Return to Maine ; Visiting Family & a Lovely Botanical Garden

In mid-May we were on the road again, heading for the coast of Maine for a visit with Jani’s sister Marti and her husband Paul; as well as Marti’s daughter Ruth, her husband Chad and their two sons Marcus and Gavin. This trip was planned to fall between the end of a long winter and the impending July birth of Ruth and Chad’s third child. As usual, it was a wonderful reunion, visiting with close relatives we had not seen since Thanksgiving.

Update, as of July 12, 2022

Cora Jane Holbrook

Born July 12, 2022

The highlight of the trip was a visit to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, a magical place where it seems one can never spend enough time. We had visited in 2019 and liked it so much we returned a few days later to take it all in again. In terms of design and intelligent use of natural elements, we think there are few places that can compare.

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We went to the Gardens with Marti and Paul. CMBG has expanded considerably since our first visits, adding (among other things) five huge sculptures of trolls, each offering a hint that leads eventually to a treasure. We had seen photos of the trolls, but these natural works of art had to be experienced to be fully appreciated. These exhibits are wonderful and we all had a great time admiring the grounds and all the elements that make this a special destination.

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Since our honeymoon 48 years ago, we have favored staying in New England Inns, the older the better. We have always found them to be cozy and personal. In fact, we had a very nice stay at the Camden Inn on our honeymoon, but it is no longer in existence.

Because of a gift card from one of our sons, we stayed at an different inn in Camden. It was very comfortable but its decor was a marked departure from what we were used to. That is not a complaint, but we feel it is noteworthy. Look at the photos below and see if you agree.

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