For those of you not heading away this holiday weekend, come up to enjoy some cupcakes and help make strawberry ice cream because that is what Nixon preferred (his birthday is coming on the 11th.) While enjoying the treats, we will hear the story of Hector Fox and the Giant Quest by Astrid Sheckels and there will be a craft project since only one person at a time can crank the old fashioned ice cream maker at a time!

In partnership with Ellsworth Public Library, this story trail will be in place through the end of August. Parking for this event is up in the field, drive past the construction - follow the loud orange arrow.

Instead of heading home after work, visit Woodlawn and take a slow walk through history. If it is a lovely summer night, you can also walk the story trail or just sit outside and enjoy the space - we will have tables and refreshements in the tea garden so you can take a peak at the construction before heading over to the croquet court to try our upgraded back-yard game.....no pressure, just a lovely evening at Woodlawn. We'll also put some chairs on the front porch so you can enjoy the sunset....Play the tourist in your own hometown!

Update: no bus required! We have made plans to accomodate parking on the fields. No excuse but still limited to the first 100! RSVP to info@woodlawnmuseum.org

An 1829 Boston garden catalogue by John Russell was recently rediscovered in the Woodlawn Collection. It had been tucked away for safe keeping nearly 200 years ago. How many people hold on to seed/nursery catalogues more than a year or two? What kind of information is embedded in this bit of ephemera that was only intended for one season’s use?

The catalogue implies that John and Mary Black were looking beyond local sources for flowers, vegetables, fruits, shrubs and trees to plant around their new home, having moved into Woodlawn in 1827.

John Black traveled to Boston several times a year through the 1820s, ‘30s, and ‘40s and would have known Russell’s seed store and publishing business.

Unfortunately, there are no check marks or folded down pages to indicate the choices they made. Instead, the legacy of apple trees and grape vines on the property, and the record of flower and vegetable seed purchases in their account books tell us what they planted.

Thanks to saved treasures such as this, horticultural historians have a record of what varieties were available to 19th century gardeners. Note, for example, the page pictured here listing what cider apples were available as well as the new apple imports from Europe.

John B. Russell also founded the Massachusetts Horticultural Society (MHS) in 1829, the first of its find in the US.

In 1831, the MHS founded Mount Auburn

Arboretum and Cemetery; establishing America’s first garden park cemetery. George N. Black Sr. and all of his immediate family are buried in that lovely cemetery located outside of Boston.

MHS members were leaders in regional, national and international horticultural movements. Although John Black was not a member, his grandson, George “Nixon” Black, Jr. was. In 1899, Nixon Black joined as a Life Member (at a cost of $30) listing Manchester, MA as his residence. At the time, in Manchester, Nixon’s greenhouses and gardens there were flourishing and flowers from summer residence there were winning prizes at flower shows. And it may have been through his MHS connections that Nixon commissioned the design of the 1902 formal garden at Woodlawn.

Looking at historical objects in new ways broadens our understanding of the past.

Master Gardener Amy Reisman has adopted our formal garden. She has recruited the talented Pam Caine as her assistant, also a Master Gardener and a Master Naturalist.

We found this image of the garden in 1966. They are inspired to bring the garden back to its former glory! Working bed by bed, they will re-establish the garden and in a few years, when folks visit the barn (now under construction) and look toward the museum, they will be able to enjoy the garden view. Thank you Amy and Pam!

Are you a Master Information Manager? Is there a training program for that? Help us make all the elements of Woodlawn come together. We need someone who is organized, detailed, technically inclined, enjoys working with data as well as people, has a sense of humor and can light up the room. Manage, coordinate, and improve all the IT systems – hardware, software, platforms, integrations. This includes the website, social media, staff computers, phones, databases, and point of sale. There will be opportunity to develop new applications for historic interpretation. Coordinate all administrative operations and manage the timelines, calendars, scheduling for Woodlawn. With the barn under construction, this job is going to grow and become the critical linchpin for our organization. Is this you? The full job description is on the website - if you love history, Ellsworth, nature, and an upbeat work environment - come to Woodlawn. Grow with us.

Next up: July 17 is Bobbi Lane, solo performer on guitar; with Precipice Coffee.

A big Thank You to Camden National Bank for this series!

The Woodlawn gift shop is the place to start your shopping early. We have lovely items available and at great prices! Along with the museum, the shop is open each week, Thur-Sun, 10-4.

This year, Woodlawn will celebrate the season each weekend in December. Starting with our Black Friday at the Black House, we will be open through December 18. Decorations will include an installation of 15 sponsored table-top trees. We invite businesses to sponsor a tree that we provide and decorate it as they wish (2 have already been claimed). As visitors tour the museum, they vote for their favorites with the 3 tickets they get as part of the tour price. Extra tickets available! All will be hoping to win, by lucky draw, the tree of their choice.

The tree with the most votes wins its sponsor a private reception at the Black House for up to 10 employees! Call or email to sponsor a tree!

In Memory: we received word that two former trustees have passed and wish to acknowledge their commitment and support of Woodlawn.

Laurie Becket Williams died at the age of 81 in May. She arrived in Trenton in 1948, attended Bar Harbor schools and graduated from Simmons College in Boston with a BS in Mathematics. She retired in 2000 after teaching math at Bar Harbor High for 34.5 years. It was at that time that she became a Woodlawn trustee and went on to serve for four terms (12 years!). She then retired again as an Emeritus Trustee.

Greg Hannah, involved with Woodlawn since 2005, was also recognized as an Emeritus Trustee after many years on the Board, many of them as Treasurer. He retired to Maine after a career in banking and was a keen volunteer, always willing to help with advice or by being an able hand in the moment, with a soft spot for the antique show.

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