardens has been sitting under water on and off for weeks now; I am amazed that most of the flowers are still alive.

Despite the rain the artists studying here have been very good natured about it all, many staying inside the studio building to work, while a few take cover in our gazebo, or out on the covered dock, to paint.

And on days like today, when the sun comes out and the water sparkles, everyone's mood is lifted, we feel renewed and hope that summer has finally come to Maine.

Springtime at Rock Gardens

We are finally seeing some warm and sunny days now in Maine; it was a very long winter.  We had lots of snow, which made for good days for skiing and snowshoeing, but also led to numerous power outages and downed tree limbs.

With the sunshine, I have been taking every opportunity to be outside, working in the gardens; beginning by taking off the protective cover of straw and pine boughs we cover the gardens with in winter.

Most of the plants have wintered well, new shoots starting to pop up, the crocus already in bloom.  Here on the coast of Maine we are usually at two weeks behind towns like Bath and Brunswick, and at least a month behind the cities in the Northeast such as New York and Boston.

O.B.