Asticou Azalea Garden

Asticou Azalea Garden is an elegant and priceless natural fantasy world filled with wonderful visual delights that will stimulate your soul. The design is fluid, allowing interlacing discoveries that will bring delightful pause as you meander through the pathways that are bordered with colorful and thoughtful charm. Sit and reflect on the many benches provided while you breathe in the aroma. This is one of the wonderful jewels of Mount Desert Island that is located on the south-central part of the island in Northeast Harbor, Maine, part of the municipality of Mount Desert.

GPS Coordinates: Latitude 44.305409; Longitude -68.283151

East Meets West

The original Asticou Azalea Garden was built in 1956 and 1957 largely as the result of the passion and vision of Charles K. Savage, a long-time resident of Northeast Harbor. Much of the early financial support to create the garden came from John D. Rockefeller, Jr.. Savage had a great appreciation for Japanese styled gardens and the underlying philosophy. He studied them and came up with a design that combined aspects of the Japanese stroll garden with unique characteristics of the Maine coastal setting with the rocks, water and vegetation. Many revisions have taken place over the years. Today, the garden is owned and maintained by the Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve and a committee of volunteers. Contributions to aid in its support are welcomed. Visitors are asked to donate $5.00. Although, it is not required for admittance. Those wishing to make a tax deductible donation should make the gift out to:

Asticou Azalea Garden
Mail To:
Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve
P.O. Box 208
Seal Harbor, ME 04675

Northeast Harbor location map

Stats & Facts

  • Located in Northeast Harbor across from Asticou Inn
  • GPS: Latitude 44.305409; Longitude -68.283151
  • Originally created in1956 and 1957
  • Created by John K. Savage
  • Early financing by: John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
  • Owned & maintained by:
    • Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve
    • (207) 276-3727

Some of the plants found in the garden include:

  • Royal Azalea - Rhododendron schlippenbachii
  • Torch Azalea - Rhododendron kaempferi
  • Pinkshell Azalea - Rhododendron vaseyi
  • R. yedoense var. poukhanense & R. mucronatum
  • Rhododendron kiusianum
  • Rhododendron 'mucronatum'

View all 360 degrees!

Take a slow stroll through this garden with some time to spare. Be sure to look all around, a full 360 degrees at every stop so you will see and experience the much thought that went into the garden’s creation. There are so many delightful places here that calm the spirit. Take advantage of them all. Look for the places where you can sit. Asticou Azalea Garden is especially beautiful in the spring for obvious reasons but it still does its magic throughout the season. I particularly enjoy the early mornings when there is a light mist in the air. This brings out the colors nicely. Bright days work well, also. Make sure you have your camera. If you are more serious about it, bring the tripod and shutter release. If you have a macro, you are all set!