About Golden Meadows

We are Tom and Cyndi Cowland – owners, operators, visionaries, cooks and bottle washers for Golden Meadows.

Golden Meadows has been an idea in the making for many years. When we purchased the house and property here more than 50 years ago, there were no gardens at all and no daylilies!

Tom is a former high school science teacher [Marshwood system for nearly 34 years (1970 –2003-04) and Cyndi taught Home Economics at Wells High School for 9 years (1972-81) before moving on to use her creative talents at a dress shop in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Once the good weather arrives, you will find us in our gardens on a daily basis from just after sunrise to (often) after sunset. Our (nearly) two acres have been transformed into a variety of gardens that reflect different types of light and soil-[wetness] conditions. Stop in for a visit, take a walk through our gardens and find that ‘something’ you know would look great in your gardens.

Members of the American Hemerocallis Society

Golden Meadows Through the Years

In 1974 the grounds were in a state of disrepair and neglect. Where gardens are today, overgrown fields and sumac dictated the view. Each spring and summer we reclaimed 20 feet or so further back with our push mower. By the late 70s and early 80s, we had the beginnings of a lawn and our first garden...a rectangle of 3' x 20' Sparse shrubs and flowering ornamental trees were next. The simple original garden had grown from a line, to an "L" to a "U" and then was enclosed. More gardens were added. Golden Meadows is taking shape. We started small. And added a little at a time. Until it became what we had envisioned. We are in over our heads...but it is ours! There was no real pond in 1974...only a wet depression surrounded with cattails and debris. Among the treasures found were two large steam (house) radiators and a full engine block that required some assistance from our neighbor and his backhoe. All of the cutting and clearing was done by hand. Each year became a little easier, and we had some "in house" help. Eventually our reclaimed pond became a haven for a variety of wildlife.