• Who We Are
    • About Andrea
    • Philosophy
    • FAQ’s
    • Press
  • Portfolio
    • Cambridge Master Plan
    • Watertown Master Plan
    • Westport Retreat
    • Wellesley Master Plan
    • Boston Roofdeck
    • Brookline Residence
    • Charlestown Residence
    • Lexington New Construction
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Contact

A Summer Excursion in Northeast Harbor, The Thuya Lodge and Garden

Sep, 2014
by Andrea Nilsen Morse
Comments are off

Northeast Harbor, Maine, is a beautiful place to enjoy a few days in the summer.  Located on the Southern shore of Mt Desert Island, the town is a haven for boaters and for those looking to enjoy the nearby trails of Acadia National Park.

I spent a few days there last week and was lucky to visit the Thuya Garden and Lodge (lucky because the herbaceous borders were in full bloom!).  The Thuya Lodge, built in 1916, was the summer home of Boston landscape architect, Jospeh H. Curtis.  The lodge, a wood structured home, is tucked into the hillside above the harbor with peak through views to the water.  It is the trail up to the lodge, and out to two different lookouts (both built before the lodge itself), that offer the most stunning views over the water and landscape.  Curtis had been summering in Northeast Harbor from the late 1800’s until his death in 1928.  In 1905 Curtis put the land into trust so it could be used as a park by residents and visitors.  After Curtis died, Charles K. Savage, a local landscape designer, became trustee of the property.  He planned and developed a series of beautiful herbaceous borders in back of the house.  The borders are organized in a geometric footprint, but offer a mix of colorful flowering plants.  The gardens also include a Monarch butterfly way station, which was full of Monarch caterpillars!

IMG_3986

A view of Northeast Harbor from the Asticou Trails leading up to the Thuya Lodge

IMG_4053

One of two pavilions offering stunning views

IMG_3993

The trails lead through the woods, up to the lodge and garden

IMG_3998

Curtis’s summer home

IMG_4007

Lawn terraces, granite steps and herbaceous borders in the style of Gertrude Jekyll

IMG_4010

Dahlia’s in bloom

IMG_4014

A flowering border with a hedge of Arborvitae (the gardens namesake tree) in the background

IMG_4022

The finger like blooms of Digitalis

IMG_4028

Lemony yellow Dahlias, love them!

IMG_4047

Purple spikes of Delphinium

IMG_4045

Gorgeous flowering border

IMG_4039

IMG_4041

A Monarch caterpillar eating up Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberose)

IMG_4044

A Monarch chrysalis, how amazing!

About Andrea
Social Share
  • google-share

Search


Share This Post

Recent Posts

  • “Ultimate Grey” and “Illuminating” are the Colors of the Year for 2021
  • Four Things I Learned This Year – From My Clients!
  • Choosing Bulbs For Your Spring Garden
  • An Easy Trio of Drought Tolerant Plants
  • Rhododendrons for Privacy, Shade and Foundation Beds

Categories

  • Garden
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Uncategorized

© 2023 Nilsen Landscape Design, LLC | Boston, MA |

|

Sign up for our newsletter to
receive the latest updates in your inbox.

|