McLaughlin Garden & Homestead
2023 Garden Events
Thank you for choosing to visit the McLaughlin Garden! We are a non-profit garden open to the public.
We rely on your donations and support to help us organize and host a free or low-cost schedule of events each season. We hope that you find as much value in our programs as we do.
Please call 207-743-8820 if you have questions about anything in our schedule.. We can’t wait to see you at the garden this season!
March 2023
The inspiring speakers, homemade baked goods and hot tea at our in person Winter Lecture Series will see us through the entire month of March and into a long anticipated spring gardening season! We are again offering an option to participate via zoom if you can’t join us in person for any reason. Please email McLaughlin Garden for the zoom link.
Wednesday, March 1 , Winter Lecture Series #1 Tea served at 3:30pm Lecture starts at 4:00pm- “Tricky Terrestrials: The Orchid Species of Maine” presented by Corey Kotfila McLaughlin Garden Horticulturist
Wednesday, March 8 , Winter Lecture Series#2- Tea served at 3:30pm Lecture starts at 4:00pm- “Intelligent Tinkering: Boosting Biodiversity at any Scale” presented by Deb Perkins, Ecologist and owner, First Light Wildlife Habitats
Wednesday, March 15, Winter Lecture Series#3- Tea served at 3:30pm Lecture starts at 4:00pm “Garden Days Out in MA and CT: Hollister House and Naumkeag” Presented by Edith Ellis, retired nursery owner, Sunnyside Garden
Wednesday, March 22, Winter Lecture Series#4- Tea served at 3:30pm Lecture starts at 4:00pm-“Growing Lavender in Maine” presented by Jessie Yancy, owner at Pen-Y-Bryn Lavender Farm
Wednesday, March 29, Winter Lecture Series #5-Tea served at 3:30pm Lecture starts at 4:00pm– “Cultivate and Indoor Jungle: Houseplants New and Old” presented by Rebecca Long, Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Professional for the University of Maine Extension
April 2023
May 2023
McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit welcomes May Artist of the Month Suzanne Hardy
May 6-7 (Saturday & Sunday)-8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Wildflowers and Whimsies Yard Sale. Shop at our yard sale first, before buying new gardening tools and yard equipment. Find lawn furniture, home decor and books among other gently used surprises and treasures. Save money while repurposing items and supporting the McLaughlin Garden.
May 12 (Friday)- 12:00pm to 7:00pm
Members-Only Plant Sale and guided spring garden tour- Members enjoy first pick from our 2023 perennial plant sale inventory and gift shop items. This is a great opportunity to put your 10% member discount to good use. Consult with the Horticulturist and choose just the right plants for your garden and yard. Share ideas, find inspiration and meet other garden members. This year we are offering a members only guided garden tour starting at 5:00pm with our garden horticulturist.
Opening Day for plant sales for the general public is Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10am
May 13-14 (Saturday & Sunday)-10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Kick off the gardening season with the McLaughlin Garden at the Wildflower Celebration Stroll the garden on your own with a self guided wildflower tour and find Spring Ephemeral and native wildflowers. Shop in our plant sale and gift shop, and participate in special Mother’s Day activities on Sunday, May 14th
Open to the public. FREE!
Tuesday, May 9- 9:30 am-12:00 pm
Power Propagators-Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.
May 26-29 (Friday-Monday/ Memorial Day Weekend)- 10:00am – 4:00pm
Lilac Festival–With over 125 different varieties, McLaughlin Garden’s Lilacs are the pride of the McLaughlin Garden and the focal point of this weekend’s celebration. Enjoy the glorious sights and smells while exploring the lilac collection and the rest of the garden on your own, or take a guided garden tour (daily at 11am) with our horticulturist. Participate in workshops, shop for plants and gifts, and enjoy live musical entertainment. $5p.p suggested admission donation
June 2023
McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit welcomes June Artist of the Month Cassie Sano
Sunday, June 4- 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
National Cancer Survivor Celebration– Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine invites you to the McLaughlin barn to join together to honor friends and family members affected by cancer. More details to come.
Tuesday, June 13- 9:30 am-12:00 pm
Power Propagators-Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.
Monday- Saturday, June 19-25 10:00 am-4:00pm
National Pollinator Week – National Pollination Celebration Week-Activities, presentations and workshops presented during this week will be emphasizing and supporting the important work of pollinators.
McLaughlin Garden’s Thursday Night in the Garden Series starts June 29th
Thursday, June 29th 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Night in the Garden #1- Check back soon for more details about this series
July 2023
McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit welcomes July Artist of the Month Sandra Pealer.
Thursday, July 6- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Night in the Garden #2-
Tuesday, July 11-9:30am-12:00pm
Power Propagators– Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.
Thursday, July 13- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Night in the Garden #3-
Thursday, July 20- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Night in the Garden #4-
Thursday, July 28- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Night in the Garden #5–
August 2023
McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit- August Artist of the Month-Virginia Valdez
Saturday, August 5- 10:00am-3:00pm
McLaughlin Garden Art Fair- August is the perfect month in Maine for an outdoor art fair. Take part in hands on group art projects, shop the art vendors, watch art demonstrations including a charming group of professional artists plein air painting throughout the garden all day. The day will also feature live music and Dave’s Backyard BBQ food truck.
Tuesday, August 9- 9:30am-12:00pm
Power Propagators– Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.
Eco-Printing Workshop with Mary Delano– Record your visit to McLaughlin Garden by printing our plants on fabric! Maine fiber artist Mary DeLano will teach you the art and craft of Eco-printing; a process where plant materials are placed on specially treated fabric and then steamed to release the pigments in the plants, leaving realistic prints of the plants on the fabric. During this full day class, participants will learn about which plants print reliably and will have a chance to experiment with other plants. Students will take home one silk scarf and 1 ¾ yards of printed fabric, including silk, cotton and linen. RSVP required. Payment is due at time of registration. Non-members $135, members $125. Registration closes on August 13th. No refunds after that time unless the class is cancelled. To register, please email info@mclaughlingarden.org, visit us in the Garden Gift Shop (Tu -Su 10a to 4p) or call 207-743-8820.
Friday, August 26- Garden Illuminated-8:00pm-10:00pm-The Jason Spooner Band is back for another Garden Illuminated evening to remember. Please join us for this late summer evening experience that will dazzle your senses. Take advantage of one of the remaining warm Maine evenings and spend your time with us listening to great live music in a historical barn surrounded by fragrant gardens that are lit up by hundreds of candles. Cash bar featuring delicious specialty cocktails and the best beers in Maine from Geary Brewing Co. will be available. This is one of McLaughlin’s signature fundraising events and will be an evening that you won’t forget. $25 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased on our website, at the Garden Gift Shop (Tu- Su 10a to 4p) or by calling 207-743-8820 to register.
September 2023
McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit–September Artist of the Month-
Tuesday, September 12- 9:30am-12:00pm
Power Propagators– Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.
October 2023
McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit-October Artist of the Month-
October 17-18 Wednesday 10a-7p & Thursday 10a-4p-
Pumpkin Carving Room– Try your hand at carving pumpkins to be displayed in our annual Jack O’Lantern Spectacular event. We will provide the gutted pumpkins, the tools, templates of carving ideas, inspiration and camaraderie- plus we clean up the mess. All pumpkins will be displayed in our Jack O’Lantern Spectacular event on Friday and Saturday night (14th & 15th). Carvers may pick up their pumpkins on Sunday the 16th to take home. No fee. Please call 743-8820 for additional information or to notify us if you will be attending with a large group.
October 19,20, &21 (Thursday-Saturday) 6p-8:30p-
Jack-o’-lantern Spectacular-
November 2023
November 12
Handmade Wreath Sale begins- Buy a Christmas wreath made by McLaughlin Garden volunteers and staff, and Foothills Garden Club members. The boughs were collected, hauled back to the McLaughlin barn, “tipped” and formed into the freshest handmade local wreaths around. Each wreath is decorated with a hand- tied bow and pinecones. Two sizes available. The wreath sale runs 10:00am to 4:00pm Tuesday through Sunday from November 12th until we run out of wreaths.
November 24, 25 & 26- Friday 11/24- 4p-8p, Saturday 11/25- 9am to 7pm, Sunday 11/26- 9am to 2pm
Festival of Trees– Glittering lights, magical displays, fantastic sounds of the holidays… this is what you can expect at the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce’s 12th annual Festival of Trees hosted again this year in the beautiful historic barn at the McLaughlin Garden & Homestead. Dozens of decorated trees will fill the barn. Add in holiday displays, hot cocoa, Christmas music and shopping and you will discover the most festive experience to start your holiday season. Admission is free and raffle tickets for chances to win the amazing trees on display will be for sale.
December 2023
December 4th through December 9th- 10:00am (Thursday the 4th) to 2:00pm (Thursday the 9th)
McLaughlin Garden Annual Online Auction– Visit www.mclaughlingarden.com and feel the excitement of bidding on a variety of items from the comfort of home. From a week-long stay in a Paris apartment to tickets to special events, you won’t find another auction catalog like it! This is one of our most important fundraising events of the year and we need your help meeting our fundraising goals! Bid high and bid often as all Auction proceeds go directly to supporting the development of our gardens and events & programming for all of us!