{"id":28138,"date":"2026-05-29T09:25:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T13:25:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/?p=28138"},"modified":"2026-06-23T08:58:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T12:58:00","slug":"maine-home-garden-news-june","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2026\/05\/29\/maine-home-garden-news-june\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine Home Garden News &#8211; June"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>In This Issue:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#month\">June Gardening Notes: Edges of Early Summer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-1\">Big Yields on Small Plots: Container Gardening<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-2\">Seeing Seeds Differently: Cilantro and Cumin<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-3\">Seasonal Sightings: Canada Serviceberry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-4\">Maine&#8217;s New Interactive Map for Invasive Forest Pests<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-5\">Cucumber Beetles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-6\">Libra Sun Flower Farm \u2013 A Certified Pollinator Friendly Garden<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-7\">Ask the Expert: Voles and Groundhogs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-8\">Featured Resource: Invasive Plant Lists and Information Sheets<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-9\">Maine Weather and Climate Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"month\"><\/a>June Gardening Notes: Edges of Early Summer .<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Sandra Mitchell, Penobscot County Master Gardener Volunteer, Maine Master Naturalist<\/em><\/p>\n<p>June in Maine arrives like it&#8217;s making up for lost time. The garden that looked tentative in May is suddenly lush, the air smells different \u2014 warmer, earthier, full of things growing \u2014 and the light holds so late into the evening that it&#8217;s easy to lose track of time altogether. For Maine gardeners, this is the month when the season stops feeling like potential and starts feeling like reality.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"28148\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28148\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Red-Oak-300x163.png\" alt=\"Close-up of a red oak branch in late spring showing lobed green leaves, pendulous yellow-green catkins (male flowers), small red female flowers at leaf bases, and immature acorns from the previous year's pollination along the stem.\" width=\"300\" height=\"163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Red-Oak-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Red-Oak-105x57.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Red-Oak-317x172.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Red-Oak-423x230.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Red-Oak.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Red oak produces two types of flowers in late May: wispy, yellow-green pollen-producing catkins and tiny red female flowers tucked at the leaf bases. Acorns take 15 months to mature \u2014 last year&#8217;s developing acorns are visible lower on the stem.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It&#8217;s busy in the best way. Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s worth your attention right now.<\/p>\n<h4>Mulch, Moisture, and the Soil Beneath Your Feet<\/h4>\n<p>June brings consistently warmer temperatures, and with them, the first real test of your soil&#8217;s moisture management. This matters most for vegetables, tender annuals, and anything planted in May that is still getting established. A light layer of mulch (see <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2024\/04\/11\/should-you-use-mulch-and-what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-different-types-of-mulch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ask the Expert question<\/a>)\u2014 one to two inches over bare soil \u2014 slows evaporation, moderates soil temperature on the hot afternoons that are starting to arrive, and suppresses the weeds that are very much still trying to get ahead of you (and likely have already gotten ahead of me!).<\/p>\n<p>Water deeply and less frequently rather than a little every day, and do it in the early morning if you can. Foliage that goes into the night wet is foliage that is asking for trouble, (see <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2753e\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bulletin #2753, Managing Diseases in the Home Garden<\/a>) especially later in the season.<\/p>\n<h4>The Pest Parade Begins<\/h4>\n<figure id=\"28150\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28150\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Brassica-seedling-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"close up image of one seedling in the field. Leaves are covered in small holes that either fully penetrate the leaves or are slightly indent the leaves.\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Brassica-seedling-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Brassica-seedling-105x140.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Brassica-seedling-317x423.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Brassica-seedling-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Brassica-seedling.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,225px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brassica seedling with flea beetle damage. Photo credit: Christina Lannan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>June is when you start to see who else has been paying attention to your garden, and not in a good way, unless you like studying bugs (while they consume your plants!).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umn.edu\/yard-and-garden-insects\/flea-beetles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Flea beetles<\/a> make themselves known on leafy greens \u2014 you&#8217;ll see the tiny, scattered shotgun-hole damage on arugula and brassica leaves before you ever spot the beetles themselves. Delayed planting or setting out larger, more established transplants can help you sidestep peak flea beetle pressure, and row covers placed immediately over seeded beds or young transplants offer a reliable physical barrier.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umn.edu\/yard-and-garden-insects\/aphids\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aphids<\/a> cluster on tender new growth, favoring roses, evening primroses, and vegetable shoots \u2013 and my beloved milkweeds. A strong spray of water knocks them back surprisingly well, and it&#8217;s worth trying before reaching for anything stronger.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/ipm\/ipddl\/publications\/5036e\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Slugs<\/a> are very much a June problem in Maine, especially after a wet spring \u2014 check under boards, pots, and low-lying foliage in the early morning or evening if you&#8217;re seeing mysterious damage at the base of plants. A half buried can of beer in strategic places works well for me, and beats hand-picking them \u2013 unless you have chickens. They are definitely a poultry delicacy!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"28151\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28151\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Colorado-potato-beetle-300x198.png\" alt=\"green gloved hand holding a leaf with dozens of small bright yellow insects eggs on the underside, one small reddish\/dark brown round bodied insect and a finger holding a yellow and black striped beetle about 3\/4 the width of the fingertip.\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Colorado-potato-beetle-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Colorado-potato-beetle-105x69.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Colorado-potato-beetle-317x209.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Colorado-potato-beetle-423x279.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Colorado-potato-beetle.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Three stages of the Colorado potato beetle life cycle: eggs, larvae and adult.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.potatobeetle.org\/overview.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Colorado potato beetles<\/a> appear this month too, and the time to deal with them is before populations build, not after. Check the undersides of potato leaves for the distinctive orange egg clusters. Since potatoes don&#8217;t require pollination, fine mesh netting makes an easy, effective barrier \u2014 just make sure it&#8217;s secured before adults have a chance to establish.<\/p>\n<p>The single most effective pest management tool you have is ten minutes a day walking your beds with your eyes open. Problems caught small stay small.<\/p>\n<h4>Pollinators and What&#8217;s Actually Blooming Right Now<\/h4>\n<p>The edges of the garden are doing something interesting in June, and it&#8217;s worth stopping to notice.<\/p>\n<p>Bumblebees, flower flies, and a whole community of smaller native pollinators you may not have a name for are actively foraging now, and they&#8217;re telling you something about what&#8217;s blooming and what&#8217;s setting fruit. Watch which crops they&#8217;re visiting \u2014 squash and cucumbers that aren&#8217;t getting pollinator attention early in the season often disappoint at harvest time. Consider joining a community science program, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gnbee.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Project GNbee<\/a>, to document the pollinators in your area \u2013 no identification skills needed!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"28152\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28152\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Ground-cover-300x225.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Ground-cover-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Ground-cover-105x79.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Ground-cover-317x238.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Ground-cover-423x317.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Ground-cover-500x375.png 500w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Ground-cover.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bunchberry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In Maine&#8217;s roadsides, fields, and wild edges, June&#8217;s signature native wildflowers include blue iris (<em>Iris versicolor<\/em>), bush honeysuckle (<em>Diervilla lonicera<\/em>), boneset (<em>Eupatorium perfoliatum<\/em>), wild strawberry (<em>Fragaria virginiana<\/em>), fleabane (<em>Erigeron annuus<\/em>), and carpets of bunchberry (<em>Chamaepericlymenum canadense<\/em>). Milkweed (<em>Asclepias syriaca<\/em>) is pushing up and beginning to bud now \u2014 the monarchs won&#8217;t be far behind. Worth noting: the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/articles\/000\/a-tale-of-two-lupines.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lupine<\/a> (<em>Lupinus polyphyllus<\/em>) blanketing Maine&#8217;s roadsides are not native, and despite their beauty, they offer little in the way of ecological value to local wildlife.<\/p>\n<p>If you have room in a border or an awkward corner of your property, a patch of native wildflowers planted now will pay dividends in pollinator activity for years. Plants that do well here include wild bergamot (<em>Monarda fistulosa<\/em>), native coneflower (<em>Rudbeckia laciniata<\/em>), and Canada windflower (<em>Anemone canadensis<\/em>) \u2014 all genuinely useful to pollinators and all willing to take care of themselves once established. You might even find that you like them better than the showy non-native flowers \u2013 and your garden will, too!<\/p>\n<h4>What&#8217;s Blooming and Fruiting in the Trees and Shrubs<\/h4>\n<p>Take a walk around your property and nearby natural areas this month \u2014 the shrub layer is one of the most rewarding things to watch in June.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"28153\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28153\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Azalea-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Fowering shrub with dozens of medium pink blooms with forest and understory ferns and plants in the background. A pond or lake appears to be in the far background.\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Azalea-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Azalea-105x79.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Azalea-317x238.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Azalea-423x317.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Azalea-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Azalea.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Azalea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Rhododendrons and azaleas are at their peak in shaded woodland edges, often a startling burst of color among hemlock trunks and understory ferns. Wild roses \u2014 both <em>Rosa palustris<\/em> in wetter spots and <em>Rosa carolina<\/em> on drier ground \u2014 are beginning to open, and their fragrance on a warm June morning is one of the genuinely good things about gardening in Maine. Mountain laurel (<em>Kalmia latifolia<\/em>) is flowering now in areas with rocky sandy soils, and elderberry flowers are just developing into flat-topped white clusters along roadsides and stream edges. Serviceberries have already finished flowering \u2014 that was May&#8217;s show. By June the berries are forming, and if you&#8217;re growing them in the landscape, the birds already know this before you do.<\/p>\n<p>Paying attention to bloom timing in the trees and shrubs around you is one of the habits that quietly makes you a better gardener over time. These plants are tracking the same temperatures, moisture levels, and light your vegetables are, just on a larger scale.<\/p>\n<h4>The First Real Harvest<\/h4>\n<p>By mid-June, the garden starts giving back.<\/p>\n<p>Peas are one of the best pleasures in June \u2014 they come in fast once they start, and they don&#8217;t wait for you. Pick them young, eat them the same day if you can, and keep picking consistently because pods left on the vine signal the plant to stop producing. The tender pods are amazing in salads and stir fries. Radishes, baby greens, and the first herbs \u2014 chives, parsley, the early basil if you were brave enough to plant it \u2014 are all ready now. A dash into any soup, salad, or sandwich adds taste, but nutrition, too.<\/p>\n<p>Harvest in the cool of the morning when moisture content is highest and flavor is at its peak. There&#8217;s a particular satisfaction to bringing in food you grew, and it doesn&#8217;t diminish no matter how many seasons you&#8217;ve been at this.<\/p>\n<h4>June Moves Quickly<\/h4>\n<p>The thing about June in Maine is that it doesn&#8217;t stay (unlike some other months, like\u2026.January?!). Before you know it the solstice has passed and the days are already, almost imperceptibly at first, getting shorter again.<\/p>\n<p>The gardeners who get the most out of this month aren&#8217;t necessarily the ones working the hardest. They&#8217;re the ones paying attention \u2014 to what&#8217;s ready, what&#8217;s struggling, what the pollinators are visiting, what the shrub layer is doing at the edge of the field. Your garden is embedded in a larger landscape that&#8217;s running on the same seasonal clock, and the more you notice that connection, the more sense your own garden starts to make.<\/p>\n<p>Enjoy it. June is one of our pinnacle months in the garden.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-1\"><\/a>Big Yields on Small Plots: Container Gardening<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Carrick Gambell, Urban Agriculture Professional UMaine Cooperative Extension and Natural Resources Conservation Service<\/em><\/p>\n<p>While growers may dream of tending a flat, sunny plot with well-drained loamy soils, this is not always a reality. Rural growers often contend with rocky soils, heavy clay, steep hillsides, or shade from trees. Growers in towns and urban areas often have limited access to open yards or opt to avoid potential contaminants in soil. Sometimes the sunniest growing space is a front driveway or porch. Growing in containers is an excellent option for those seeking an alternative to a traditional in-ground garden or raised bed. Containers can be moved easily, filled with a reliable growing medium, and can provide accessibility to gardeners with limited mobility. The materials can be affordable, and the installation process straightforward. Growers interested in container gardening should start by considering the appropriate materials, size, water management, and vegetable varieties.<\/p>\n<p>Just about any container can be used for gardening. Plastic and ceramic pots from garden and hardware stores are dependable options because they have been designed for planting. Barrels, window boxes, and hanging baskets are also great candidates, especially for growers hoping to add an aesthetic flair. Growers should avoid containers that have been painted on the inside or that may leak toxic chemicals, such as old tires or treated lumber. Five gallon buckets that are labelled \u201cfood safe\u201d can be re-purposed for container gardens.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28158 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Potted-Marigolds-300x225.jpg\" alt=\" Row of potted marigolds on a wood chipped pathway with white building in the background.\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Potted-Marigolds-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Potted-Marigolds-105x79.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Potted-Marigolds-317x238.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Potted-Marigolds-423x317.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Potted-Marigolds-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Potted-Marigolds.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The container should be deep and wide enough to support the crop roots when they are fully developed. A basic principle of container gardening is that the larger the container, the easier to manage. Container gardening in general requires more regular, intensive watering, and the soil in a small pot will dry out much faster than a larger container. Dry, hot soils will stress the roots and ultimately damage the plant. Another issue with smaller containers is that if the soil dries out, the container is much lighter and easier to blow over in the wind. A larger container may be heavier and more challenging to move, but it will hold water for longer and withstand strong winds and storms.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever container the gardener chooses should have adequate drainage. For re-purposed structures like five gallon buckets, growers will need to drill holes to allow for drainage. If the container is going to sit directly on an impermeable surface like a deck or a patio, drill the holes on the sides, \u00bd inch from the bottom, to increase the drainage and prevent waterlogging. Water should be allowed to drain freely from the container and not collect in a saucer, as these saucers can facilitate the spread of fungal disease and mosquito larvae.<\/p>\n<p>Many of our favorite vegetables grow happily in containers. Plant breeders have developed miniature varieties that demonstrate high yield and compact growth habits. Growers can experiment with patio baby eggplants, lunchbox peppers, or determinate tomatoes. Bush beans and peas can be planted densely in a container and generate surprisingly large harvests. Zucchini and summer squash are slow to vine and can thrive in the warmer, nutrient-rich growing media in a container. Herbs are straightforward to grow and convenient to harvest for a quick burst of flavor with dinner.<\/p>\n<p>Apartment dwellers and folks with nontraditional yards can still eat well from their gardens, even if their garden consists of containers on a porch.<\/p>\n<p>References:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Durham, R. E. and D. B. Hill. <a href=\"https:\/\/exclusives.mgcafe.uky.edu\/2023\/hort\/gardening-small-spaces\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gardening in Small Spaces<\/a>. Lexington: University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service<\/li>\n<li>Hopkins, A., Coffin, D., and Wertheim, F. <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2762e\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Container Gardening Series: Growing Vegetables in Container Gardens<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-2\"><\/a>Seeing Seeds Differently: Cilantro and Cumin<\/h3>\n<p><em>Introduction by Lynne Holland, Horticulture Professional; plant descriptions by Citlalli Constantino, Master Gardener Volunteer<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Finally, the threat of frost is past. Hot days mean quick meals and fresh foods from the garden. Herbs are one way to take meals to the next level. Certain herbs and spices are also the signature for some styles of cooking. Here are Lali\u2019s take on two relatively easy-to-grow herbs. One often appears in Mexican cooking, and the other is a bit of a surprise.<\/p>\n<h4>Cilantro (<em>Coriandrum sativum<\/em>)<\/h4>\n<p>Cilantro is related to carrots, celery, and parsley, meaning that it is umbelliferous. It is important to note that cilantro is what we call the leaves and coriander what we call the seeds. Both show up in cooking in various cultures.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"28160\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-28160\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cilantro.jpg\" alt=\"Newly germinated cilantro seedlings growing in a lightly mulched garden.\" width=\"248\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cilantro.jpg 288w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cilantro-105x90.jpg 105w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,248px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cilantro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This delicious, aromatic, and citrusy herb is one of the easiest to grow. The seeds can be scattered in regular soil in the spring; they don\u2019t do well being transplanted. It is one of those fussy plants that have sensitive roots, so if started indoors, at least use one of those biodegradable pots to minimize root disturbance. It grows better in full sun and if you let it drop seed you will likely find many volunteer plants in future years. It grows well in dry and humid conditions, but it bolts easily during hot spells, which is why it is suggested to sow seeds constantly during the season. The seeds of this herb can be saved, and next year the gardener can start the process again. That\u2019s why I recommend getting heirloom or open-pollinated seeds even when the \u201cslow bolt\u201d sounds tempting.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-28182 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Tacos.jpg\" alt=\"Two soft tacos filled with a colorful mixture of vegetables. Tacos are on a white plate on a wooden table.\" width=\"239\" height=\"228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Tacos.jpg 239w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Tacos-105x100.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Tacos-32x32.jpg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,239px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In Mexican culinary culture, cilantro is used every day, in all kinds of dishes, soups, tacos, ceviches, appetizers, street food, salsas, beans\u2026.I could name easily 20 recipes that incorporate cilantro.<\/p>\n<p>This herb is often mistaken as being Mexican in origin, but cilantro was brought to Mexico by the Spanish after they colonized Mexico. The Spanish got it from the Middle East culture, which is why cilantro is present in Indian, Thai, Moroccan, Turkey, Greek, Irani, and Egyptian cuisines. According to various culinary history websites, cilantro was found in the Egyptian tomb from Ramses II and is also mentioned in Persian literature from 3000 B.C.E.<\/p>\n<p>Cilantro is one of the kitchen herbs that is a must in any garden except for those of gardeners who have the 6A2 gene, which affects the taste of some compounds. These gardeners won\u2019t find cilantro nice and aromatic\u2026in fact, the opposite, cilantro will be soapy and disgusting. Have you heard someone saying that cilantro doesn\u2019t taste good??<\/p>\n<p>Sources:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mccormickscienceinstitute.com\/resources\/culinary-spices\/herbs-spices\/coriander\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">McCormick Science Institute<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gob.mx\/agricultura\/es\/articulos\/el-cilantro-delicioso-encuentro-entre-aroma-y-sabor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gobierno de Mexico<\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Black cumin\u00a0 (<em>Nigella sativa<\/em>)<\/h4>\n<p>One of the most fascinating things about gardening, from my personal experience, is all the biology, botany, and science behind it. I assume this is because my real passion was to be a biologist, but I ended up being a cook. I mention this because when I was doing my research about black cumin, I was wondering why my seedlings were very similar to my love-in-a-mist seedlings, and then I read the scientific name: <em>Nigella sativa<\/em>. I realized that black cumin is not the cumin spice that is present in some Mexican dishes, but a close relative to the beloved flowering annual. The traditional culinary cumin&#8217;s scientific name is <em>Cuminum cyminum<\/em>. A big \u201cWow!\u201d came from my mouth as it does often during my gardening journey.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"28161\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28161\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Black-cumin-flowers-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Close up of a plant with lacy green foliage two small star shaped flowers and several tightly budded flowers.\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Black-cumin-flowers-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Black-cumin-flowers-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Black-cumin-flowers-105x105.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Black-cumin-flowers-317x317.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Black-cumin-flowers-423x423.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Black-cumin-flowers-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Black-cumin-flowers.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Black cumin flowers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Black cumin is an annual, from the Ranunculaceae family, compared to <em>Cuminum cymium<\/em>, which is from the Umbelliferae family. It can be started indoors or sown in mid-spring straight in the kitchen garden. It needs full sun, fertile and well-drained soil, and it is recommended to succession plant every 3 to 4 weeks for continuous flowers and seed harvest.<\/p>\n<p>The uses for this spice are very similar to those of poppy seeds, like in bread and cakes (I\u2019m imagining a loaf covered with black cumin seeds). It is also used for its medicinal properties and attracts pollinators. If you want to know more about the cumin that is found in many Mexican dishes, this information from the <a href=\"https:\/\/plants.ces.ncsu.edu\/plants\/cuminum-cyminum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North Carolina Extension Gardener\u2019s Plant Toolbox<\/a> is a good reference.<\/p>\n<p>Other names for the black cumin are nutmeg flower, black caraway, and roman coriander. What I can say now is that I can\u2019t wait to see these little blooms, find out the aroma, and add these seeds to my winter baking.<\/p>\n<p>Reference: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.superseeds.com\/products\/black-cumin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pinetree Garden Seeds<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lali\u2019s Bio<\/p>\n<p>Mexican cook, with experience in different culinary areas, from restaurants, cafeterias, cruises, summer camps, college culinary art instructor, nowadays working at the school nutrition department in a cafeteria from an elementary school in Lewiston, I\u2019m a Master preserver which has gave me the opportunity to volunteer and learn from all those experiences, I\u2019ve also gave some classes at the Lewiston Adult education.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m passionate about gardening, horticulture, farming, bird watching and everything related to nature. I fell in love with Maine and a Mainer, a naturalist in spirit.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-3\"><\/a>Seasonal Sightings: Canada Serviceberry<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Maine Audubon Native Plants Program Coordinator Jocelyn LaClair<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"28155\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28155\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Canada-Serviceberry-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"lose up of branches densely packed with white flowers. Blurred background.\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Canada-Serviceberry-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Canada-Serviceberry-105x140.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Canada-Serviceberry-317x423.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Canada-Serviceberry-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Canada-Serviceberry-634x845.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Canada-Serviceberry.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,225px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Canada Serviceberry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Often an understory tree in established forests, Canada serviceberry (<em>Amelanchier canadensis<\/em>) usually grows as a multi-stemmed shrub up to 20 feet tall, a bit smaller than other serviceberry species. In spring, this tree has showy and fragrant flowers with five long white petals. Serviceberries bloom around the same time, but Canada serviceberry is usually a week later than the other species. It has somewhat wide and rounded leaves that are finely toothed, and in June, delicious red to purple fruit emerges for a short period of time before being devoured by animals. The fall foliage is spectacular, with leaves turning red and orange as the weather cools.<\/p>\n<p>The wide range and large cultural importance of this species means that it has plenty of common names. It is known as Juneberry because of the fruits that ripen in June. It is also called shadbush or shadblow, because the spring blooms are a cue to the Wabanaki that shad are returning to coastal rivers. These blooms were a different cue to European settlers, who noted that the ground had finally thawed enough for burial services and therefore named it serviceberry.<\/p>\n<p>At least 35 species of birds devour serviceberries, well-timed for their breeding season. Mammals such as chipmunks, squirrels, beavers, and bears also snack on the fruit. Serviceberry is also an important browse plant for deer and moose, and the prolific flowers in spring are a crucial food source for native bees.<\/p>\n<p>Other June signs of wildlife to look for<\/p>\n<figure id=\"28156\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28156\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Bush-honeysuckle-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Close up of a green leafy shrub with yellow flowers at the tips of each branch. Ferns and dense woods in the background. Site appears shady.\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Bush-honeysuckle-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Bush-honeysuckle-105x79.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Bush-honeysuckle-317x238.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Bush-honeysuckle-423x317.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Bush-honeysuckle-634x476.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Bush-honeysuckle-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Bush-honeysuckle.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bush honeysuckle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>Watch for milk snakes\u2014rarely seen because of their nocturnal habits\u2014as they seek sheltered spots to lay their eggs.<\/li>\n<li>Adults of many species of moths and butterflies, like white admirals, are flying now, looking for mates and host plants to lay their eggs on. White admirals in Maine usually lay their eggs on birch species like yellow birch.<\/li>\n<li>Red columbine and bush honeysuckle are blooming now. These native wildflower species grow well on forest edges and rocky areas like outcrops and stone fences, and are an important early nectar source for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-4\"><\/a>Maine&#8217;s New Interactive Map for Invasive Forest Pests<\/h3>\n<p>The Maine Forest Service has launched a new interactive map to help people see which forest pests have been detected in their communities.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"28180\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28180\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Maine-Ineractive-Map-207x300.png\" alt=\"line drawing map outlining the Maine state border. Sections in the northeast and southern third of the state have different regions delineated in varying shades of green to indicate presence of different types of invasive species. No key is in this picture.\" width=\"207\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Maine-Ineractive-Map-207x300.png 207w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Maine-Ineractive-Map-97x140.png 97w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Maine-Ineractive-Map-317x459.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Maine-Ineractive-Map-423x613.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Maine-Ineractive-Map.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,207px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Representation of a map you might encounter on the dashboard.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Invasive Species Dashboard displays detections of several major forest insect species and diseases at the town level, providing a quick way to check what is present in an area. Whether you are a landowner, arborist, municipal official, or simply interested in the health of Maine\u2019s forests, the map provides an accessible starting point for understanding local risks.<\/p>\n<p>The dashboard is updated regularly by Forest Health and Monitoring staff as new detections are confirmed, ensuring that the information remains current and more relevant than static distribution maps. Users can click on individual towns to view the year a species was first detected and are encouraged to contribute their own observations of these species in new towns by filling out the online reporting form.<\/p>\n<p>Explore the dashboard by visiting <a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/c3e50cb4fe0544adbfdd5d4ad0261ee3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">maine.gov\/forestpests<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For more information on individual pests, including identification, impacts, and management options, visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/mfs\/forest_health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maine Forest Service Forest Health and Monitoring website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-5\"><\/a>Cucumber Beetles<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Patti Elwell, University of New Hampshire Master Gardener Volunteer, Rockingham County<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If you are finding that cucumber beetles are becoming worse each year in your garden, you are not alone. One particularly annoying trait of this pest is its ability to live in and expand its residence in your garden. They can easily overwinter in soil, dead vegetable debris, and heavy mulch. If you ignore their presence, they are likely to increase over the years.<\/p>\n<p>Whether striped or spotted, cucumber beetles cause significant damage to not only cukes, but also squash, zucchini, pumpkin and melon. The adult beetles destroy crops by chewing leaves and reproductive parts while the larvae feed on plant roots. Additionally, they are a vector for diseases such as bacterial wilt, cucumber mosaic virus and squash mosaic virus. These diseases can spread rapidly and affect yields or even kill the plants.<\/p>\n<p>As with most pests, the best way to manage cucumber beetles is to start by understanding their lifecycle. They lay eggs midsummer in the soil around the base of host plants and hatch into larvae after about 10 days. Larvae develop and feed on roots for 2-6 weeks followed by a 7-10 day pupal stage after which they emerge from the soil as adults. The adults overwinter in plant debris and emerge in early to mid June \u2013 right when young, tender plant leaves are sprouting. The newly emerged adults feed on cotyledons (first baby leaves), leaves, and stems of the new plants.<\/p>\n<h4>So what can gardeners do to protect their plants?<\/h4>\n<p>Immediately cover the area where you have planted seeds or young plants. Covering gives the plants a chance to grow stronger until they produce both male and female flowers. The cover needs to be removed, however, for pollination when both flower types have developed. You might try to protect your cucumbers from pests by growing them under row cover from planting until harvest. To do this, you would need to use varieties that are parthenocarpic or self-pollinating, and they will set fruit without the need for pollinators to move from flower to flower.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"28163\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28163\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cucumber-beetle-300x217.png\" alt=\"Close up of an immature cucumber with light green skin and prominent spiny nodules with one striped cucumber beetle on the cucumber.\" width=\"300\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cucumber-beetle-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cucumber-beetle-105x76.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cucumber-beetle-317x229.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cucumber-beetle-423x306.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cucumber-beetle.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cucumber beetle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If left uncovered, begin looking for the insects every few days as soon as your plants go in the ground. Pick, remove, and destroy any cucumber beetles you see. Dedicate a small hand vacuum to collect insects more efficiently.<\/p>\n<p>Planting a \u201ctrap crop\u201d that tends to be more highly attractive to a pest can help aggregate populations into a tighter area where they can be more easily managed and lured away from the desired crops. \u2018Blue Hubbard\u2019 squash is a good trap crop for striped cucumber beetles.<\/p>\n<p>Lacewing and ladybug larvae are known to be predators of cucumber beetle eggs and larvae. Plants rich in pollen that bloom throughout the season will encourage these beneficial insects to live and reproduce in your garden. Flowering herbs, such as dill, fennel, cilantro, yarrow, sweet alyssum, and marigolds, will attract lacewings, ladybugs, and other helpful pollinators. Keep in mind that beneficial insects alone will not provide adequate control.<\/p>\n<p>If you have tried these non-chemical control methods but are still having difficulty managing these pests, consider using some of the suggested pesticides outlined in the following Maine-based resources:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mofga.org\/resources\/fact-sheets\/striped-cucumber-beetle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/ipm\/ipddl\/publications\/5038e\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UMaine Cooperative Extension Pest Management Fact Sheet #5038<\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you decide to apply pesticides, always follow the label instructions and do your best to only purchase what you need.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-6\"><\/a>Libra Sun Flower Farm \u2013 A Certified Pollinator Friendly Garden<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Susan Joakim,\u00a0<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">York County Master Gardener Volunteer<\/span><\/i><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Carolyn Maul is as passionate about her gardening as she is about her artwork. She sees the land as a writer sees a blank piece of paper, or a painter, a blank canvas. Something that is ready for her creative, artistic flair, and like any artwork, gardening doesn\u2019t always come easily.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28165 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cut-flowers-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"a collection of dozens of three types of cut flowers laying on a white paper towel. One type is a dark purple tubular shaped flower, the second is a bright yellow daisy-shaped flower, the third is a dark orange flower that appears to be a type of cosmos.\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cut-flowers-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cut-flowers-105x140.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cut-flowers-317x423.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cut-flowers-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Cut-flowers.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,225px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Carolyn has been a lifelong gardener with experience across the country. She bought her property in Hollis, New Hampshire, three years ago with gardening and her artwork in mind. The land was scared, gutted, injured. Reminiscent of how her soul was feeling at the time. The land had been used as a dumping station for all things toxic, burn piles scattered the area and the invasive plants (80% of the property), such as bittersweet, were, well, unreasonable. However, she does marvel at bittersweet\u2019s amazing ability to survive. To successfully rid the area of it, she must remove all the roots and replace it with something comparable such as bee balm with its dense roots that leave little space for anything else. Her plan is to take the scarred land and make it an ecological sanctuary, a landscape beacon for others to enjoy. As a steward of the land, she feels solely responsible for what happens to it, a role she takes seriously.<\/p>\n<p>She first heard about the Pollinator-Friendly Garden Certification from a friend, an avid gardener who had a sign in her yard. When she read through the application for the certification, she realized it was a great learning experience and would show her all the many plants, trees, or shrubs she could use.<\/p>\n<p>Carolyn spends every day, weather permitting, outside trying to undo the damage that had been done to the property. Getting the Pollinator-Friendly Garden Certification was her way of saying she\u2019s on the right path. She works hard to avoid using chemicals, and after three years, she\u2019s reduced the amount of bittersweet by half. She knows that maintaining it can take years, but she feels it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n<p>For Carolyn, gardening is a gateway to her artwork. She creates ecoprints that require plants with high levels of tannins and dyes and so she is mindful of the specific flowers she adds to her summer gardens. Her gardens produce material for her to dry and freeze, such as flowers, leaves, and berries, which enables her to work on her art throughout the long New England winter. Creating ecoprints is similar to gardening, it takes patience, time, many steps, and one never quite knows how it will all turn out.<\/p>\n<p>The Libra Sun Flower Farm sells cut flowers in a farm stand out front. It\u2019s a popular spot, and she sells out fast. She has a cut flower garden that, in contrast to the rest of the property, is in rows, measured, counted, and planned out. She sells the cut flowers in repurposed vases and also uses the flowers for her ecoprints. She plants with an eye toward how strangers would see the place, drawing them down pathways leading to small beds tucked away in nooks and crannies. She has a two-season greenhouse and envisions the property as a place where people can come for special occasions, photo shoots, learning, meditation, weddings\u2014 all things that will enhance their lives.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-28166 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Labyrinth-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial image likely taken by a drone looking down into a small clearing surrounded by forests. The clearing has a strikingly clear labyrinth garden comprised of a series of pathways leading to a small circular center. Labrinth is surrounded by a grassy field that is bordered by the woods.\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Labyrinth-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Labyrinth-105x79.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Labyrinth-317x238.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Labyrinth-423x317.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Labyrinth-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Labyrinth.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Carolyn is especially proud of the perennial labyrinth she has built on the property. She has always been enamored of circular labyrinths with one continuous path that leads to the center, which are designed for reflection, contemplation, and meditation. She was raking out one of the burned areas when she began crying. \u201cHow can I heal this small part of the earth along with myself?\u201d she asked. A great deal of healing was needed for both. She had an epiphany, what better way to heal than through a labyrinth? She designed hers after the pattern used in 1206 at Chartres Cathedral in Paris, France. Using soil and rocks from the property for the pathways, the labyrinth is about 80 feet in diameter and takes about 5 minutes to get to the center. Lined with perennials, not shrubs as are typical with labyrinths, the walker is blessed with a plethora of colors and varieties of flowers. It has been an exercise in learning as she has experimented to see what plants work in the area. She grows native perennials from seed but must be mindful of what she plants since the area is far from a water source. Her property is surrounded by forest, so she is aware of the morning and evening shade that it provides the plants.<\/p>\n<p>Carolyn is a Libra (hence the name) and chose the name Sun Flower (not Sunflower) because she likes lots of flowers and the diversity they provide. She shares that climate change has influenced her gardening. She can\u2019t have a rain garden anymore, but she has adapted by using rain barrels and choosing plants that are successful in her specific area. She has great faith in plants\u2019 ability to adapt over time. Year one, she was challenged with slugs, year two, jumping worms (<em>Amynthas agrestis<\/em>), and this year, she\u2019s going to tackle the vole problem. It\u2019s hard to make permanent changes, but she, like her plants, is resilient and determined to make it work.<\/p>\n<p>Like many gardeners, Carolyn has an unspoken agreement with the land, I heal you as you heal me.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carolynmaulstudioart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Carolyn<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/p\/Libra-Sun-Flower-Farm-Labyrinth-100092684874742\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Libra Sun Flower and Labyrinth Farm<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-7\"><\/a>Ask the Expert: Voles and Groundhogs<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cHow do I get rid of voles and groundhogs in my garden?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Answer by Jonathan Foster, Horticulturist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/em><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m very sorry to hear about the groundhog\/woodchuck and vole issues\u2013they can be quite a headache.<br \/>\nPlease take a look at the following resources:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/php\/gotpests\/othercritters\/voles.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">State of Maine \u201cGot Pests?\u201d series page on voles<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umn.edu\/planting-and-growing-guides\/vole-damage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">University of Minnesota Extension page \u201cHow to manage vole damage on lawns, trees and shrubs\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Reducing cover by minimizing debris and reducing mulch depth can be helpful, as can surrounding your raised beds with narrow gauge chicken wire (you can place stakes around the inside for structure and staple the bottom of the wire to the inside of the bed sides) to prevent their entry. If you are able to locate any holes or runs, mouse traps baited with something tasty can be very effective. Voles have a very high reproductive rate and are able to recoup losses pretty quickly, so persistence with multiple strategies will probably be essential to protecting your garden. If you ever add more raised beds, I recommend stapling chicken wire across the bottom of the bed before adding fill\u2013this will give you another layer of protection from their invasion of your planting space.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/php\/gotpests\/othercritters\/woodchuck.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">State of Maine \u201cGot Pests?\u201d series page on woodchucks<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/php\/gotpests\/othercritters\/factsheets\/woodchuck-cornell.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cornell University Extension Woodchuck fact sheet<\/a> (pdf)<\/p>\n<p>Keeping groundhogs\/woodchucks out of your garden will almost certainly require fencing if you have a healthy specimen and a nice garden. They are voracious, persistent, and not easily deterred from a fresh buffet. Fencing should ideally be about 4 feet tall. The bottom 10 inches should either be buried straight down or bent at the soil line at a right angle and partially buried. Alternatively, protecting lower growing crops that don\u2019t require pollination by covering with hoops covered in lightweight row cover can sometimes be enough of a physical barrier to deter them from feeding.<\/p>\n<p>That said, groundhogs are great candidates for humane live traps. We had excellent luck using these traps with kale as bait. You will then, of course, have to formulate a plan for dealing with the rodent once trapped\u2013please don\u2019t release them anywhere onto another property without clear permission from the landowner. If you are less of the catch-and-release type of gardener, a local wildlife officer or exterminator can often provide alternative options.<\/p>\n<p>There are also rodenticides available if you reach the end of your rope and are considering chemical interventions, but they will be toxic to any other mammals that consume the bait as well. I would recommend reaching out to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/php\/pesticides\/pesticide-application-companies.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maine-licensed pesticide applicator<\/a> to discuss the best options for targeting the pest in question while keeping the garden produce safe for consumption.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-8\"><\/a>Featured Resource: Invasive Plant Lists and Information Sheets<\/h3>\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re planning your spring planting, managing land, or trying to identify something that&#8217;s quietly taking over a corner of your yard, Maine has some important invasive plant resources worth keeping at your fingertips.<\/p>\n<p>The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Horticulture Program maintains three regularly updated invasive plant lists, developed in collaboration with a stakeholder committee. Each list links directly to biology and management guides for specific plants, making them useful whether you&#8217;re actively dealing with an invasive species or just doing your homework before buying something new for your landscape.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/php\/horticulture\/invasiveplants.shtml#list\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Do Not Sell Invasive Plant List<\/a> covers terrestrial species that are illegal to import, export, buy, sell, or intentionally propagate. If you&#8217;re a gardener, landscaper, or nursery shopper, this is the list to check first. While sellers should not be offering these plants, they can sometimes slip through the cracks, so it\u2019s good to be informed. Knowing what&#8217;s prohibited can save you from inadvertently contributing to a serious ecological problem.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/php\/horticulture\/invasiveplants.shtml#watch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch List<\/a> flags plants that don&#8217;t yet meet the threshold for the Do Not Sell list but are being closely monitored. These can still be sold without restriction, but if you&#8217;re someone who thinks long-term about your land, this list is a smart preview of what may become a bigger issue down the road.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/php\/horticulture\/invasiveplants.shtml#concern\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Plants of Special Concern<\/a> identifies species that may be invasive depending on habitat. There is currently only one plant on this list: Rosa rugosa. They can still be sold but require special labeling.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the DACF Maine Natural Areas Program&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/mnap\/features\/invasive_plants\/invsheets.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Advisory List<\/a> rounds out the picture. Though it&#8217;s not a regulatory tool, it&#8217;s invaluable for land managers, naturalists, and engaged gardeners who want a fuller picture of plants that haven&#8217;t yet come under formal regulation but still warrant attention.<\/p>\n<p>Return to these lists when you&#8217;re planning a new bed, buying from a nursery, noticing an unfamiliar plant spreading on your property, or helping a neighbor identify what&#8217;s growing along their fence line. The more Mainers who know these lists, the better equipped we all are to protect the landscapes we love.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-9\"><\/a>Maine Weather and Climate Overview<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Sean Birkel, Assistant Extension Professor, Maine State Climatologist, Cooperative Extension, Climate Change Institute, University of Maine.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Monthly Recap: <\/strong>Average temperature for May (based on data May 1\u201327) was above normal in Portland and near normal in Bangor and Caribou. However, the first two weeks of the month were on the cool side, and morning temperatures on May 8\u20139 and 12\u201313 dropped into the low to mid 30s Fahrenheit across much of the state (colder across north and west), causing frost in some areas. A warm wave then developed, peaking May 19 with daytime high temperatures ranging from the mid 80s to around 90\u00b0F across the southern half of the state. Portland set a daily record of 92\u00b0F, which ranks among the hottest for May (for example, the daily record maximum temperature for May 18 is 93\u00b0F, set in 2017). This heat wave was followed by a pronounced cool wave that brought record or near-record daily minimum temperatures on May 22, especially across central and northern Maine where morning temperatures ranged from the low 30s to mid 20s, respectively. Precipitation for May was generally near to above normal statewide.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Drought Update: <\/strong>Recent beneficial rainfall has lessened drought across Maine. However, significant precipitation is still needed to restore conditions to normal, especially for replenishing lingering groundwater deficits from last year\u2019s dry summer and fall. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor area rankings for Maine are 27% no drought, 35% abnormal dryness (D0), 36% moderate drought (D1), 2% severe drought (D2) (see map below). Additional information is available from the <a href=\"https:\/\/nedews.nrcc.cornell.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Northeast Drought Early Warning System Dashboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28143 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/US-Drought-Monitor-Northeast-DEWS.png\" alt=\"Map of the Northeastern U.S. showing drought conditions on May 26, 2026. Areas in yellow, tan, and orange indicate abnormally dry to severe drought conditions, especially in parts of New England and southeastern New York. A legend explains the drought intensity levels.\" width=\"979\" height=\"535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/US-Drought-Monitor-Northeast-DEWS.png 979w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/US-Drought-Monitor-Northeast-DEWS-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/US-Drought-Monitor-Northeast-DEWS-768x420.png 768w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/US-Drought-Monitor-Northeast-DEWS-105x57.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/US-Drought-Monitor-Northeast-DEWS-317x173.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/US-Drought-Monitor-Northeast-DEWS-423x231.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/US-Drought-Monitor-Northeast-DEWS-634x346.png 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/US-Drought-Monitor-Northeast-DEWS-846x462.png 846w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/US-Drought-Monitor-Northeast-DEWS-951x520.png 951w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,979px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Outlooks: <\/strong>The 1-month outlook for June shows equal chances of above or below normal conditions for both temperature and precipitation. The 3-month outlook for July\u2013September shows above normal temperature and above normal precipitation. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov\/products\/analysis_monitoring\/enso_advisory\/ensodisc.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NOAA Climate Prediction Center reports<\/a> neutral conditions across the east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean, and that El Ni\u00f1o is likely to emerge by July and continue through winter 2026\/27. Warm ocean temperatures and moisture released into the atmosphere during El Ni\u00f1o tend to produce more weather extremes than usual.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28144 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Monthly-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook.png\" alt=\"Side-by-side NOAA maps showing the U.S. monthly temperature and precipitation outlooks\" width=\"1100\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Monthly-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook.png 1100w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Monthly-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Monthly-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-1024x361.png 1024w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Monthly-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-768x271.png 768w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Monthly-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-105x37.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Monthly-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-317x112.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Monthly-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-423x149.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Monthly-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-634x224.png 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Monthly-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-846x298.png 846w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Monthly-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-951x335.png 951w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,1100px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-28145 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Seasonal-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook.png\" alt=\"Side-by-side NOAA maps showing the U.S. seasonal outlook for July\u2013September 2026. Much of the country is expected to have above-average temperatures, while precipitation outlooks show wetter conditions in parts of the Southwest and Northeast and drier conditions in parts of the Northwest, Great Lakes, and Gulf Coast.\" width=\"1100\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Seasonal-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook.png 1100w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Seasonal-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Seasonal-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-1024x361.png 1024w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Seasonal-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-768x271.png 768w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Seasonal-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-105x37.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Seasonal-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-317x112.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Seasonal-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-423x149.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Seasonal-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-634x224.png 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Seasonal-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-846x298.png 846w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Seasonal-Temp-Precipitation-Outlook-951x335.png 951w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,1100px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Maine Statewide 2026 Temperature &amp; Precipitation Rankings<br \/>\nFrom <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncei.noaa.gov\/access\/monitoring\/climate-at-a-glance\/statewide\/rankings\/17\/tavg\/202512\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Norther Center for Environmental Information: Climate at a Glance<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>May: Monthly summary not yet available<\/li>\n<li>Apr: 32nd Warmest (above average), 28th Wettest (above average)<\/li>\n<li>Mar: 34th Warmest (above average), 58th Driest (near average)<\/li>\n<li>Feb: 52nd Warmest (near average), 2nd Driest (much below average)<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Jan: 54th Warmest (near average), 28th Driest (below average)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For additional information, including historical temperature and precipitation data, weather forecasts, and seasonal climate outlooks, visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/mco.umaine.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maine Climate Office<\/a> website.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>University of Maine Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity institution and provider committed to nondiscrimination. For more information, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/nondiscrimination\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">extension.umaine.edu\/nondiscrimination<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Do you appreciate the work we are doing?<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Consider making a contribution to the Maine Master Gardener Development Fund.<\/strong> Your dollars will support and expand Master Gardener Volunteer community outreach across Maine.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/securelb.imodules.com\/s\/300\/13-ORONO\/foundation\/index-social.aspx?sid=300&amp;gid=13&amp;pgid=748&amp;cid=1912&amp;dids=194.1885&amp;sort=1&amp;bledit=1&amp;appealcode=O5454\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase;\" ><span class=\"button\"> Donate <\/span><\/a>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Your feedback is important to us!<\/h3>\n<p>We appreciate your feedback and ideas for future <em>Maine Home Garden News<\/em> topics. 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To receive e-mail notifications, click on the Subscribe button below.<\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/eepurl.com\/gtJGR5\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase;\" ><span class=\"button\"> Subscribe <\/span><\/a>\n<hr \/>\n<p>University of Maine Cooperative Extension\u2019s <em><strong>Maine Home Garden News <\/strong><\/em>is designed to equip home gardeners with practical, timely information.<\/p>\n<p>For more information or questions, contact Kate Garland at <a href=\"mailto:katherine.garland@maine.edu\">katherine.garland@maine.edu<\/a> or 1.800.287.1485 (in Maine).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/maine-home-garden-news\/archives\/\">Archives<\/a> to see past issues.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Maine Home Garden News<\/strong><\/em> was created in response to a continued increase in requests for information on gardening and includes timely and seasonal tips, as well as research-based articles on all aspects of gardening. Articles are written by UMaine Extension specialists, educators, and horticulture professionals, as well as Master Gardener Volunteers from around Maine. The following staff and volunteer team take great care editing content, designing the web and email platforms, maintaining email lists, and getting hard copies mailed to those who don\u2019t have access to the internet: Abby Zelz*, Barbara Harrity*, Kate Garland, Mary Michaud, Michelle Snowden, Naomi Jacobs*, Phoebe Call*, and Wendy Robertson.<\/p>\n<p>*Master Gardener Volunteers<\/p>\n<p><em>Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 2023<\/p>\n<p>Call 800.287.0274 (in Maine), or 207.581.3188, for information on publications and program offerings from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, or visit <a href=\"http:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\">extension.umaine.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">University of Maine Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity institution and provider committed to nondiscrimination. For more information, visit <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/nondiscrimination\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">extension.umaine.edu\/nondiscrimination<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In This Issue: June Gardening Notes: Edges of Early Summer Big Yields on Small Plots: Container Gardening Seeing Seeds Differently: Cilantro and Cumin Seasonal Sightings: Canada Serviceberry Maine&#8217;s New Interactive Map for Invasive Forest Pests Cucumber Beetles Libra Sun Flower Farm \u2013 A Certified Pollinator Friendly Garden Ask the Expert: Voles and Groundhogs Featured Resource: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":28174,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[199,1,43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ask","category-maine-home-garden-news","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Maine Home Garden News - June - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2026\/05\/29\/maine-home-garden-news-june\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Maine Home Garden News - June - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In This Issue: June Gardening Notes: Edges of Early Summer Big Yields on Small Plots: Container Gardening Seeing Seeds Differently: Cilantro and Cumin Seasonal Sightings: Canada Serviceberry Maine&#8217;s New Interactive Map for Invasive Forest Pests Cucumber Beetles Libra Sun Flower Farm \u2013 A Certified Pollinator Friendly Garden Ask the Expert: Voles and Groundhogs Featured Resource: [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2026\/05\/29\/maine-home-garden-news-june\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-29T13:25:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-23T12:58:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/IMG_7333.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"750\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"wrobertson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"wrobertson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"33 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2026\/05\/29\/maine-home-garden-news-june\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2026\/05\/29\/maine-home-garden-news-june\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"wrobertson\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/#\/schema\/person\/562f4bf9c056f304568982721c990798\"},\"headline\":\"Maine Home Garden News &#8211; 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