Our Camden Garden
What Our Guests Say
“The grounds are gorgeous. There is a fabulous crushed rock path meandering around the grounds and a creek running through the property with a stone bridge across it.” (2021)
“If you are an outdoor plant lover (I am), then you will really appreciate the grounds around the Inn.” (2021)
Delight in the Sights and Sounds of Our Beautiful Camden Garden
The garden at the Camden Maine Stay Inn provides a welcoming space for our guests to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature right in the center of town. Covering almost two acres, our expansive garden seems more like a small park than a private Camden garden. It is filled with abundant lawns, towering trees, a mix of perennial and annual flowering plants, large stone terracing walls, crushed stone walking paths, and multiple sitting areas with comfortable, locally-made Adirondack chairs and benches.
Throughout the day, our guests can enjoy the sights and sounds of the garden while sipping a cup of coffee or tea in the morning, reading a book in the afternoon, or enjoying a glass of wine in the evening before dinner. In addition, guests are able to enjoy the sounds of the gently flowing waters of Rock Brook, a stream located behind the Inn that runs from nearby Mt. Battie to the harbor. There is even a granite bridge across the brook to a tree-covered patio which affords a secluded view of the garden and the Inn.
Enjoy the Ever-Changing Seasons
Our guests can enjoy the Inn’s garden on nearly a year-round basis. Each season brings forth its own special natural delights.
In the late spring and summer, our garden springs to life and showcases a wide variety of flowering annuals, perennials, and shrubs. The flowers are so varied and beautiful that they often find their way to vases that adorn our breakfast tables. Our three Japanese dogwood trees boast large, white blossoms that incredibly last for several weeks. Hostas, hydrangeas and other shade-loving plants flourish beneath the mature trees peppered across the garden. Shoulder-high ferns have their own space in one section, while large boulders left by ancient glaciers – known as “erratics” – enhance another area.
When autumn arrives, our guests can delight in the awe-inspiring views of New England fall foliage without ever leaving the Inn. The leaves on the towering maple, hickory, elm and other deciduous trees in the garden turn breath-taking shades of red, orange and yellow which are offset nicely against our dark green fir trees. Even as the leaves turn and fall, many of our flowering plants, including our brilliant blue hydrangeas and red geraniums, retain their vivid colors until the first frost.
During the winter, the garden is transformed into a winter wonderland with an undisturbed blanket of snow and ice glittering in the sunshine. One of our guests’ favorite things to do at the Camden Mainstay Inn in the winter is to sit at a breakfast table on our sun porch and enjoy the peaceful views of the snow-covered garden while wrapped in the warmth of a gas-log stove.
Glowing Reviews of Our Garden
The Inn’s garden is consistently recognized as an integral part of our guests’ positive lodging experience. In April 2018, Yankee Magazine raved about our “hardy one-acre garden” and named us one of the 5 Best Inns in New England for spring. More recently, in July 2019, Trips to Discover wrote a glowing review about our “lush garden” when they named us one of the 9 Best Historic Inns in New England. Better than any media review, our guests consistently rave about the garden which they have described as “beautiful,” “gorgeous,” “serene,” “lovely,” “verdant” – well, you get the picture!
Experience the Beauty of Our Garden for Yourself
We invite you to stay at the Inn and experience the natural beauty and tranquility of our lush Camden garden for yourself. Six of our eight guest rooms have full or partial views of the garden. Browse our guest rooms and select your favorite garden-facing room!