The Gardens at Tidewater Farm: Summer 2026
Garden Update
Summer really came in hot this year, pun fully intended after the cold spring and this most recent heat wave! Volunteers and Tidewater staff have been busy planting vegetable and annual flower seedlings while working their way through cleanup and maintenance across the gardens. This is that sweet spot in the season when everything still looks fresh and beautiful, and we’re enjoying it while it lasts!
So far this season, we’ve harvested 31 pounds of garlic scapes, sown more than four successions of carrots, welcomed four new baby woodchucks courtesy of our resident groundhog, and spotted tiger swallowtails, the first monarchs, and countless birds around the gardens. It’s a wonderful reminder that Tidewater is a thriving, healthy ecosystem. Make sure to come visit us or join us for an upcoming workshop!
Master Gardener Volunteers have also been hard at work weeding, spreading wood chips, and planting the garden at the back of Tidewater. We’ve combined All-America Selections annuals (started by a fellow Master Gardener Volunteer this past winter) with a bean teepee and other whimsical, eye-catching flowers. This marks the beginning of transforming the space into a Sensory Garden, expanding on the current Children’s Garden.
We’re also excited to welcome and recognize our Food Security Apprentice, Della, whose hard work is providing much-needed support for our produce donation efforts.
Thanks to Della, we’re able to grow even more food and fully utilize the upper field through a partnership with two early childhood education centers in Portland. Can you say, cherry tomatoes? Flanking that area is another season of drought-resistant cover crop trials led by our Extension Agriculture Faculty.
Along with all the vegetables, annuals and perennials that are coming in, fruit season is beginning to arrive as well. The two peaches in the front orchard are producing after several years of getting established, and our elderberries and blueberries are about to pop!
Upcoming Events at Tidewater
Growing Elderberries
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $15 register online
Join Master Gardener Volunteer, Joel Leak, for a workshop on growing elderberries at home. Elderberries are a native, low-maintenance shrub that can easily be incorporated into the landscape. Today, several cultivated varieties are available for home gardeners and can be grown for culinary use, including syrups and jams.
In this interactive class, you’ll learn the basics of selecting varieties, site preparation, planting, pest management, and harvesting. We’ll explore the differences between native and cultivated elderberries, discuss growing conditions for success in Maine, and demonstrate seasonal care techniques.
Participants will gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience to confidently grow and maintain elderberries in their own landscapes or gardens. This workshop will take place at the UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm, 200 Presumpscot Point Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105.
Registration is required and the program fee is $15 per person.
Growing a Cut Flower Garden
Thursday, July 23, 2026
5:30 – 7 p.m.
Cost: $20 register online
Join UMaine Extension staff and volunteers for an engaging workshop on growing a cut flower garden. Whether you’re new to flower gardening or looking to expand your garden, this workshop will introduce techniques for growing beautiful, productive blooms throughout the season.
In this interactive class, you’ll learn how to choose flower varieties for continuous blooms and a variety of uses, plan and plant your garden, and care for it throughout the season. We’ll explore succession planting, garden design considerations, and tips for maintaining healthy and productive plants, while highlighting flowers that grow well in Maine gardens.
Participants will gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience to confidently grow and maintain a thriving cut flower garden at home. This workshop will take place at the UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm, 200 Presumpscot Point Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105.
Registration is required and the program fee is $20 per person.
Pollinator-Friendly Gardening
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
5:30 – 7 p.m.
Cost: $15 register online
Join UMaine Extension staff and volunteers for an engaging workshop on pollinator-friendly gardening. Pollinators play a vital role in supporting healthy ecosystems and food production, and home gardeners can make a meaningful difference in protecting them.
In this interactive workshop, you’ll discover the fascinating diversity of pollinators, the challenges they face, and practical ways to support them in your own landscape. We’ll explore how to create vibrant, pollinator-friendly gardens using native plants, thoughtful garden design, and low-impact gardening practices. Participants will also learn about Maine’s Pollinator-Friendly Garden certification program and steps for becoming certified.
Participants will gain practical knowledge and inspiration to create gardens that support pollinators and biodiversity throughout the growing season. This workshop will take place at the UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm, 200 Presumpscot Point Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105.
Registration is required and the program fee is $15 per person.
Allium Pests and Diseases
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
5 – 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $15 register online
Join UMaine Extension Fruit and Vegetable Research Associate, Peyton Ginakes, for an engaging workshop on common pests and diseases affecting allium crops such as onions, garlic, leeks, and shallots. Understanding how to identify and manage these issues is key to growing healthy, productive plants in the home garden that will store well throughout winter.
In this interactive class, you’ll learn about common allium pests and diseases and strategies for preventing, scouting, and managing them throughout the growing season. We’ll explore how to recognize early signs of damage, discuss seasonal monitoring techniques, and examine real examples from the garden.
Participants will gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience scouting for pests and diseases that can be applied in their own gardens. This workshop will take place at the UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm, 200 Presumpscot Point Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105.
Registration is required and the program fee is $15 per person.
Harvesting and Arranging Garden Flowers
Thursday, August 6, 2026
5 – 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $20 register online
Join local educator and lifelong gardener, Nancy Atwell, for a hands-on workshop on harvesting and arranging fresh garden flowers. Growing cut flowers at home is a wonderful way to enjoy a steady supply of seasonal blooms while bringing color and beauty indoors.
In this interactive class, you’ll learn techniques for harvesting flowers at the right stage for the longest vase life and explore basic design principles for creating beautiful arrangements. We’ll discuss how to properly handle and store flowers after harvest, combine colors and textures, and work with a variety of flowers commonly grown in home gardens.
Participants will gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience to confidently harvest and arrange fresh flowers from their own gardens. This workshop will take place at the UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm, 200 Presumpscot Point Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105.
Registration is required and the program fee is $20 per person.
Preserving Elderberries
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $20 register online
Join Kate McCarty and a Master Food Preserver Volunteer for a hands-on workshop on preserving elderberries. Because elderberry season is short in Maine, learning how to safely preserve these nutritious fruits allows you to enjoy their flavor and benefits long after harvest.
In this interactive class, you’ll learn the best practices for freezing, drying, and preserving elderberries in syrups and jellies. We’ll discuss food safety considerations and techniques for maintaining the quality and flavor of elderberries.
Participants will gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience while making and taking home their own elderberry products. This workshop will take place at the Cumberland County Extension Office, 75 Clearwater Dr, Ste 104, Falmouth, ME 04105.
Registration is required and the program fee is $20 per person.
Recipe
Pickled Cabbage Slaw
Who doesn’t like a crunchy, light and savory side dish with lots of veggies during these hot days? Heap on pupusas, tacos, quesadillas, or cooked fish!
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- ½ medium green cabbage
- 1 medium carrot
- ¼ medium red onion
- 1 small jalapeño pepper or other hot pepper (optional)
- ½ cup vinegar (apple cider or white)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Clean the kitchen area and wash hands with soap and water.
- Rinse fresh produce under cold running water.
- Shred the cabbage. Use the large holes on a grater, or use a knife and slice the cabbage into thin ribbon pieces. Set aside in a large bowl.
- Shred or thinly slice the carrot. Set aside in a large bowl, keep separate from the cabbage.
- Thinly slice the onion. Add to the bowl with the carrots.
- Mince the jalapeño or other hot pepper, if using. Add to the bowl with the carrots and onions.
- Bring water to a boil on high heat.
- Put shredded cabbage in a colander over the sink. Slowly pour boiling water over the cabbage. Rinse the cabbage with cold water and drain well.
- In a large bowl, stir together the cabbage, vegetables, vinegar, oregano, and salt.
- Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
Storage
- Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container as soon as possible, or within 2 hours, and use within 4 days.
Wildlife Sightings
There is so much activity at Tidewater, and you’ll be doubly rewarded if you slow down and take a closer look. Here are a few of our smaller residents that add diversity, support pollination, provide food for other wildlife, and make the gardens an even more fascinating place to explore.
Looking Closer:
American Lady Caterpillar
We often find this striking caterpillar on their primary host plants, pearly everlasting or plantain pussytoes, throughout the garden. They construct shelters from different parts of their host plant as they grow. Tiny larvae use leaf hairs to build small nests, while larger caterpillars weave together leaves, flower heads, and other plant material to create tightly protected shelters. Several of these nests are typically built over the course of their development. Despite the caterpillars’ hearty appetites, both host plants bounce back year after year with no trouble.
Pearl Crescent Butterfly
Asters are also the host plant to this small but abundant butterfly. Because of their long season, Pearl Crescents visit a wide variety of flowering plants for nectar, making them important pollinators throughout the growing season. These butterflies are also excellent indicators of ecosystem health since they are sensitive to toxins and habitat disturbance. Commonly found in grasslands, pastures, woodland openings, and other open areas, Pearl Crescents are surprisingly feisty, often darting after other butterflies that venture into their territory.
Red Milkweed Beetle
Milkweeds are well known for supporting monarch butterflies, but it is also an essential host plant for many other native insects, including the Red Milkweed Beetle. Native to the northeastern United States, these beetles spend nearly their entire lives on milkweed, especially common milkweed. They feed on the plant’s leaves, which contain toxins called cardenolides. Rather than being harmed, the beetles store these toxins in their own bodies, making themselves unpalatable to predators. Their bright red coloration serves as a warning, a strategy known as aposematic coloration. If started, Red Milkweed Beetles often drop from the plant and may even produce a faint squeaking sound, so don’t be surprised if your milkweed “talks back” when you gently touch one!
Sources: Alabama Butterfly Atlas, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Penn State Extension