Seaside Gardens — Living Shorelines

The Bar Harbor Garden Club is pleased to present “Seaside Gardens with a Focus on Living Shorelines ” with Avy Claire and Cathy Rees, founding members of Native Gardens of Blue Hill, on November 11, 2021, by Zoom. The Club meeting will begin with a brief business discussion at 1:00 P.M. and the talk will follow at 1:30 P.M. All are welcome to join the meeting and presentation.

Photograph courtesy of Cathy Rees and Avy Claire.

The talk will focus on native plants and gardening practices that restore natural processes and improve the health and function of seaside landscapes. Learn strategies how to improve water flow, soil conditions, and address wind, salt, and fog. With mindful planting, seaside gardens can showcase the beauty and ecological benefits of native plants while addressing the challenging aspects of gardening near the shore.

Avy Claire has been designing and maintaining garden landscapes for the past 30 years. Her journey to gardens has origins in her fine art education and she continues a studio practice alongside her garden work. In all her work, Avy is interested in finding beauty and superior design at the intersection of human activity and nature. This led her to co-found the Native Gardens of Blue Hill to share the many possibilities of native plants and garden practices that respect and support our natural environment.

Cathy Rees has worked for more than 25 years as educator, researcher, gardener, and advocate, creating, and maintaining gardens. She also consults for parks, forests, land trusts, and private individuals. Her familiarization with the native flora has inspired the creative use of natives in the garden and the uncultivated landscape. Her vision to educate others about native flora, its beauty, mystery, and benefit to the ecosystem led her to co-found Native Gardens of Blue Hill. She majored in environmental design and planning and earned a MS in ecology.

This presentation is one of the monthly programs offered by the Bar Harbor Garden Club to the public, but non-members are asked to make a reservation by emailing president@barharborgardenclub.org or call 207-460-8496.