McLaughlin Garden & Homestead

The McLaughlin Garden & Homestead, a two-acre garden in South Paris, ME, was created over six decades by Bernard McLaughlin, starting in 1936. It is listed as a Cultural Landscape on the National Register of Historic Places.

The garden features mature collections of hostas, daylilies, astilbes, iris, phlox, sedum, cimicifuga, sempervivums, and over 200 lilacs (the largest collection in New England) beneath a canopy of mature deciduous and coniferous trees.

TIMELINE

2017
Twentieth anniversary of the McLaughlin Foundation. Plans underway to plant historic iris garden on adjacent Curtis property.

2016
Demolition and restoration work begins to expand, enhance, and connect the garden with the neighboring Curtis House, with a master plan to become a more fully four-season community resource with visitor services, interpretation for the house, and enhanced historic gardens.

2014
The Garden Conservancy helps spread the word when the garden's integrity is threatened by a "big-box" store's bid to purchase and develop an adjacent property as a commercial property. The McLaughlin Foundation successfully raises money to purchase the property instead. 

1997
The McLaughlin Foundation assumes stewardship of the historic 2-acre garden, public green space, and 1840s farmstead.

1996
The Garden Conservancy supports the McLaughlin Foundation's effort to purchase and protect the garden by endorsing its plans, providing technical assistance, and facilitating the purchase.

1995
Bernard McLaughlin dies at the age of 98.

1936
Bernard McLaughlin begins planting at a century-old farmstead, complete with massive stone walls and a huge barn in southern Maine.

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For more information on the McLaughlin Garden & Homestead, visit www.mclaughlingarden.org.