Fall 2026 Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter

September 29, 2026 Horticulture, Master Gardener Newsletter, News

In this issue…

Committee Corner

Just as the well-tended garden produces a great harvest, the master gardener volunteer program depends on good management at the helm as well as dedicated committee members to keep the program robust. Here’s a brief look at the players.

The MGV program is run by Pamela Hargest, the Master Gardener Coordinator in Cumberland County. Pamela keeps the Advisory Committee apprised of what’s happening at the Extension and University levels as well as new projects at Tidewater.  

The Advisory Committee keeps track of the subcommittees, sponsors social and educational events, allocates funds raised by the plant sale, helps review MGV training applications, review seed grant requests, and loosely holds the framework of the program together.

Get to know our current group on the Advisory Committee:

  • Bob Fowler is our quiet, behind-the-scenes reader of seed grant requests and MGV class applications. He adeptly and diplomatically runs our meetings, keeping the momentum going forward.
  • Sally Wright is a born leader who runs the engagement (aka “event”) subcommittee and is a strong voice in our Advisory Committee. No matter what task, Sally can take the reins, get a project going and more importantly, keep it going. 
  • Janet Kane is our humble author of this quarter’s Advisory Committee report. Jane also partners with Sally on the Engagement Committee. An idea/design person, Jane is comfortable making things happen behind the scenes in subcommittees and in any garden.
  • Amy Starnes is our IT and marketing expert. Amy is very savvy. She has helped us lost-at-sea members become more literate with Google Drive.  In addition to organizing our files and setting up our committee calendar, Amy gets those event reminders to us. She also was the MC at our Spring Fling in April. 
  • This past spring we welcomed 3 new members: Dana Maloney; Bonnie Moger; and Laragh Kavanaugh, who bring their unique talents and skills to the group. More on them next month!

The Committee’s tenure is three years with a possible reappointment for another three for a total of 6 years of continuous service after which the member must take a 1-year hiatus before getting back into the group (if desired). We’d like to have 7-9 members on the Advisory Committee.

In case you are interested in getting involved in Committee work, here’s a list of the current Subcommittees. Remember the hours count for volunteering!:

  • Education Committee: Sponsors events throughout the year

Chair: Vacant

  • Seed Grant Committee: Reviews and approves requests from MGV projects and helps organize supplies for project leaders to pick up. Paid for by plant sale revenue.

Chair: Bob Fowler

  • Engagement Committee: Involves the general MGV population in social engagements, e.g., Spring Fling, Summer Picnic, Harvest Festival. Paid for by plant sale revenue.

Co-Chairs: Sally Wright & Janet Kane

This past year we held 3 events: Spring Fling in April; Summer Picnic in August and the upcoming Harvest Festival in November. Because the summer picnic attendance was relatively low and to cut costs, we are considering knocking the three events down to two in 2027 – Spring Fling in April and moving the Fall Harvest into September. Let us know what you think of this idea. Email Pamela: pamela.hargest@maine.edu

  • Plant Sale Committee: Organizes, plans, and hosts the annual plant sale. There are several subcommittees.

Co-Chairs: Pat Wheeler & Marty Riehle

Joining any committee is a great way to get to know some of your fellow MGVs.  To serve on a committee you must be a fully-fledged Master Gardener. This means that you fulfilled all class and volunteer requirements and are actively participating in an approved project.    

Save the Date:

We have an upcoming Harvest Festival on November 12 at the Audubon Center.  Look out for email reminders. I’ll see you there!

Janet Kane

Advisory Committee Member

Project Spotlight: The Center for Grieving Children

blue garden gate with trellised plants at the Center for Grieving Children

The garden at the Center for Grieving Children was originally designed many years ago as a pollinator garden. Prior to Susan Brennan and Kirsten Bshara volunteering at the garden, it received sporadic care and had become overgrown and overcrowded. In 2021, they began to help restore and maintain this special space, working to bring renewed structure, beauty, and balance to the landscape. 

Over the past several years, they have focused on pruning, reorganizing plants, and allowing some to reseed naturally. The team considers each plant’s sunlight and water requirements, transplanting when needed to provide proper spacing and healthier growing conditions. Through this ongoing work, Kirsten and Susan have gradually helped the gardens become more manageable while supporting the pollinators they were originally designed to attract.

purple flowers growing in a pot at the Center for Grieving Children garden

Kirsten and Susan care for the gardens throughout the growing season, with additional support from the Center’s volunteers in the spring and fall. These volunteers help with tasks such as cleaning, raking, and spreading compost or mulch, depending on the needs of the gardens each year.

Because of the wonderful support provided by the Center’s volunteers, they are not currently seeking additional MGV’s for this project. Their involvement makes it possible for Susan and Kirsten to maintain the gardens as a collaborative effort.

What Susan and Kirsten enjoy most about this project is the opportunity to improve and maintain a beautiful garden for the Center’s staff and participants. The garden provides a secluded area for reflection, group projects, lunches, and quiet moments. They offer a peaceful outdoor space that complements the Center’s mission of providing loving support, encouraging the safe expression of grief and loss, and fostering each individual’s resilience and emotional well-being.

stone pathway through the Center for Grieving Children garden

 

Susan and Kirsten also appreciate the flexibility of setting their own work schedule and being able to see the changes that have resulted from their efforts over time. This project is somewhat different from many MGV projects because they often work when other people are not around. As a result, they do not always witness the day-to-day impact their work has on those who use the space.

Instead, they see little reminders that the garden is being enjoyed. Painted ornamental stones placed among the flowers, chalk drawings, and other signs of activity offer glimpses into the ways people connect with the garden.

The garden at the Center for Grieving Children is more than pollinator habitat. It is a living space that provides comfort, reflection, and opportunities for connection. Through thoughtful maintenance and ongoing care, the team of MGV is proud to help preserve this sanctuary for the people who visit and work at the center.

Project Spotlight: The Holbrook Community Garden

raised garden bed with orange flowers in blossom in front of Holbrook's storeIn 2025, Liza Rowland founded The Holbrook Community Garden located in Harpsell at Cundy’s Harbor. It was inspired by a desire to bring a little more food, color, and community connection to a working waterfront. As the new proprietor of a seasonal seaside shop, Liza thought a small community garden would be a welcome addition to Cundy’s Harbor. With summertime being her busiest season at work, she was also looking for a MGV project that would be compatible with long working hours and limited availability during the growing season.

Located on property owned by the nonprofit Holbrook Community Foundation, the garden consists of two raised vegetable beds. Her hope was to create a space where anyone could take from or contribute to a community sharing table. With growing food insecurity and an aging population in Harpswell, the project seemed like a meaningful way to support Harpswell neighbors while creating a welcoming environment for pollinators.

The garden would not have been possible without the generosity of community partners. Hancock Lumber donated the wood, and a community member named Greg constructed the beautiful raised beds. Skillins also donated soil and plants. Organizing these contributions involved reaching out to potential donors, coordinating requests, and sharing why this project was worth supporting. The community partners were incredibly supportive, and Liza is grateful for their generosity.

This year, the Holbrook Community Garden was fortunate to utilize the MGV Seed Grant Program for supplies and seedlings, which helped the Holbrook Community Garden to continue growing the garden.

Watering has been one of the biggest challenges for the Holbrook Community Garden. Harpswell has been in extreme drought conditions since the garden was created. Last year, without access to a spigot, keeping the vegetables properly watered was nearly impossible. Carrying watering cans simply could not provide the deep soaking that a garden hose can, especially during the blistering summer heat. The tomatoes suffered as a result.

This year, obtaining a spigot and hose made a tremendous difference. Liza also decided to add zinnias and marigolds, while the chamomile from last year happily volunteered itself. The garden has been robust and thriving throughout the season, attracting more hummingbirds and monarchs than she has ever seen before!

orange butterfly on orange zinnia flower at Holbrook's gardenLiza is incredibly proud of the environment that has been created for pollinators and this MGV project has harvested more cherry tomatoes than they know what to do with, but her favorite thing is the opportunity to talk with people about the MGV program and food insecurity in Maine.

The garden has become a conversation starter. Liza has enjoyed watching people pause and immerse themselves in the raised beds. When a garden is brimming with activity and life at eye level, it becomes a captivating experience that draws people in and invites them to connect with nature.

The sharing spirit has also extended beyond the garden. Other community members have brought vegetables and flowers to share, including corn, pumpkins, tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, and dahlias. These contributions remind Liza that community gardening is about more than just growing food; it is about creating opportunities for people to share what they have.

At present, Liza is the garden’s primary volunteer, responsible for watering, weeding, and tending to the flowers, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. With just two raised beds, the garden is manageable, but extra hands to help with watering and expand the gardens would certainly be welcome!

This project has also shown Liza how challenging it can be to coordinate sharing tables and connect with other initiatives in the area. Many local sharing tables have limited hours and limited publicity, and Liza wishes there were an easier, more accessible way for people to share food throughout the community. Because the garden is located in a relatively remote area with limited foot traffic, increasing awareness and connecting with more community members remain ongoing challenges.

Despite these obstacles, The Holbrook Community Garden continues to offer a place for growing, sharing, and connecting. Liza hopes it will inspire more conversations about food insecurity, pollinator habitats, and the many ways we can support one another as a community.

If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Liza Rowland. 

We’re looking for volunteer projects to feature in our Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter. If you are interested in having your project featured – or if there is a project you would like to learn more about – please reach out to Kerri Frazier.

Ask an MGV: Tips & Tricks for your Best Garden Yet

Q: Are there tips and tricks for keeping flowers from my garden alive year round by overwintering them inside?

A: Yes! Overwintering tender plants indoors is a fantastic way to stretch your gardening budget while keeping your favorite non-hardy showstoppers thriving year after year. 

Pots of pink flowers sit indoors near a window

While buying new annuals or tropicals every spring can quickly add up – $10 for a small 4-inch pot or $40 for a single hanging basket – bringing container plants indoors for the winter allows you to build up impressive, mature specimens over time without spending extra money.

Holiday Blooms: Geranium Magic!

Geraniums are an excellent candidate for overwintering indoors. Potted in 10-inch containers, they can be kept in a cool sunroom or near sunny windows. Moving them indoors before freezing temperatures arrive allows them to thrive for years without needing to grow new plants from cuttings each season.

With basic care like regular deadheading and occasional watering, overwintered geraniums often bloom through December, pause briefly, and resume flowering in late winter. Over time, these specimens can grow quite large, creating a dramatic visual impact when returned outdoors in May.

End-of-season clearance sales at local nurseries offer a budget-friendly way to acquire new varieties to grow into larger specimens for future seasons.

The Great Winter Slumber

Tender perennials can also be overwintered in a dormant state. While ideal storage temperatures range between 40°F and 50°F (such as in an unheated garage), unfinished basements holding around 60°F can also work successfully for plants like fuchsias, dahlias, and mandevillas.

Dormancy is a form of hibernation where the plant temporarily stops active growth. During this period, it requires no fertilizer and only minimal moisture to prevent the roots, tubers, or rhizomes from completely drying out.

Suitable candidates for dormant overwintering include fuchsias, dahlias, canna and calla lilies, tuberous begonias, and mandevillas. Container-grown plants can remain in their original pots, while tuberous or rhizomatous plants can be lifted and stored in dry bedding material like wood shavings.

Bring fuchsia and mandevilla containers indoors before night temperatures drop below 50°F. Inspect carefully for pests and manage them prior to storage.

For dahlias, callas, cannas, and tuberous begonias, wait until the first frost blackens the top growth. Cut back stems to a few inches and strip any remaining foliage to prevent disease.

If storing in original containers, scrape off the top layer of soil to eliminate lingering pest eggs or pathogens, replacing it with fresh compost or clean soil.

If lifting tubers or rhizomes, gently brush off dirt and let them air-dry for 2 to 7 days. Store in a breathable container (such as a cardboard box or paper bag) packed with dry bedding like wood shavings, vermiculite, or perlite.

Keep containers in a cool, dark, frost-free location (40–50°F is ideal). Avoid fertilizing, and water only sparingly if the soil or medium becomes bone-dry.

Inspect stored containers monthly, discarding any rotting material and lightly misting shriveled tubers. In spring, move containers into indirect light to trigger new growth before resume light fertilization.

Harden off plants gradually before moving them back outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.

Dazzling Dahlias

Dahlias grow from tubers and withstand dormant storage well. After a light frost blackens the foliage, cut stems back to 6 inches and store the entire container in a dark, cool space, or lift the tubers to save space.

Lifting tubers allows for easier inspection and division. Allow lifted tubers to dry for a couple of days before storing. Label individual varieties and ensure tubers do not touch in shared containers to prevent the spread of rot, or wrap individual tubers in plastic wrap for compact storage.

Lovely Lilies: Calla & Canna

Both calla and canna lilies grow from underground rhizomes. They can remain in their pots over winter or be lifted, cleaned, and dried (4–7 days for cannas) before storing in a dry medium.

Fabulous Fuchsias & Mandevillas

Fuchsias and mandevillas can be forced into dormancy or kept active indoors as houseplants. Dormant plants require less care: bring them inside before the first frost, inspect for pests, cut stems back (4–6 inches for fuchsia, 12 inches for mandevilla), and keep them in a cool, dark place with minimal watering.

To grow them as active houseplants, place them in bright light, maintain humidity, and monitor regularly for common pests like spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies.

Beautiful Begonias

Tuberous begonias (Begonia × tuberhybrida) can be stored dormant in their pots or lifted and stored like dahlias once foliage dies back in early fall.

Non-tuberous varieties – such as Rieger, wax, Rex, and cane begonias – should be overwintered as  active houseplants. Place them in bright indirect light, withhold fertilizer during winter, and allow the topsoil to dry out between waterings to avoid leaf disease.

Excerpted from an article originally published in the Maine Home Garden Newsletter, written by Naomi Jacobs, Penobscot County Master Gardener Volunteer. 

We want to help you with your gardening questions and issues. To get help from your fellow MGVs, submit your questions to Heather Wiggins Berger.

Upcoming Events

Speaker Series 

The Education Committee is pleased to present the following learning opportunity:

  • Thursday, October 1:  Nature Journaling  |  10:00 – 12:00 PM  |  Falmouth  |  $15

University of Maine Extension Events

Community Events 

  • Wednesday, October 7:  Fruit Tree Q&A  |  6:00 – 7:00 PM  |  Online  |  Free

MGV Updates

MGV Project Enrollment coming in October! 

Project leaders will receive an email about how they can renew their project for next year and report on impacts from this year’s gardening season. 

Funding Opportunity for MGV Projects 

Is your project focused on growing food? SeedMoney is accepting applications for public food gardens to run their own 30-day crowdfunding event. To learn more and to apply, please visit the SeedMoney website.

Past Editions: The UMaine Extension web professionals are in the process of improving our website this fall. Past editions will still be available but are in the process of being moved. More information will be available soon. Thank you for your patience!

About this Newsletter: The Cumberland County Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter is edited by Clarissa Brown, Kerri Frazier, and Heather Wiggins Berger. If you would like to submit an event, article, or help with any aspect of the Newsletter, please contact Heather Wiggins Berger, the newsletter coordinator.