Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

This folly was the focal point of our first project at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. If you’ve been to the Gardens, you might have missed it. Down by the river, far from the visitor center, it’s a space that’s intentionally been left a little wild. Almost ten years ago we designed and built these ruins, standing stones, stone circle, and other features to subtly define the boundaries of a place designated for kids (and the young at heart) to build fairy houses.

When I went down there on a busy day last summer it was the first time I’d seen the Fairy House Village in full swing. It was satisfying to see something we struggled to create being thoroughly enjoyed. It was also a bit surreal. Enough time had passed that it felt familiar but foreign, like I was standing inside a project someone else had built. Do you ever have that feeling?

This spring, we’re going back for our third project at The Gardens, a continuation of last year’s collaboration with Prospect Design. We can’t wait. And not just for the warmer weather.