Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden is located in Seal Harbor, Maine. The garden was created between 1926 - 1930 as part of the Rockefeller estate by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller and garden designer Beatrix Farrand. Abby was the wife of John D. Rockefeller Jr. In 2017 responsibility for the the garden was taken over by the (Mount Desert) Land & Garden Preserve. To visit the garden one has to purchase tickets via a reservation system (see the weblink below). 

Website: https://www.gardenpreserve.org/abby-garden

The garden is a mix of East Asian elements, including Korean sculptures that are reminiscent of the Chinese Ming Dynasty tombs. Incredibly, the imperial-yellow tiled roofed walls are actually made from reclaimed tiles from the Forbidden City in China. Interestingly, Farrand had never been to Asia, and Aldrich only briefly visited for a few months. As a result, the garden is not a traditional Japanese, Chinese, or Korean garden. Instead, its a product of the time period in which it was conceived and a reflection of the interests of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller.

The central feature of the garden is the grass-covered courtyard surrounded by flower beds. The plant selections are very beautiful, similar to the nearby Thuya Garden. The flowerbeds of the central courtyard, combined with the East Asian elements surrounding the courtyard, make the The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden a fusion of East and West. 

Overall, the garden was well worth the visit. It is a garden unlike any other. If planning a visit, be sure to include time to visit the neighboring Thuya Garden (if you like flowerbeds) and the Asticou Azalea Garden (if you prefer to see a Japanese style stroll garden). Together, all three make for an excellent garden adventure.

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Photos:

Along the "Spirt Path" with its Korean statuary:

The flower beds of the central courtyard:

Buddhist statuary:

Assorted features throughout the garden:

Frogs in a crystal clear pool:

Exiting the garden along the "Spirt Path":