Welcome to the McLaughlin Garden and Homestead in South Paris, Maine, a historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a cultural landscape.  The McLaughlin Foundation has been proud to steward Bernard McLaughlin’s renowned 1840s farmstead, gardens, and public green space for more than 25 years. 

Home to one of the largest collections of lilacs in New England, visitors from far and near come to the McLaughlin Garden in May to delight in the vibrant colors and fragrances of unique heirloom lilacs in bloom. Throughout the summer season, visitors to the gardens continue to enjoy our extensive collections of hostas, daylilies, astilbes, iris, phlox, wildflowers, and ferns, and the garden is a haven for birds and pollinators, as well as a place of beauty, peace, and inspiration for all who visit.

Regular public programs at the garden include self-guided garden tours, workshops, lectures, and our Thursday Night in the Garden series.  Signature annual events like Garden Illuminated and The Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular become special shared experiences for many, year after year. The McLaughlin Garden offers engaging opportunities for all ages from March through December each year. We are particularly committed to serving our local community through low-cost programming and by preserving this oasis of green on an otherwise busy Route 26.

We hope that you will share in our mission to cultivate a beautiful and healthy environment where discovery, creativity, and connections are nurtured, and we look forward to seeing you this season.

Join our mailing list, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and visit our events page to stay connected with what’s happening in the garden.

For those who are interested in supporting the McLaughlin Foundation and our mission, please consider joining us as a member, a volunteer, or by making a donation today.