The Maine Coast in Late Fall
Carolyn’s Shade Gardens is a retail nursery located in Bryn Mawr, PA, specializing in showy, colorful, and unusual plants for shade. The only plants that we ship are snowdrops and miniature hostas. For catalogues and announcements of events, please send your full name, location, and phone number (for back up use only) to carolyn@carolynsshadegardens.com. Click here to get to the home page of our website for catalogues and information about our nursery and to subscribe to our blog.
The dramatic fall color of red maples has been replaced with the more subtle color of American beech. All the photos in this post were taken in and around Cliff Island, Maine, US, located off the coast of Portland in Casco Bay.
I have gotten a lot of comments in person and on line about how much everyone has enjoyed my posts from Maine. To read my post The Maine Coast and see photos in summer, click here. I was there again at the end of October so I thought I would show you the coast at a very different time of year.
The bay is empty of boats.
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The mooring buoys are stacked on the shore.
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The summer cottages are closed.
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This is the house where the movie The Whales of August with Betty Davis, Lillian Gish, and Vincent Price was filmed.
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The ocean loses its benign summer look.
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The cliffs for which Cliff Island was named.
The landscape of Cliff Island changes too. Gone are the wildflowers blooming everywhere and even the colorful leaves on the deciduous trees. The palette narrows to the blue sky, gray fog, green conifers, brown grasses, white bark, red berries. Everything is more subtle yet every bit as beautiful.
Cattails and winterberry holly
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winterberry holly
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The paper birches glow against the clear blue sky.
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In the fall, I am able to focus on the big picture. And I have found that the larger landscape contains a design element that comes to the forefront in the stark vistas of fall. No dotter of individual plants here and there, nature is the queen of massing. She uses broad bands of color to achieve spectacular results. I try to imitate this in my garden in Pennsylvania by planting in large swathes and allowing vigorous plants to self-sow. Of course, the results aren’t as spectacular as this….
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I am truly blessed to have access to this gorgeous native landscape. I am glad I can share it with you on my blog. This post was supposed to be up in time to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving so it will have to be belated.
Carolyn
Nursery Happenings: Carolyn’s Shade Gardens is done for the fall. Thanks for a great year. See you in spring 2013.
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CAROLYN'S SHADE GARDENS 
November 23, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Beautiful images Carolyn. It is every bit as beautiful as in Summer.
November 24, 2012 at 11:56 am
Donna, On fall days in Maine, the sky is so crisp and blue it seems nothing could be so beautiful. However, I definitely like the temperatures in summer better. Carolyn
November 23, 2012 at 10:40 pm
As a seasonal resident of Cliff Island who especially loves the autumn on the island, I so appreciated your lovely photos of this gorgeous time of year in this magical little place. Thank you – and see you in the summer.
November 24, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Susan, So nice to hear from you. Cliff Island, as you know, is magic any time of year. I would like to visit earlier in October, but we always end up there the last weekend. Halloween on the island is a lot of fun though. Carolyn
November 23, 2012 at 10:45 pm
It’s very beautiful Carolyn… I miss our yearly trips there as it’s been several years since we’ve been east… Larry
November 24, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Larry, Time to revisit Maine. Carolyn
November 23, 2012 at 11:02 pm
I sure wish i had some of that holly berry to decortate with..but hey Im leaving for up north in a few weeks…
November 24, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Sharon, I have winterberry in my garden in PA because I planted it, but I’ve never seen it in the wild. In Maine it’s prolific. Carolyn
November 23, 2012 at 11:16 pm
What a rare opportunity to see nature in its closing act. Never seen winterberry so impactful in the landscape. Love when you juxtapositioned with the cattails
November 24, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Patrick, Masses of any plant make a huge impact but I must admit that the red berries of this deciduous holly shine out for a great distance. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 3:43 am
I agree with you about beech trees, they turn the most wonderful colour at this time of year, we have to enjoy them while we can, they will soon be blown away. Your photos of the Maine coast are wonderful, such beautiful scenery with nature at its best, thank you for sharing it with us.
November 24, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Pauline, The beech color looks drab until the sun hits it at the right angle. It looks like a golden torch. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 5:51 am
How wonderful the New England part of the US is. I love the colour fall brings. The reds and the yellows are so striking.
November 24, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Barbie, Yes, New England is engulfed with what they call leaf peepers in the fall but the sight is well worth it. That takes place more towards the beginning of October though. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 6:19 am
Beautiful! In a rather stark way but , oh wow! that winterberry holly just zings it up, doesn’t it?
November 24, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Sunita, Masses of winterberry really do the trick for late fall/early winter color. They are a hard sell at the nursery though because you have to buy a male and female plant. I wish more people would plant them because they are an excellent native with beautiful ornamental berries that the birds love. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 7:41 am
Nature’s garden is the most perfect of all.
Many thanks for capturing and sending us these beautiful vistas.
November 24, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Leslie, You are so right—we can’t begin to compete with nature’s design but we can learn from it. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 7:50 am
Carolyn, Maine looks like my sort of place, probably because in picture, the scenes are very Scottish looking, oh and I like their shirts. The whales of August, cant recall it at the moment although it has to be from the era of my youth. I think you are indeed blessed and also, you live in Pennsylvania!! 65000
November 24, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Alistair, I think Maine does look like Scotland which is why I want to visit your country some day. The Whales of August was filmed in 1987 and was probably the last film made by the stars. It was huge for Cliff Island because they rented all the houses and lots of people worked for the film makers and actors. We just celebrated the 25th anniversary of the filming with a weekend of events this summer. I don’t understand your reference to shirts or 65000. Carolyn
November 25, 2012 at 6:26 am
Carolyn, I was way out of my youth when the film in question was made. Why do I talk in riddles at times, as if anyone would know whats going on in my head. The shirts which Myra got me a few years ago and liked very much were called Maine from New England, turns out the designer is named Alex Maine and I think he also comes from the area. Glen Miller was a little before my time, however my mother was always listening to his music, hence (Pennsylvania 65000) one of his songs. Told you I was daft.
November 25, 2012 at 4:22 pm
I am glad you cleared that up!
November 24, 2012 at 8:57 am
Love your Maine pics! Would like to visit there sometime.I really enjoy your blog!Keep up the good work.
November 24, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Marlene, It might seem silly, but I really appreciate it when readers take the time to comment that they are enjoying my blog. It is so much work and it requires a lot of energy to overcome the inertia. When you say you enjoy, I want to keep going. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 10:35 am
Spectacular pictures! Thanks
November 24, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Lisa, So nice to hear from you. I know as a fellow Maine summer person that we share a love of the state. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 11:23 am
Maine is a beautiful state and your photos prove it. What a beautiful world we live in.
November 24, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Patty, Unfortunately there are fewer and fewer undeveloped areas left in the US. The current governor of Maine does not view land preservation as a priority and has gutted the agencies that focus on this. Cliff Island is mostly privately owned but I am hoping it will go on as it has. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 11:37 am
Oh, how gorgeous! The pictures of the water look almost dangerous to me. I have never seen The Whales of August, but I would expect a thriller from those scenes. Love the cat tails with the holly berries. Mother Nature is indeed a splendid artist.
November 24, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Holley, The Whales of August is a quiet sort of movie most appreciated, I think, for its ancient stars. My husband thinks it’s boring but I have been told I would appreciate it more in later life than I did in 1987. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 11:39 am
Hello Carolyn,
A lovely photographic record again of a beautiful place. Thank you indeed for sharing it, BW, Julian
November 24, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Julian, I am glad you enjoyed the post. I don’t think it could be more beautiful than your part of Wales though. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Beautiful images of a beautiful place. I agree about planting in drifts and not resenting a plant that is so happy it takes over, as long as it gives lots of interest through the seasons. Christina
November 25, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Christina, I have so many difficult spots that I absolutely treasure a plant that takes them over as long as it isn’t a nonnative invasive. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 12:34 pm
I love that “empty of boats” photo, where it feels like the soft blue sky and golden sun are trying so hard not to merge into that muted pale green color……..
November 25, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Eric, Thanks. The photo is of the calm that preceded the storm because Sandy was on its way. My neighbor’s little dinghy was left on the mooring and survived the storm. Sandy was more like a typical nor’easter in Maine. We were on the island for it, but luckily for us the storm hit the other side of the island. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Even more reasons to visit Maine…just stunning Carolyn!
November 25, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Donna, I am expecting you. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 4:40 pm
beautiful pictures of Cliff – hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. All the kids came to Louisiana so it has been very nice to be together. xo el
November 25, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Ellen, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Great that everyone was there—same here. I am glad you could see Cliff photos since your visit didn’t work out this summer. Try again in 2013, and I will make it work no matter what. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 8:58 pm
I am not sure what to say, but stunning comes to mind. I think it is easier to appreciate more of nature when the green blanket of summer has been shed, and the distracting color of fall is gone. Unfortunately that usually means cold weather, not my favorite time to be outside, but I go anyway. The deeper I get into gardening professionally, the more I appreciate the natural landscape even with a few farmer’s fields thrown in or the occasional cabin.
November 25, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Les, As you can imagine, the photographs don’t do it justice, but I am highly complimented that you of all people found it stunning. I agree with what you say as a fellow professional gardener. I think it is because we often find ourselves wanting to create a “simple look” from nature and realizing there is nothing simple about it. Carolyn
November 24, 2012 at 10:55 pm
It does seem like a very peaceful place, Carolyn. A simpler, graceful place. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
November 25, 2012 at 4:15 pm
PP, Cliff Island is very much simplified by a total lack of shopping and indoor entertainment—no stores whatsoever besides a seasonal grocery/sandwich shop. There is a post office, which we just won the right to keep, a one-room school house, and a 7th Day Adventist Church. Carolyn
November 25, 2012 at 6:34 am
Thank you for sharing this beautiful landscape with us. I find that this time of year, we can see the structure of the garden. Mother Nature truly is a wonderful teacher and source of inspiration.
November 25, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Mary, I try to soak in the lessons and find I am becoming a better and better student. Carolyn
November 25, 2012 at 8:53 am
Carolyn, I am so happy I have discovered your Blog! Living on the tip of the Great lakes Superior and water is part of my life here in Wi. Its interesting to see how nature changes during the seasons. Thanks for sharing your amazing photos with us.
November 25, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Catherine, Usually I am posting from Pennsylvania where unfortunately water is not part of my everyday life. Glad you found me. Carolyn
November 25, 2012 at 11:53 am
Hi Carolyn, I hope that you had a nice Thanksgiving. Your photographs of Maine in the fall are lovely. I always think that the nature and the local residents must breath a sigh of relief at this time of year when summer visitors have departed and all is calm and quiet.
November 25, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Jennifer, The year round residents of Cliff Island do breath a big sigh of relief when the hectic summer is over. They used to be able to do that after Labor Day but now visitors stay into the fall. Cliff has a year round population of 60 to 70 and is accessible only by ferry from Portland–three hours round trip. I think by Memorial Day they are ready for us to come back. Carolyn
November 25, 2012 at 8:04 pm
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Carolyn! Thanks for sharing these photos. The colors may be more subdued, but the effect is just as stunning as that achieved by summer.
November 26, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Deb, I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Yes, I agree that fall is as beautiful as summer (except the temperature). Carolyn
November 26, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Happy Thanksgiving to you too! I’ve never been to Maine but would love to visit one of these days. We have lived on the Canadian east coast for 3 years now but I still haven’t managed to venture south into the eastern States. So much to see there, I really need to plan a trip.
November 26, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Marguerite, You are practically around the corner! Carolyn
November 29, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Plants are really such wild little things. Nice to see them running loose. Beautiful winter images Carolyn!
December 2, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Linnie, Plants are the most beautiful when they are running loose and not kept captive in our gardens. It is just that there are so few places in the US where things are still wild. Carolyn
December 2, 2012 at 4:17 am
Lovely photos. The land- and seascape reminds me so much of the west of Ireland where I live.
December 2, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Jools, I do think the undeveloped coast of Maine looks a lot like Scotland, Ireland, and parts of Wales. I have been to Wales but would like to visit your country and Scotland. Carolyn
December 2, 2012 at 5:11 am
‘Josef Lemper’ and ‘Jacob’ Christmas roses are also stars in my November garden, producing pure white 3 to 4″ wide flowers set off by smooth evergreen leaves. Fall is their season, and they produce copious amounts of flowers to cheer up dreary November days. For more information on fall-blooming hellebores, click here .
December 6, 2012 at 1:05 pm
What a beautiful landscape you portrayed! I love the sense of late fall and into winter, the colors, the houses, the trees. Thanks for sharing!