Fall education day at botanical gardens features experts from UMaine, Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the Department of Agriculture

September 23, 2026 Extension Media Release

BOOTHBAY, Maine –University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and Maine Landscape and Nursery Association (MELNA) will co-present the Fall Education Day from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Thursday, October 1 at the Bosarge Family Education Center, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, 105 Botanical Gardens Drive in Boothbay.

The day features garden tours with staff horticulturists and sessions on using pest behavior to improve integrated pest management, invasive plant management, pesticide registration in Maine and dahlias and peonies as cut flowers for early spring and late fall color. Presenters include Hillary Peterson, Amanda Devine, Julia Vacchiano and Stephanie Burnett. An optional tour of the new Edward and Gwendolyn Asplundh Horticulture and Plant Science Center will be offered from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Participants can earn three pesticide credits and five MELNA recertification credits.

Registration is $45 for MELNA members, $55 for nonmembers and $20 for students and includes light refreshments and lunch. Register by 5 p.m. September 28 at the event webpage. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Manjot Sidhu at manjot.sidhu@maine.edu or 207.581.2949.

About University of Maine Cooperative Extension

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.