Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden

Bar Harbor, United States

---

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden in Bar Harbor, Maine, is an extraordinary garden created between 1926 and 1930 by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller in collaboration with renowned landscape architect Beatrix Farrand.

Situated within moss-carpeted woods, the garden is an elegant blend of traditional English garden design with influences from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean landscapes, featuring Asian-style statuary, stone lanterns, Buddhas, and stupas integrated into the natural setting. Designed to be at its floral best in August, the garden’s plantings comprise mostly perennials that form the foundation with annuals adding vibrant seasonal color.

The garden was originally part of the Rockefeller family’s summer estate called The Eyrie, which was demolished in the 1960s, but the terrace remains as a scenic walkway overlooking Seal Harbor. Responsibility for the garden’s annual design has been passed through the Rockefeller family and, since 2017, it has been managed by the Land & Garden Preserve, which protects and fosters the garden’s legacy of botanical and artistic excellence.

The garden is open to the public by reservation during the summer season, providing visitors with a serene, meditative environment that reflects a unique fusion of Eastern and Western landscaping traditions and the enduring philanthropic spirit of the Rockefeller family.