Rock Gardens Inn Blog

Family Reunions at Rock Gardens Inn

Rock Gardens Inn has long been a place where families gather, often year after year.  We have had groups of up to twenty family members, spanning up to four generations in one group, gathered here to reunite, reacquaint, and relax.  We look forward to returning families with the excitement we hold for all our returning guests, and we are glad Rock Gardens can provide a sanctuary for their reunions.

The setting here at the Inn provides the perfect retreat for families.  Immediate families can break up into their private cottages, then congregate at meals, often all gathering afterward in one of the larger cottages.  There are a number of great group activities, including: swimming and sunbathing by the pool, or at one of the nearby beaches, kayaking together in the cove, and around the coast, contra-dancing in the Studio Building, and the weekly lobster bakes and cocktail parties.

This past week we hosted the Lawrence/Desjardin family reunion, a gathering of three generations.  In addition to their other activities, they took advantage of the rainy day to make tie-dyed t-shirts, pictured below.  If you have any stories of your own reunions here at the Inn, please feel free to share in the comments section, or email us for a login to the blog.  We look forward to seeing you all soon!

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.

Art Workshops at Rock Gardens Inn

Every summer Rock Gardens Inn hosts a series of Art Workshops, spread out over the four month season.  These events are a chance for aspiring, and even established, artists to come and hone their craft with some of the best living artists.  The rocky coastal vistas, and the cool breeze off the water on a sunny day seem to be an endless source of inspiration.

Over the yeast we have had a bevy of different artists teach at the Inn.  In past years teachers have included Charles Reid, Alfred Chadbourn, Charles Sovek, Ed Betts, Judi Betts, Susan Shatter, Wolf Kahn, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Timothy J. Clark, Dale Ratcliff, David Pena, and Robert Seyffert.  Artists have come from all across the country, and even from other countries, to study with such esteemed teachers.

This summer our lineup is equally exciting.  We will be hosting workshops taught by Janet Fish, Carl Schmalz, Bjorn Runquist, Karen O'Neil, Lois Dodd, and two artists new to Rock Gardens Inn, Tom McCobb and David Kapp.  Most workshops still have space available, so if you are new to art, or if you are interested in furthering your work under the tutelage of these renowned artists, please check our Art Workshops Page for more details, and call to sign up! 

Opening the Inn

Springtime at Rock Gardens is one of the prettiest times of the year, and also one of the busiest.  We are up early, working till late in the day (easier now that the sun sets after 8pm), amazed at the daily transition from the snow and cold of winter to the beauty of lilacs in bloom, the unfolding and opening of tulips, poppies and peonies.  I have taken some photos of flowers that most of you never get to enjoy while here - the wisteria by Grey Rocks, and the tulips by the fence.

In the meantime the cottages are sparkling clean, new curtains and cushions are being installed, the pool cover is off and the pool is being prepared for summer.  Bill is in the kitchen working on this summer's menu (we'll have a post about the menu soon!), and the gardens are lush and full.  I have been receiving inquiries and reservations for our art workshops and the artist retreat week - the warm weather is a wonderful motivator. 

Two more weeks to go - still lots of work to do - painting, gardening, putting in the dock, the kayaks and making sure the cottages are fresh and have everything they need.  I love all the calls - looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon.

Ona  

Women's Health and Healing at Rock Gardens Inn

We are excited to announce that Rock Gardens Inn will be offering a new workshop this summer.  On Saturday, June 20th Dr. Zhao Mei, of Portland Maine, will be offering a day long workshop focused entirely on women's health and healing.  The day will begin with a talk about women's health issues and simple practices to ensure good health.  Dr. Mei will then answer individual health questions.  Lunch will be provided according to Dr. Mei's personal recipes.  During the afternoon Dr. Mei will teach participants principles of the ancient art of Qigong.  The workshop will end at 4:00pm.  For those staying overnight there will be dinner and breakfast included, and an after breakfast workshop on Sunday with Dr. Mei focusing on self-healing Qigong massage.

Dr. Zhao Mei is a widely recognized expert in Qigong (using traditional practices of movement and breathing, working with qi or life energy within the body).  She was also a distinguished professor of OB/GYN at Beijing Medical University in China, and a visiting cancer gene researcher at Austria's Vienna University.  She has more than forty years of experience in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine.  In 1991 she established the Chinese Healing Arts center in Portland.  In addition to patient work she has conducted numerous seminars and training sessions for 18 years.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Mei to Rock Gardens Inn!

Many Happy Returns

Growing up at Rock Gardens, the part of the summer I most looked forward to was the return of familiar faces, friends from previous summers returning to the Inn either to work or to play.  While new faces are a consistent, and vital, part of every summer, the Inn is privileged to retain both employees and guests who return each subsequent year to their favorite hidden corner of the Atlantic coast.  Whether they do it for a love of the sun dappled water, the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, or the camaraderie of fellow returnees, they comprise one of the core elements of a summer season at Rock Gardens.

This year we have quite a few staff members returning.  Happily our kitchen remains in the talented hands of brothers Bill and Paul Hanley who will be serving up a combination of old favorites, and a few new, tasty dishes.  Our cottages will continue to shine thanks to the efforts of our housekeepers, Ruth, Ellen, Jessey, and Billie Jo, who, between them, have over one hundred years of experience taking care of the Inn.  In the dining room our wait staff will be comprised of veteran servers Donna, Molly, and Paige, as well as newcomers Tori and Craig.  While most of the time guests will be able to enjoy the delicious breads and desserts of bakers Ellie and Randy, once a week they will be treated to the culinary creations of former baker Aurora Joseph, who will serve as guest baker this summer.  And of course, as for the last twenty five years Ona Barnet will be welcoming guests to the Inn.

Of course, many of those guests will be new to Rock Gardens, and are in for an unforgettable experience.  However, quite a few will be immediately recognizable to Ona, and many of the staff members here.  Returning guests run the gamut from couples that have been coming to the Inn for over fifty years, to families whose children's growth is almost as familiar to us as it is to them.  It is this mix of experience and novelty that make Rock Gardens such a unique place to stay.  Those new to the Inn will find new friends with years of experience to show them the ropes, and returning guests have the opportunity to see the familiar locale they love through new eyes.

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.

Welcome to the Rock Gardens Inn Blog

As the sun started to come up this morning the sky was filled with hues of pinks and purples reflecting off the water.  I thought about seeing these colors in paintings and how no one would believe they were real.  Our sunrises and sunsets this winter have been spectacular, and as the days grow longer I imagine the many artists who have painted here seeing these images and putting them to canvass.

Many people ask what goes on at Rock Gardens Inn in the "off season".  We decided to start this blog to stay in touch with our guests in and out of season.  We'll write every week, sometimes more during the summer months, about projects, upcoming events, and general observations.  We would love to hear from you as well.

Ona Barnet, Innkeeper