The not for profit American Horticultural Society offers one of a kind garden experiences all over the United States on its online auction site, and proceeds support AHS educational programs.  For the next few days we will highlight one auction item a day selected from many delightful options.  For the full list visit http://www.ahs.org/online-auction.

Today’s offering is a visit to Portland and Cape Elizabeth, Maine, hosted by Jane L. and Lee Taylor. Your visit will include:

A personal horticultural highlights tour, including visits to some of Jane’s favorite gardens and historical sites in the Cape Elizabeth area, a Maine lobster lunch, cooked and served in Jane and Lee Taylor’s backyard garden, and lots of fun for the eco-minded!

Portland is Maine’s business, financial, retail, and “foodie” capital, and the largest city in the state. Seascapes and cityscapes blend harmoniously in Portland, perched on a peninsula, jutting out into island-studded Casco Bay. The metropolitan hub of Maine’s south coast region, Portland is a progressive, lively city incorporating the character of yesteryear into a modern, urban environment. A short four-mile drive south from Portland takes you to Cape Elizabeth, home of Fort Williams Park and the Portland Headlight, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world.

Jane Taylor is founding curator of the renowned Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing. The first of its kind – and a hit since its inception – the 4-H Children’s Garden has served as inspiration for children’s gardens across the country. In recognition of her pioneering contributions to the field of youth gardening, Jane was honored in 2000 by the American Horticultural Society as the namesake of the Society’s Great American Gardeners Award recognizing excellence in youth gardening. Jane and Lee retired to the Portland area in 2007, and Jane delights in sharing her pride in her new hometown with visitors.

Best time to visit: June through September (some blackout dates apply). Image from www.lighthousegetaway.com.