She grew up “going wilding.” Now it’s a shop.

Mar 10

If you ask Coco how Wildings in Damariscotta got its name, she’ll tell you the story begins long before the shop ever opened.

Growing up, Coco and her mother had a phrase for one of their favorite pastimes: “going wilding.” It meant driving the back roads, gathering branches, beach finds, and small natural treasures to bring home. Her mother was an artist and antique dealer, and their house was always filled with objects that told a story.

That spirit lives on inside Wildings today.

Coco and her husband Jesse opened the shop nearly six years ago as a place where their shared love of plants, objects, and natural materials could come together under one roof. Jesse, a lifelong carpenter and woodworker, built the tables and shelving by hand. Coco, who spent years as a floral designer, fills the space with arrangements, branches, and plants that shift with the seasons.

The shop carries an eclectic mix of goods. Gardening tools sit beside houseplants and terrariums. Candles, pottery, scarves, jewelry, and small-batch bath products fill the shelves. Many are made by Maine and U.S. artisans, with a strong emphasis on women makers.

But what draws people in is the feeling of the place.

“We always say inspiration is free,” Coco explains. “People come in and leave saying, ‘I’m going home to cut some branches and make something.’”

Wildings opened just weeks after Coco’s mother passed away. In many ways, the shop is a tribute to the person who first taught her to see beauty in the wild.

“This shop reflects my relationship with my mom,” Coco says. “It’s really about a way of life that’s beautiful.”

Famous for:
Plants, candles, and inspiration for living beautifully.

130 Main St in Damariscotta, ME / wildingsmaine.com