Thuya Garden
A hidden English-style garden on Mount Desert Island reached by forest stone steps. A serene complement to Acadia's wildness.
Thuya Garden perches on a hillside above Northeast Harbor, a formal English-style garden that feels a world away from Acadia’s rugged trails. Reached by climbing the Asticou Terraces—granite steps winding up through the forest—or by a scenic back road, the garden rewards the ascent with herbaceous borders, reflecting pools, and one of the finest horticultural collections in Maine.
The name comes from the property’s original owner, Joseph Henry Curtis, who built his summer home here among the native white cedars (Thuya occidentalis). After his death, the estate passed to the community, and landscape architect Charles Savage developed the gardens into what visitors experience today: a refined, intimate space where perennials bloom in succession from spring through fall.
The Garden
Character
Thuya follows the English tradition of herbaceous borders, mixed plantings, and structured design softened by abundant bloom. The effect is lush, colorful, and carefully choreographed.
Key features:
- Semi-circular perennial borders
- Central lawn and reflecting pool
- Stone walls and paved paths
- Ornamental pavilion
- Mixed borders with annuals and perennials
- Specimen trees and shrubs
- Views of Northeast Harbor through the trees
The Seasons
Spring (May-June): Bulbs give way to early perennials. The garden awakens in gentle colors.
Summer (July-August): Peak bloom. The borders reach full expression with layers of color, texture, and form. This is when Thuya shines brightest.
Fall (September-October): Autumn perennials and grasses. Asters, sedums, and ornamental grasses extend the season. Foliage color in surrounding trees.
Winter: Garden closed (typically November-April).
Peak Bloom
The perennial borders reach their crescendo in July and August. Unlike Asticou’s azalea explosion, Thuya’s beauty builds gradually and sustains through the summer months.
Getting There
The Asticou Terraces Trail
The most memorable approach—a series of granite steps and terraces climbing 0.4 miles through the forest from Route 3 near Asticou Azalea Garden.
The climb:
- 200+ stone steps
- About 15-20 minutes up
- Moderate effort (the steps are well-constructed but it’s a climb)
- Scenic overlooks along the way
Trailhead: Small parking area on Route 3, across from Asticou Azalea Garden.
By Road
Thuya Lodge Road climbs the hill from Route 3/198, reaching a small parking area near the garden entrance. Less romantic than the terraces but practical for those unable to climb.
Location
Address: Thuya Lodge Road, Northeast Harbor, ME 04662
About 10 miles from Bar Harbor.
Visiting
Hours
Open daily during season, typically 7 AM to 7 PM. Check current hours.
Season: Approximately May through October.
Admission
Free to enter. Donations are appreciated and support garden maintenance.
Time Needed
30-60 minutes to explore the garden; add 30-40 minutes if climbing the terraces trail.
Access
The garden paths are mostly level and accessible. The Asticou Terraces trail is not accessible—use the road approach instead.
Dogs: Not permitted in the garden.
What to See
The Herbaceous Borders
The heart of the garden—curved beds of layered perennials designed for continuous bloom. Heights, colors, and textures are carefully composed.
The Pavilion
An open-sided structure offering shade and a framed view of the garden and harbor below.
The Reflecting Pool
A formal water feature that mirrors the sky and surrounding plantings.
Thuya Lodge
The shingled cottage that was Joseph Curtis’s summer home. Now houses a botanical library. Not always open to visitors.
The Views
Gaps in the surrounding trees frame glimpses of Northeast Harbor and the islands beyond.
Thuya + Asticou
The two gardens make a natural pairing—different in style but complementary in spirit.
Combined visit:
- Start at Asticou Azalea Garden (Japanese-style, at road level)
- Climb the Asticou Terraces to Thuya (exercise and forest beauty)
- Explore Thuya Garden (English-style, hilltop)
- Return via terraces or arrange pickup at Thuya
Time: Allow 2-3 hours for both gardens plus the connecting walk.
Tips for Visiting
For the Best Experience
- Visit in morning or late afternoon for best light
- Weekdays are less crowded than weekends
- Bring water if climbing the terraces (especially in summer heat)
- Take your time—the garden rewards slow observation
- Sit in the pavilion and let the view settle in
For Photographers
- Summer offers peak color in the borders
- Overcast days provide even light for flower photography
- Morning dew adds sparkle to petals
- The reflecting pool offers creative possibilities
- Look for insects—the garden draws pollinators
Practical Notes
- Wear comfortable shoes for the terrace climb
- Bring a layer—the hilltop can be breezy
- No food service—bring water, snack elsewhere
- Restroom facilities at the garden
The Experience
You climb the stone steps, the forest cool and quiet around you. The terraces were built nearly a century ago, granite slabs set into the hillside with craft and care. Occasional openings reveal the harbor below, blue water through green branches.
The path levels at the garden gate. You step through and the world shifts from wild to cultivated. The borders rise in tiers of color—delphinium and phlox, daylilies and coneflowers, plants arranged not randomly but with the eye of a painter.
The lawn spreads before you, impossibly green. The pavilion offers shade and perspective. From here, the garden appears as a single composition, each element supporting the whole.
This is the art of the English garden—nature elevated and refined, the gardener’s hand visible in every combination. It’s different from Acadia’s wildness, yet equally Maine in its way: the summer colony tradition, the cultivation of beauty, the quiet places where those who could afford leisure came to find peace.
Thuya doesn’t demand anything. It simply offers itself, bloom by bloom, and waits for you to notice.
Thuya Garden is Mount Desert Island’s secret garden—literally up a hill, literally behind a gate, literally overlooked by most visitors rushing to Acadia’s famous attractions. Climb the terraces. Enter the garden. Discover what the summer residents of a century ago already knew: some places exist simply to be beautiful, and that is enough.