Casco Bay Overlook

Project Details

Landscape Architect

Knickerbocker Group

Architect + Builder

Maines Design

Builder

O’Brien Wood & Iron

Landscape INstallation

Terrapin Landscapes

Photography

Jeff Roberts Imaging

A site defined by its setting

Tucked within a charming coastal neighborhood, Casco Bay Overlook rests on a shaded bluff with sweeping views of the bay. To preserve the site’s natural beauty, the homeowners engaged Knickerbocker Group’s Landscape Architecture team early in the design-build process, ensuring that the planting and hardscape design feel both intentional and deeply rooted in their surroundings.

Designed for seasonality

The homeowners envisioned a landscape that would celebrate Maine’s changing seasons—one that offers both spaces for gathering and moments of quiet retreat. As avid gardeners, they sought opportunities to pursue their passion, with plantings designed to attract pollinators and support local ecology. Increasing access to light and incorporating a palette of native species were also central to their vision.

Due to the home’s hillside location, the site required an extensive stormwater management plan. Grading and drainage strategies were essential to mitigate runoff, direct rainwater away from the home, and support long-term plant health.

A regional planting approach

Native plantings and hardscape materials were thoughtfully selected for their texture, tone, and resilience, creating a landscape that shifts gracefully with the seasons. Hydrangea, aster, goldenrod, and grasses bring a succession of color and movement, while species suited to partial shade and erosion control were carefully prioritized.

Fringe trees—well-suited to woodland gardens—offer delicate white blooms in spring, followed by dark blue berries that attract birds and pollinators later in the season. Sweetbay magnolias and native dogwoods are woven throughout, reinforcing a cohesive, regionally grounded palette. .

Outdoor spaces for gathering

A rustic terrace of locally sourced Mystic Mountain stone, centered around a gas firepit, grounds the design within its setting. Moss-covered native boulders are carefully placed to feel as though they’ve always belonged. The same stone is carried throughout the site’s walkways and paths, including a heated front walk—a welcome feature during Maine’s harsh winters.