Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is set to reopen for the season on May 1 in Boothbay. Tory Paxson photo

BOOTHBAY — The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is set to reopen for the season on Wednesday, May 1.

The gardens, now in its 16th year, aims to meet the demands of visitation and ever-growing climate concerns through investments in the Horticulture and Plant Science teams, community partnerships, and family-oriented programs.

The newly renovated café, found at the heart of the gardens, will be open this season. The café partners with Newcastle-based Morning Dew Farm and Boothbay neighbors Coastal Maine Popcorn Company and Betsy’s Fancy Fudge, among others.

The Caterpillar Lab and Chewonki’s Traveling Natural History Programs return this summer, and Thomas Dambo’s giant Trolls remain at the gardens. A new acquisition of a unique Siberian Iris collection by a famed hybridizer Dr. Currier McEwen, formally of Harpswell Maine, provides an addition to the living collection.

Rounding out the season in November, the annual light show Gardens Aglow returns for its 10th year. Serving more than 100,000 people annually and attracting national recognition from news outlets such as USA Today and US News & World Report, this year’s event will include an “enchanted forest” with mushrooms, shooting stars, and the return of fairy houses. Fans of the event are encouraged to mark their calendars for tickets going on sale Aug. 12 for members, and Aug. 19 for general sale.

To learn more, visit mainegardens.org.

Check out other upcoming area events!