Tucked in the hills south of Bar Harbor, near Northeast Harbor is a well-thought out and beautiful garden. The Thuya Garden Preserve and Asticou Terraces are the legacy of Joseph Henry Curtis, a Boston landscape architect and civil engineer. Curtis enjoyed the cool summer months in Northeast Harbor during the golden era until his death in 1928.
Verdant and filled with summer blooming annuals and perennials and meandering pathways through the garden provides a peaceful respite from the busy Bar harbor.
The original Thuya Lodge and out buildings have been updated and hold large botanical book library.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This morning began with an extra early start. It seems that not only does the sun begin to rise around 4:30 a.m., the birds do as well. One in particular was incessantly singing outside of my window. Since I couldn’t identify it by its song, of course I got up and began exploring.
Three hours into the balsam fir forest along the meandering babbling brook with the song birds high in the trees. Luckily I had put on plenty of bug spray as the mosquitoes were voracious. Of course, only I would go out into the woods without a trail map, no GPS, and no cell service. I started heading up another trail and decided it would be better if I went back and actually read the trail map before heading back out again.
I heard plenty of birds, but didn’t see a single one ! Dejected, but not beaten I returned home in hopes for some more successful bird outings.
Of course, the first day in vacation in Maine, and the obligatory Downeast Lobster Bake was thoroughly enjoyed at Stewman’s Lobster Pound on Bar Harbor’s Waterfront.
The Thuya Gardens was a wonderful discovery. Finally I was able to see some birds, including a Black-Throated Green Warbler. The bird that had started singing at 4:30am?? Well, that was a Common Yellowthroat that sang non stop for over FIVE hours. I love birds, but it was a bit much to take.
No set plans for the morning, other than a return to Thuya gardens to track down some more birds. Who knows where my footsteps will lead me on this beautiful island.
Categories: 2013 Project 365, Acadia, Flowers, Nature, travel
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
Ansel has a quote for every occasion. Have fun tracking down the birds. It seems they wait for your visits!
“In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.”
― Ansel Adams
Hi Rebecca ! Alas, the birds have been eluding me, but I must tell you the short story of a chipmunk. I was visiting another garden this morning and saw him darting around on the forest floor. He looked right at me then ran right between my legs. Guess he thought I was another tree. 🙂
I’ve often wondered why birds don’t get hoarse from singing as much as they do. The gardens are beautiful, I hope that you take more photos there.
I was really thinking the same. I have no idea how he was able to sing for so long. He woke me up again this morning at…4:30am. But then stopped after the road workers showed up by 9am.
Beautiful garden, love the building – very well captured… 🙂
Thank you so much Drake. Isn’t that a cool building?
Thanks for sharing! I will have to note this place for a visit later. =)
It’s well off the beaten track, so you avoid the tourist crowds. It is such a lovely retreat and I’m sure will be quite beautiful in the fall.
My GOD that makes me want to go out into nature! I actually stayed up till 4 am this morning to go check out the local nightlife in the park at night. And guess what, even in the city I found some lol! Bunnies galore haha.
Just imagining you out in the middle of the night looking for nightlife is sort of scary. I hope you were with someone else. Love bunnies.
The nasturtiums are amazing against the contrasting background, how spectacular, surely some consolation for only having heard the birds?!
When I took that shot, I knew it was something special. Yes, that one indeed made it all worthwhile.
Loving the garden tour – thanks so much for sharing:)
This is a perfect garden for having a ladies tea. Thanks Renee.
Beautiful photographs of lovely gardens and such a cute little wooden cottage… looks lovely and peaceful 🙂
It truly is a special and soul lifting place. I was really impressed with the variety of plantings and how well maintained it was. Thank you so much for your comment.
I’m surprised my comment got through to you! I have been unable to post comments on other people’s blogs for a while now, no idea why! Some people I follow have found some of my comments in their spam! I’m having trouble finding out where to get help sorting it out, it’s very frustrating… any suggestions? 😦
Then you would go nuts at my place not far from the sea lol birds are deafening 🙂
Really? That would be awesome ! I just may have to remember that.
🙂
Lovely and detailed shot of the blue framed cottage. You go girl!
I must admit, I think that is a pretty rocking shot. Thanks Tom.