It's Bill, 8/2/26: Tending Our Gardens

I bought West Quoddy Station in May 2000. Three former USCG buildings were in tear-down condition. It had been decommissioned in 1970 and had not been maintained—holes in the roofs, walls, windows, and floors; no heat, water, electricity, or insulation. Nothing much. But excellent ocean views and Maine Coast Guard tradition.

The First Garden

The first building I restored was a circa-1920 garage, now The Cabin. In the ’80s, West Quoddy Station operated as the West Quoddy Marine Research Center, focusing on whales, porpoises, and seals. Some of the first employees, “The Girls,” started a garden with rhubarb, flowers, and herbs on the south side. Not much was left when I took over. I gradually added to it with help from friends and guests. It is now very natural.

Time moves on, adding more buildings and gardens. In 2026, I had eight gardens of all sorts, putting in whatever I could find and basically tending them by myself. By August 2026, I completed my 15th lodging, Clark’s Folly Lighthouse, which obviously needed a garden. With no further building projects in sight, we are now focusing on our 14 gardens.

A gardener, an innkeeper, and now a Maine black bear. Bill wears many hats!

Learning As We Grow

Years ago, I had worked on my mother’s gardens, more working than learning. Now I need to know my annuals and perennials—their names, colors, foliage, height, shape, when and how they bloom, and more. I’ve got a lot to learn. I have found help from my Lubec gardening friends. When I think about gardening, I think of Gretchen Mead, with her knowledge and compassion. She helped me in many ways, giving me many perennials when she moved to town. The Cenotaph Memorial Garden has a sign: Gretchen’s Garden.

Gretchen’s Garden honors Gretchen Mead and the knowledge, friendship, and perennials she shared.

Patricia is my gardening muse. She even knows the Latin names—an attorney thing. Each day of the year is a garden day for her. Reading, planning, selecting, planting, weeding, moving, and, most of all, enjoying her gardens. We walk and talk through our gardens, balancing fresh ideas.

There is a garden in back of my office, Memorial Cottage. My staff had watched Patricia working there. They nicknamed it “Patricia’s Garden,” now with its own sign.

An old hand pump tucked among the flowers and plants in Patricia’s Garden.

What The Plants Have To Say

Gardening never stops. There is always something to do. Right now, it’s pretty much maintenance. Always watering, deadheading, weeding, and cutting back past blooms. And we talk to the plants, asking them how they are doing. Some say they want to be moved to where they’ll be healthier with new friends. Others say, “Just leave me alone. Love me as I am.” With 14 gardens, a lot of balancing is required.

Morgan is our Head Gardener, with tons of energy and knowledge. I bring truckloads of plants that appeal to me. She listens to my casual input and creates wonderful plantings. Morgan is assisted by Dawn, who waters and checks the gardens daily.

Head Gardener Morgan, left, and her assistant Dawn, right, beside Patricia’s Garden at West Quoddy Station.

Planning For The Future

Always planning for the future, we have ordered a large quantity of bulbs for fall planting. We are also stocking up on seed packets. Julia, from the Lubec Woman’s Club, has given us heirloom Black Columbine seeds from her family. We are reviewing flower and seed catalogs.

Gardening never ends.

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