Recent News

Terrace garden, 2008 Carolyn Hollenbeck

The Hancock County Master Gardeners are currently working on the Terrace Garden Restoration at Garland Farm. Following the recommendations outlined in the treatment plan included in the Cultural Landscape Report, volunteers inventoried plants in the Terrace Garden and created a holding bed for them in preparation for essential repairs to the structures and irrigation systems in the garden. During 2008, volunteers under the direction of team leader Carolyn Hollenbeck prepared string grids in the beds to locate plants, collected data, and prepared an identification key. They also photographed the beds weekly throughout the season.

Holding beds, 2008. Carolyn Hollenbeck Following Patrick Chassé's initial task list prepared in March 2008, they collected soil samples for nutrient analysis and core samples to analyze their structure. Plants were relocated to the holding bed and sorted according to historic or non-historic status and labeled with markers. Drawings were prepared for each bed indicating the location of plants on Beatrix Farrand’s original plan, the Cultural Landscape Report treatment plan, and material found at the time of relocation. Weekly progress reports, photographs, and other information are being compiled into a binder that will be available for inspection in the BFS Library.

The first phase of building renovations at Garland Farm that are essential to bringing it up to code requirements for institutional use is well underway. A number of modifications have recently been made to the barn to convert it to the educational facility envisioned by the BFS. These include the addition of handicap access to the building and new lighting and audio-visual systems. Future renovations include making the Farrand wing accessible and the addition of bathrooms. The renovations have been made without sacrificing the historical integrity of the barn or changing the exterior appearance. Recycled wood was used to blend the interior renovations, including an internal ramp that connects the barn to the adjacent passageway leading to the terrace garden. BFS Board Member and architect Scott Koniecko worked closed with the Town of Bar Harbor to create this noteworthy conversion.