My leaf-peeping road trip began with fall scenery in Maine
After a very busy month, I’m ready to start sharing about my 18-day, 2,200-mile road trip through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic earlier this month.
To recap, I flew into Portland, Maine, on September 30 to see New England fall foliage in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, followed by garden touring down the Eastern Seaboard to Virginia.
My husband accompanied me for the first week, and we visited Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens on our first full day (coming up in my next post). Late that afternoon we drove on to Damariscotta, Maine, where we’ve spent happy summer days with his family over the years. It was interesting to see it in a different season.
Gray skies and cool weather were a welcome change from Texas’s lingering summer heat.
I’m always charmed by Damariscotta’s old brick buildings, and its fall decorating didn’t disappoint either. Bright pumpkins and potted grasses dress up this shop’s entrance.
A spooky vase of brown lotus seedheads with potted succulents made me stop at this shop window.
Street planters were still lush with cinnamon-hued cordyline, yellow-flowering annuals, and a cascade of greenery sparkling with white flowers. This reminds me to use cordyline more often as an annual for planters in my own garden. In warm winters it may even overwinter in Austin.
Up next: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens wows with dahlias, late-season perennials, and…trolls!
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Maine! Now that’s how to enjoy autumn in its finest.
I love Maine, Robin. We were a little early for much fall color there though. But we got to see plenty in the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont.
I’m from Maine, in VA now. I used to shop in Damariscotta, the best Reny’s and cool shops.
I LOVE the shops of Damariscotta’s little downtown. It was just as I remembered.
I absolutely love Maine. I have never been there during fall. I would love to do so. Be by the coast during a storm. See the colors. Feel the fall weathers. Yes….
Yes indeed. Time to plan for next year!
I always love visiting New England, but fall just takes it to a whole other level of cool things to experience. I have family in Union, just up Route 1 from the charming Damariscotta. Did you get a lobster roll at Red’s Eats? Or a slice of four berry pie at Moody’s Diner? Can’t wait to see your pics of this trip!
Reds was unfortunately closed by the time we exited Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, but I did get a delicious lobster roll in Montauk later on. 🙂
Maine is on my bucket list. We didn’t get any further north than Connecticut this year. The fall colors were late. I look forward to reading about the rest of your trip. P.x
Peak fall color was a little later than we expected in the White Mountains of NH too, but we still enjoyed a good show.
Man, other than NYC, I’ve seen nothing of this part of the country. Looking forward to your posts! Damariscotta looks picture perfect. (And btw, I think you meant lotus seed heads, not papyrus.)
Yes, lotus is what I meant! Thank you for the correction, Lori.