Hiking Up To The Cross

The trail to the summit is only 1 mile and affords scenic views of Megunticook Lake, the interior and coastal mountains with distant views of Penobscot Bay.

Trailhead

Access to this trailhead can be found off route 52 in Camden, however you may take longer hikes through various trails within the Camden Hills State Park trail system to reach Maiden Cliff.

Starting Off

The trail is not difficult yet steadily climbs upward through the woods over rocks and tree roots.

Over Some Rocks And Roots

Footbridge Over A Seasonal Stream

Along the  way  you will cross over a wooden footbridge. This time off year it is relatively dry however in the spring there is usually a steady flow of water rushing under the bridge.

Trickling Water

Water Under Footbridge

Lots Of Tree Roots Along The Way

Plenty of exposed tree roots along this part of trail.

Half Way There

Halfway along this trail one of the other trails intersects. We stay on course to the cliff.

Continuing Along The Trail

A Westerly View

At the summit gazing at interior mountains and pristine Meguntiook Lake.

Southerly View

Distant views of Penobscot Bay and Islands to the south. The cross was erected some years after Elenora French fell off the cliff and died in 1864.

Osprey Flying Just Above Us

Incredible opportunity to see Osprey, Eagles and Turkey Vultures soaring just above, below, and at eye level.

Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn is on the oceanside and just 1 mile from the incredibly beautiful Camden Hills State Park. To download a trail map click  here.

Roasted Garlic Scapes

It’s an exciting time of year in our vegetable garden when our garlic crop begins producing those mild and delectable scapes. If you don’t grow your own garlic they can be commonly found at farmers markets. Although there are countless ways to incorporate scapes into recipes and various cooking methods, our favorite way  is to roast them. By doing so it brings out a most subtle and delicious deep garlicky flavor. We call them garlic scape frites.

Garlic Scape

If left untouched the tip of the scape will develop into a top heavy seed pod laden with several pea-sized seeds.  When the seeds mature they will drop to the ground, root themselves, and eventually produce tiny garlic plants. It takes several years before a seed can produce a bulb worth harvesting. If anyone is interested we will post photos of this growing sequence.

Clipping The Scape

Clipping the garlic scapes puts the plant’s energy into the bulb (develops a larger bulb) and not the seeds. We clip the scapes promptly after they curl before the seed head (white tip) puffs out. This ensures tender scapes not tough and stringy ones.

Rinsing Scapes

An Abundance Of Scapes

After the garlic scapes are rinsed they are chopped into 3-4 inch pieces and placed into a large bowl. The arrow is indicating a scape that got away from us and would be too tough when cooked for our liking so we enjoy watching it transform its shape in a vase.

Chopping Scapes

Scapes Drizzled With Olive Oil

A judicious amount of olive oil, kosher salt, and sugar are added to the chopped scapes then tossed and scattered onto a baking sheet. They are placed into a preheated oven at 425 degrees and roasted for approx. 25 min.(we have a large heap) checking and tossing several times with tongs in-between to ensure even roasting.

Roasted Garlic Scapes

We let them roast until the tips get crispy.

A Delicious Side Of Tender Scapes

We love roasted garlic scapes  as a side dish with practically anything, this time around they are served with marinated and grilled strip steaks with crispy roasted panko encrusted little red potatoes.

Grilled Strip Steak With Scapes And Roasted Reds

Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn Review

Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn has been selected as a “special highlight” for Midcoast’s Camden/Rockport Maine area lodging in the 2010, 15th edition of Maine: An Explorer’s Guide.

Maine: An Explorer's Guide

The author writes about Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn’s fabulous oceanviews, the luxuries of our unusual accommodations and the landscaped grounds, including a 100-bulb dahlia garden.

Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn's Review

Camden, Maine

So hard to choose what to highlight with so much happening at once. But here are a few picks.

Oriental Poppies

Oriental poppies add a colorful punch in our expansive perennial “S” garden with a large and fragrant Lilac shrub in full bloom in the background.

Bearded Iris

Intense blue Veronica provides a dramatic background for the delicate colors of this German Iris.

Rhododendron

One of many blooming Rhododendrons here at our Inn. This one receives the perfect amount of dappled sunlight.

Dianthus

Large mats of fragrant Dianthus are easy to grow. We have been meaning to divide these for years now.

Peonies

Several raised gardens in the foreground with our “S” garden in the background. Peonies starting to pop.

Peony "Jules"

Peony “Jules Elie” with its extra large pink flowers.

Cherub Garden

Eye-popping blue Amsonia planted alongside the brilliant yellow flowers of Coreopsis line the pathway leading through a rose arbor and down to the cherub water fountain.

Digitalis (Foxglove)

Tall spikes of Digitalis grace numerous spots in the gardens, here they attract hummingbirds and bees to our vegetable patch.

Yes, we are excited! We picked our first dahlia bloom on June 1st! Remember those tubers that we potted up back in March? Well, some of the potted tubers have grown stems to over 2+ feet laden with buds,  and they were begging to get out of their pots! Being mindful of a possible frost we waited until May 22 before digging them into the ground. We have 125 plants in the dahlia garden to date with approx. 175 yet to be planted.

Dahlia "Prom Queen"

Sunrise On The Maine Coast

Sunrises are beautiful and so is the Maine Coast. Combine the two and you have the ingredients for a memorable stay. Fall is a beautiful time of year to take advantage of a quieter time in addition to our Bed and Breakfast’s Fall Foliage Special Stay 2 Nights And Receive A Third Night Free.  All of our oceanfront accommodations are private, offer exceptional water views, tastefully decorated and comfortable.

Wake up to ocean waves gently lapping at the shore, enjoy our fresh home-baked breakfast, explore the Camden area with its quaint shops and beautiful harbors, take a sail on a schooner and then dine at one of the many noted chef owned and operated restaurants. Or just relax and enjoy the beauty and serenity that surrounds you.

Beautiful Waterviews Along Our Shore

View Schooners From Your Private Oceanfront Deck

Relax on your deck and watch schooners sail by, working lobster boats a stones throw away,  porpoise frolicking offshore, with eagles and osprey soaring above.

Sunrise From Our Beach

Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn’s idyllic oceanfront location provide opportunities to view beautiful sunrises.

Sunrise At Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn

Private Oceanfront Decks

Local lobster fisherman checking his traps.