A Final Look at the Josie Prescott Memorial Garden

 In my first two posts about the Josie Prescott Memorial Garden, we learned the story behind this special place and took a leisurely walk through the garden itself. 

For this final visit, let's slow down even more and take a closer look at some of the details that caught my eye.

Sometimes it is the smallest things that make a garden memorable. A flower tucked beside a pathway, the way colors are combined, the curve of a garden bed, or a quiet corner that invites you to stop for a moment. 

                These little touches turn a collection of plants into a place with personality.

                     I took this photo with Michele in mind, knowing how much she loves hostas!

The day I was there, only the center fountain of the three fountains was functioning. I hope they are back in working order soon. The sound of the water rounds out the entire experience. 

Thank you for joining me on this garden visit. One of the best things about gardens is that they are meant to be shared, and I’m happy to have shared this one with all of you. Until our next garden adventure, happy gardening!

A Stroll Through the Josie Prescott Memorial Garden

 In my last post, I shared the story behind the Josie Prescott Memorial Garden and the two sisters whose generosity helped create this beautiful public space. Today, put history behind us for a little while and simply enjoy a walk through the garden.

One of my favorite things about visiting gardens is that every one has its own personality. Some gardens feel wild and overflowing, while others invite you to slow down and notice the details. The Josie Prescott Memorial Garden has a wonderful sense of order and calm, with its formal design, brick pathways, carefully arranged beds, and peaceful corners that encourage you to stop and take it all in.

I have to admit that I didn't make a list of every plant I photographed. Sometimes when I'm visiting a garden, I get so caught up in the colors, textures, and little details that I forget to write everything down. Instead, I find myself simply enjoying the experience and trying to capture the feeling of the garden through my camera.

So consider this a leisurely stroll rather than a botanical tour. Some flowers I recognized right away, while others were new to me. If you know the name of any, feel free to leave a comment. Gardeners are always learning from one another, and I know our readers often have wonderful knowledge to share.

What struck me most about this garden was the way the formal design worked together with the abundance of flowers. The paths and structure give the garden a sense of elegance, but the colorful plantings keep it warm and welcoming. It feels less like a garden meant only for admiration and more like a garden meant to be enjoyed.

I especially loved the little moments: a bloom tucked beside a pathway, a combination of colors I might never have thought to put together, and the way the garden changes depending on where you stand. A few steps in another direction can give you an entirely new view.

I took so many photographs during my visit that I couldn't fit them all into one post. In the next part of our visit to the Josie Prescott Memorial Garden, we'll take one more look at the flowers and details that made this garden such a delight to explore. 

I'll end today with this photo of pink Hollyhocks that I found particularly charming.

Josie Prescott Garden

Every once in a while, I visit a garden that leaves me thinking about more than flowers.

The beautiful Josie Prescott Memorial Garden in Prescott Park is one such garden. Sisters Mary and Josie Prescott loved their city. Little by little, over many years, they began buying neglected waterfront properties because they believed this beautiful spot should be preserved for everyone to enjoy. They weren't looking for recognition. They simply wanted to leave something wonderful behind for future generations.

Today, thousands of people stroll through Prescott Park every year, many without realizing they have the Prescott sisters to thank. The lovely formal garden that bears Josie's name is just one part of the legacy they left to their community.

I love stories like this because they remind me that gardens are really about people. Flowers bloom for a season, but kindness, generosity, and shared dreams have a way of blooming long after we're gone.

Flowers bloom for a season, but kindness, generosity, and shared dreams have a way of blooming long after we're gone.

I took far too many photographs to squeeze into one post, so this is the first of a three-part visit to the Josie Prescott Memorial Garden. 

Next time we'll take a leisurely stroll through the garden itself and enjoy some of its beautiful paths, fountains, and colorful flower beds.

Until then, we'd love to know...have you ever visited a garden where the story behind it became just as memorable as the flowers themselves?

If You'd Like to Learn More

If the story of the Prescott sisters has sparked your curiosity, here are a few places to continue exploring:

• Prescott Park (City of Portsmouth) – The official history of the park, information about the gardens and the popular Prescott Park Arts Festival. 
• Prescott Park Master Plan – A fascinating look at the history of the park, the Prescott sisters' vision, and how the gardens have evolved over the years.
• Strawbery Banke Museum – Located next door to Prescott Park, this living history museum helps tell the story of the old Puddle Dock neighborhood that once stood beside the park.
• Prescott Park – If you're visiting Portsmouth, be sure to allow plenty of time to wander the gardens, enjoy the waterfront views, and simply slow down for a while.

A few more beautiful moments from Longwood Gardens

There were simply too many beautiful gardens, flowers, and little details at Longwood Gardens to fit into just one post. Before moving on to new gardening adventures, I wanted to share a few of my favorite photos that didn't make it into the earlier articles. As gardeners, we can learn so much just by slowing down and observing how plants are combined, how colors are layered, and how different textures work together. 

 

 

I hope these final photos inspire you as much as they inspired me, whether you're planning a large landscape or simply adding a few containers to your own garden.There were simply too many beautiful gardens, flowers, and little details at Longwood Gardens to fit into just one post. Before moving on to new gardening adventures, I wanted to share a few of my favorite photos that didn't make it into the earlier articles. As gardeners, we can learn so much just by slowing down and observing how plants are combined, how colors are layered, and how different textures work together. I hope these final photos inspire you as much as they inspired me, whether you're planning a large landscape or simply adding a few containers to your own garden. 

CONTAINER AND POT inspirations From LONGWOOD GARDENS

 

 

One of my favorite parts of visiting Longwood Gardens is exploring the incredible container displays scattered throughout the grounds. Each one is a masterclass in combining color, texture, and plant forms to create eye-catching designs that change with the seasons. While many of these displays are grand enough for a public garden, the ideas behind them can easily be adapted for your own porch, patio, deck, or front entrance. In this post, I've shared some of my favorite container photos from my visit. I hope that you get inspired to create a little bit of Longwood's magic at home—no matter the size of your garden.

 

A Closer Look at Celia Thaxter's Garden

 In my last post, we took a wide-angle look at the Celia Thaxter garden in Prescott Park. This time, I thought we'd slow down and wander through the flower beds together. After all, it's the individual flowers, colors, and little surprises that give the garden its personality.

                                            First up, we have a bed of dwarf sunflowers

                                  This is a Mexican Sunflower, specifically "Torch" variety

                                              Blue and White Salvia and Sunflowers

                                     A bed of Red Rocktrumpet, Blue Salvia and Zinneas

                          Flowering succulent bed of Goldmoss Stonecrop and Wishbone Flower

                             This bed of  Gooseneck Loosestrife was humming with polinators!

                              Rose Mallow, Pink and White Shirley Poppies, California Poppies

One of the nicest things about visiting gardens is bringing a little inspiration home with you. We hope you've enjoyed strolling through Celia Thaxter's garden with us, and perhaps one or two of these flowers will find their way into your own garden someday.

A Walk Through Celia Thaxter's Garden at Prescott Park

 While we were spending the day in Portsmouth recently, one stop was the recreated garden of Celia Thaxter in Prescott Park. I'd read her wonderful book, An Island Garden, so seeing the garden in person felt a bit like stepping into the pages. 

The original garden has been lovingly recreated on Appledore Island by volunteers working with the Shoals Marine Laboratory, but for those of us who don't happen to catch a boat to the Isles of Shoals, there's a wonderful bonus. Each summer, a recreated version blooms in Prescott Park, giving visitors the chance to experience something close to what Celia herself would have enjoyed.

If you're not familiar with Celia Thaxter, she was one of New England's best-loved poets and writers. Born in 1835, she grew up on Appledore Island in the Isles of Shoals, where her family operated the famous Appledore House hotel. During the late 1800s, artists, writers, musicians, and other creative souls escaped the cities each summer to visit the islands. While Celia became well known for her poetry, she was equally admired for the spectacular flower garden she created beside the hotel.

In fact, her garden became almost legendary. American Impressionist Childe Hassam painted it over and over again, capturing its joyful mix of old-fashioned flowers spilling across the beds. Later, Celia shared her love of gardening in An Island Garden, a little book filled with her observations about seeds, flowers, birds, and the simple happiness of watching a garden come to life. If you enjoy old gardening books, it's well worth reading.

I ended up taking far more wide-angle photos than close-ups because I wanted to capture the feeling of the entire garden. Of course, I couldn't resist photographing plenty of individual flowers, too! 

 I'll share closeup photos in my next post, along with a look at some of the beautiful heirloom plants that make this historic garden such a treasure.

If You'd Like to Learn More

If Celia Thaxter's garden captured your imagination as much as it did mine, here are a few wonderful places to continue exploring.

• An Island Garden by Celia Thaxter. You can read this charming classic online for free through the University of Pennsylvania's Digital Library. It's filled with her thoughts on gardening, flowers, and life on Appledore Island. Read An Island Garden 
• Shoals Marine Laboratory maintains the original recreated garden on Appledore Island. Their website includes information about the restoration and seasonal tours. Shoals Marine Laboratory
• Prescott Park Arts Festival is home to the mainland recreation of Celia Thaxter's garden each summer, making it easy to experience a bit of Appledore without taking a boat.  FestivalPrescott Park Arts
• If you'd like to learn more about the Isles of Shoals themselves, Celia's Among the Isles of Shoals is another fascinating read, blending history, local stories, and her love for the islands. Read Among the Isles of Shoals

Note to Michele: Peter Rabbit in Celia Thaxter's Garden

Michele, 

It has been some time since my last update. I enjoyed seeing your patio flowers. Interestingly, we both chose the same color impatiens.  You've come a long way since your gardening days in Portland, Oregon. You are truly a coast-to-coast gardener now! How do you like the East Coast?

This summer has been full of activities, visiting family, and daily life. I will give you a full garden tour soon, but for now, here is a sneak peek of my deck, where I am growing annuals. As you can see, I have some house plants mixed in with petunias, impatiens, geraniums, coleus, nasturtiums, begonias, and argeratum. I am growing some herbs, but no vegetables this year. 

When I saw this little bunny on a recent excursion to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to visit the gardens in Prescott Park, I thought of you and your love of rabbits. Do you think your Louie and Pepper would like to play with this tiny fellow? Reminds me of Peter Rabbit after he’s lost his jacket and shoes! But there is no Mr. McGregor here. You are safe from angry farmers, wee one! 

I will be posting photos from my trip to Portsmouth soon. I visited the formal Josie Prescott Garden at Prescott Park as well as the nearby Celia Thaxter Garden, a re-creation of the poet's garden. Both are on the shore of the Piscataqua River that separates Maine from New Hampshire. More about that to come. 

I’ll also update you soon on my own garden, as well as my parents’ cottage garden, which I’ve featured in the past on "Sprouts." 

Cheers! 

Caroline 

Note to Caroline-4th of July, 2026

Hi Caroline,

As I was putting together this post about Longwood Gardens, I found myself reflecting on how much my gardening life has changed over the years for me. Getting older and dealing with a progressive disorder that effects my mobility, and energy level has definitely changed the way I will  garden going forward. There are some things I simply can't do anymore, such as spending hours digging, hauling heavy bags of soil, or maintaining large garden beds. I miss some of those activities, but I'm learning how to adapt.

One thing I love about living in Maryland is the abundance of beautiful public gardens. Visiting places like Longwood Gardens allows me to continue learning, finding inspiration, and sharing gardening experiences with our readers, even when my own physical gardening is more limited than it once was.

I'm also still learning how to garden in Maryland. The climate is quite different from Maine, and every season brings new lessons. My gardening space has changed dramatically as well. Instead of large garden, space, I now have a small patio container garden.

Much of what I grow as far as produce will be for  rabbits, including herbs and greens, along with a few vegetables and flowers for myself.

Like many people  these days, I find myself paying closer attention to costs. Gardening on a budget has become important, and I'm always looking for creative ways to grow more while spending less.

How are things going with you? I know you're helping in your parents' garden this season. You mentioned cleaning up the pond area. I can't wait to see the post. I always enjoy hearing what's happening in your corner of  Coastal Maine. I have enclosed a few photos from my patio garden, but its not really blog ready yet. 

 Michele