Wild Knoll

View from Wild Knoll

About Wild Knoll

Wild Knoll received its name from the writer, poet and memoirist May Sarton, who lived at this site nearby “Surf Point” for twenty years. Sarton lived at Wild Knoll, built approximately in 1906, at the invitation of Beverly Hallam, and wrote about this transformative invitation in her book, The House by the Sea, which is dedicated to Mary-Leigh Smart and Beverly Hallam and their generosity.

In 2020, Surf Point Foundation’s board made the difficult decision to take down the three-storey house that Sarton had lived in, and asked artists to share ideas of how the site could be honored in Sarton’s memory. The artist Carly Glovinski, who was in residence in April 2021, conceived of the idea that is now Wild Knoll Foundation Garden, and has been working on this project since summer of 2021.

Surf Point is thrilled to welcome gardeners, artists, and community members to the site by appointment, for volunteer opportunities, and for select low-impact events. We also invite you to read this special publication that includes Beverly Hallam’s photographs throughout the book and on the cover.

Visit Wild Knoll

Wild Knoll is open for visits by appointment. Please send an email to Surf Point staff at info@surfpoint.me with your name, contact info, and details related to your requested visit. If you send an email on the weekend, please expect to hear back during the week. In most cases, we need at least 72-hours’ notice before your requested visit.

Wild Knoll Foundation Garden (2021- ongoing) 

Surf Point, York, ME

By Carly Glovinski 

Wild Knoll Foundation Garden is a living artwork where a house once stood. This footprint garden is built to the scale of the house where the writer May Sarton lived and worked for decades, keeping the tending of her terrace gardens central to her creative life as documented in her journal style book, the House by the Sea. 

Artist Carly Glovinski conceived of this work in 2021, while in residence at Surf Point, after encountering the overgrown terrace and plantings of Sarton's former home. 

Glovinski created a new garden based on the architectural drawings of the former house on its original site. Each "room" in the garden is constructed from 2x4s, the same material used to build house walls, and features a unique color scheme. Each plant was carefully selected for its hardiness, drought resistance, and animal tolerance, as well as its specific bloom times. The project also involved restoring the existing terrace gardens.

The work is a blend of environmental art, community engagement, and historical tribute. It serves as a dialogue, a negotiation, and a celebration of a particular place—its past and its future. The garden is a contemplation on humanity's bond with nature and a reflection on time, dedication, and resilience, both for the artist and for nature itself.

Today, the garden exists as a gathering place for the Surf Point residents, a support system for insects and wildlife, and now, a new stage for activations by other artists. Glovinski continues to regularly tend the garden, seeing it as a dynamic, evolving sanctuary that fosters community involvement and creative exploration while reflecting the rhythms and sensory richness of the natural world.

Collaborators:

2021-2023 Acadia Tucker, Regenerative Farmer and Author - initial planning and planting

2023-2024 Elizabeth Brown, Master Gardener and Author- tending and consultation

Invited Artist Activations: 

Curated by Carly Glovinski, in collaboration with the artists.

2024 Tory Fair

2025 Phaan Howng

Garden with purple and white flowers beside a stone wall.
Garden scene with flowers and a stone wall under a blue sky, surrounded by green foliage and trees in the background.
Person with glasses in front of a lush garden with various plants and flowers, under a sunny sky.
Lush garden scene with white flowering plants, dense green foliage, and large trees in a misty background.
Close-up of vibrant orange flowers with dark centers in a garden setting.
Vibrant flower garden with various blooms, including white daisies, pink and orange flowers, surrounded by lush green foliage and tall trees in the background.
Purple allium flowers in a garden with tall lavender plants in the background.
Architectural blueprint of a first floor plan with labeled rooms and doors.
Close-up of a white peony flower with a hand holding its stem, surrounded by green leaves and a stone wall in the background.
Two women gardening in a yard, holding a rake and a shovel, surrounded by greenery and plants in raised garden beds.
A neatly organized garden with wooden-framed flower beds, containing various green plants and small shrubs, surrounded by trees and greenery in the background.
A bouquet of yellow and white daffodils held in front of a brown wooden sign that reads 'Wild Knoll' attached to a tree trunk.
Garden pathway with wooden raised flower beds, surrounded by trees and greenery, under a partly cloudy sky.
A misty garden with blooming purple and yellow flowers surrounded by lush greenery.
An open handwritten journal with dated entries describing garden observations and experiences, focusing on flowers and plants' growth and care. A hand holding the journal is partially visible.
Person holding "The House by the Sea" book by May Sarton, with a seaside landscape in the background.

Map of Wild Knoll Foundation Garden.

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