The Nature of Maine in June

music at island

That beautiful season the Summer! Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

flowersPlants

Bunchberries are in full blossom now, carpeting forest floors with their dogwood-white blossoms. In wetlands and even some sandy settings, keep an eye out for the striking blue-flag iris (shown here). For guidance on what native plants to select, see the University of Maine Cooperative Extension bulletin Gardening to Conserve Maine’s Native Landscape.

sealWildlife

Early summer affords a wonderful time for watching families of animals – as spring-born young become more mobile. Along the coast, you may spot rafts of mother eider ducks with brown puffball ducklings in tow, or see mother seals nursing their young pups. Inland, you might see long-legged fawns grazing or spot a baby loon catching a ride atop its parent’s back. Remember to give these wild families lots of space so as not to disturb them—using binoculars to get a better look.

berriesLocal Foods

At local farmer’s markets and farmstands, you will start finding lots of lettuce, spinach, asparagus and fresh strawberries. Late June is a good time to fill your freezer at a pick-your-own strawberry operation--so that you can savor the taste of June berries in fall smoothies and winter pies. Add a link to an asparagus recipe…

Green Tip

Keep well-hydrated in warmer summer weather. Rather than buying water in plastic bottles, bring along your own water (research shows that tap water is often cleaner anyway). Stainless steel canteens are a good choice as chemicals can migrate from plastic canteens into liquid when the liquid is warm. Read more here about the safety of plastic bottles.

If you’re finding the black flies and mosquitoes a little thick (June tends to be Maine’s buggiest month!), try a natural repellent that uses herbal blends rather than harsh chemicals. Lewey’s Eco-Blends is manufactured in Maine and is readily availabe at many hardware, supermarket and convenience stores throughout the state.

Notable June Dates

June 4: Last Quarter Moon
June 5: National Trails Day
June 12: New Moon
June 18: First Quarter Moon
June 21: Summer Solstice
June 26: Full Moon (Strawberry Moon)

See downloadable tide charts and times of sunrise/sunset in June.