I have never been on the Camden Tour (will need to look into it, though, as we live so close), but there is a great garden tour on July 12: "Gardens in the Watershed"--seven gardens open from 10AM to 5PM, from Port Clyde to Spruce Head (Georges River-South East of Rockland). Tickets are $20. Not quite your date.. but.. worth mentioning.

You are right, plant sales are over. Time for Garden Tours! As you've already discovered, farmers' markets are good places for unusual plants. Every town has its own.

Enjoy your visit, Anne-Marie

Thanks, Anne-Marie, wish I could make the July 12 tour. Maybe another year. Summers, esp this one, aren't long enough!

That garden tour "Gardens in the watershed" was absolutely fantastic! Did anyone go? LOVED the garden overlooking Port Clyde harbor and the wildlife refuge in Spruce Head (on Clark Island road). Wow!
Enjoy the Camden tour.. would go, but I can't take the summer traffic!
Anne-Marie

The Camden House and Garden Tour included one house/location that both my husband and I adored. Loved the colors and funky folk art. Some of the homes had fabulous new kitchens and beautiful antiques. Although most of the gardens were gorgeous, we suspected that garden maintenance is big business in the Camden area. I saw a couple of unusual, small hydrangea I would love to have but I preferred the gardens that looked like the homeowner had designed them and took care of them. Two of the gardens were on a dead end street where the garden club volunteers did their best to keep traffic moving but the street wasn't wide enough for all the cars. Otherwise, there wasn't any trouble with traffic and one location was served by a wonderful little shuttle bus.