Happy Friday GPODers!

A couple of Fridays back, I shared photos from a summer trip to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, Maine (GPOD on the Road: Bar Harbor in July). Of course, many New Englanders have made the trip to coastal Maine to enjoy the natural wonder that is Acadia, and the colorful town of Bar Harbor in the summertime. Carol Rice from Plymouth, Massachusetts shared photos from her most recent adventure.

I, too, spent days in Bar Harbor and loved the flowers everywhere! Just had to share…

This bed is very similar to the one photographed with the Incrediball® smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Abetwo’, Zones 3–8). (Again, you can check that out here: GPOD on the Road: Bar Harbor in July) This also has a lovely array of colorful flowers, but the focal point is a stunning pink and white panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata, Zones 3–8). I have to say, I enjoy the extra dash of color.

A close up of that amazing hydrangea, covered in gorgeous flowers.

Carol also spotted this lush window box. Petunias are a lovely bright spot amongst dark blue salvia and various moody heucheras. Silver Falls™ dichondra (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’, annual) never disappoints as a spiller.

Of course, there is endless fun and natural beauty to enjoy! Who wouldn’t love this incredible boulder in their garden?

When I received these photos from Carol, I decided to go through my photos one last time to see if there were any Bar Harbor plantings that I missed in the last post. Here are the few that I wanted to share:

Although Bar Harbor isn’t a major metropolitan city, there often still isn’t space for large, expansive gardens around every corner. However, that doesn’t mean that plant magic can’t be found in tiny crevices and unexpected places—just like this tiny side garden I stumbled upon.

While container plantings and small garden beds are a plenty in and around Bar Harbor, the are even more trees to be admired. I really loved how this bright green spruce looked against the blue ocean backdrop. Ever wonder how people can recognize the different between different kinds of conifers? There are a multitude of characteristics to look out for. To learn more, check out the article: Fir vs. Spruce vs. Pine: How to Tell Them Apart. For an even deeper dive, check out this amazing fact sheet from Ohio State University: Is It Pine, Spruce, or Fir?

Lastly, I wanted to share a photo of the actual Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park. In my last post, I shared some planters that were outside the famous Jordan Pond House restaurant and shop located near this famous landmark. When flipping through my photos I decided you should all actually see the pond that give the restaurant its name.

Thank you for sharing your flower-filled adventures in Bar Harbor, Carol! It was so nice to see the plantings that caught your eye.

Did you spot any plants on your travels this summer? Whether it was elaborate designs created in meticulously-maintained park planters or natural plant life you enjoyed on outdoor adventures, we’d love to see any photos you captured! Follow the directions below to submit your photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

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