Monthly News for Gardeners
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News and events for gardeners from Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset Counties from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, and other trusted partners | |
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December 2022
Fellow gardeners of Central Maine,
How you care for your home garden and landscape makes a difference, and the UMaine Cooperative Extension Home Horticulture team is here to support you! Check out this month's Maine Home Garden News for the full articles linked in this newsletter, plus more! Subscribe here to get Maine Home Garden News in your inbox on the first of every month!
Yours,
Donna, Kate, and Laurie
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Holiday Greenery - Select Wisely - Send Cheer Not Pests
If you are planning to decorate with wreaths and garlands during the holiday season, please be sure that they do not include invasive plants or pests that harm Maine's natural areas and wildlife.
Invasive Plants to Look Out for and Report
The two most common invasive plants used in wreaths and garlands are bittersweet, and multiflora rose. Both plants cause severe environmental damage by invading open fields, forests, wetlands, meadows, and backyards and crowding out native plants.
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6 favorite conifers and the cones they produce.
Conifers provide not only year-round greenery but ornamental cones that command attention, feed birds, and can be used for crafts.
WASHINGTON — In much of the country, much of the landscape goes barren from fall through spring. Evergreens are typically the workhorse plants that carry us through.
But not all evergreens are created equal. A subset called conifers provide not only year-round greenery but ornamental cones that command attention, feed birds (and sometimes humans), and can be used for crafts.
“Conifers are the cornerstone of the landscape and provide great beauty and function,” Vincent A. Simeone, horticulturist and public garden director, told me. And he should know: Simeone is the author of “Great Landscape Evergreens” (Chicago Review Press), a 2008 guide to more than 80 species of trees and shrubs that can be used in borders, or as hedges, green fences, privacy screens or to hide undesirable views.
Defined as trees or shrubs that bear cones, conifers have “thin, needle-like foliage and typically a dense habit that can be effective as a specimen, screen or tall hedge,” he said.
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Chestnuts, Christmas, and tree disease linked forever through song
From Jeff Burbrink, Extension Educator with Purdue Extension Elkhart County
GOSHEN, Ind. — I heard the classic Christmas song by Nat King Cole officially titled “The Christmas Song,” more frequently known as “Merry Christmas to You,” on the radio today. It got me thinking… have I ever had a chestnut that was roasted on an open fire? I don’t honestly know.
American Chestnuts were nearly wiped out in the last century when some imported Japanese chestnuts, planted in New York, spread an exotic fungus to our continent. Once a major forest species in the eastern US, billions of the trees died. By 1950, the trees were nearly gone, except a few scrubby trees sprouting up from root systems, similar to what we see when ash trees have been infested by the Emerald ash borer.
Read more...
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Tis the Season to Dream of Gardening
With the weather turning colder and the holiday season wrapping up it's time to start planning for the next growing season.
Did you know Maine has many seed companies? Here is a partial list of some we found by doing a Google search. Please note we do not endorse or recommend any of the listings. This is for your reference and research only.
Maine Potato Lady
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Pinetree Garden Seeds
Seed Pro
Fedco Seeds
Allen, Sterling & Lothrop
Wild Seed Farm
Wood Prairie Family Farm
Mainely Garlic
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Caring for Birds in the Winter
Many people think all the birds fly south for the winter. They might be very surprised to learn just how many birds live in our area all year round. Some birds even come to our area in the winter, then spend warmer months further north. Like all other living creatures, their survival requires food, water and shelter. Even if you live on a small suburban lot, there is still quite a bit you can do to help the birds make it through the winter, and encourage them to stick around your yard.
Ways to help winter birds
One of the most important things is providing water. Birds need drinkable water which is often difficult to find in icy weather. I use a birdbath heater which has worked well for many winters. It prevents the water from freezing, even on the very coldest days. The bath is a very busy place!
All these suggestions not only help our bird friends, but provide us with entertainment on long winter days. Obviously, planting native trees and shrubs is not something you can do today, but investing in a feeder, suet holder, birdbath heater, or birdhouse is something you could do immediately. Then plan ahead to invest in at least one native tree or shrub to add to your landscape in the spring.
Read more...
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Larder Beetles
Pest Management Fact Sheet #5026
James F. Dill, Pest Management Specialist
Clay A. Kirby, Insect Diagnostician
Description & Biology
Larder beetles, as their name implies, prefer meat or meat by-products. Mounted animals may also become infested. However, larder beetles can survive on other organic materials too. Infestations in homes most likely come from infested dry dog and cat food or bird feed. It is not unusual to find new infestations where rat or mouse baits have been used. The beetles can infest the baits and also the vermin carcasses. They will also feed on accumulations of dead cluster flies.
Grease from food preparation and cooking also attracts larder beetles. Any food that is not in a tight container, and has not been used for a month or more, should be checked for infestation whenever beetles or larvae are found.
The adult larder beetle is about 3/8 inch long, black with a lighter band across the middle on which there are six small black spots. A full grown larva is about 5/8 inch long, somewhat fuzzy, with two distinct spines on top of the back end that curve backward. When mature, the larvae can become even more destructive by chewing shallow holes into wood, in which they pupate.
Read more...
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History of the Christmas Tree
Guest post by Gail Lopez, Landscape Designer
Decorated evergreen trees are such a part of Christmas, it’s hard to think about the holiday without them. Their lush green branches and woodland aromas grace homes, shops, and offices as well as the garden shops, tree farms, and pop-up lots that sell around 35 million of the evergreens each season.
When we place a fresh-cut or living evergreen in our home, we’re celebrating a winter practice that dates back to the ancient Egyptians. They’re the ones who first brought greens inside during the winter solstice to symbolize the triumph of life over death. Other cultures in the Northern hemisphere also brought evergreens inside to cheer the soul during the darkening days of the solstice. Among them, the early Romans, the Celts, and the Vikings. Pagans in Europe thought greenery encouraged fertility.
Read More...
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To our Fans and Friends:
Due to a conflict with scheduling our venue, there will be no 2023 Maine Flower Show. We are hopeful for a return in March of 2024.
About The Maine Flower Show
Owned and produced by members of Maine’s horticulture industry, The Maine Flower Show is one of the biggest gardening and horticultural shows in the region. The Maine Flower Show boasts an exciting new location at Thompson’s Point, with vastly more square footage of plants, hardscape, arbor and garden supplies than any recent local garden show. The Maine Flower Show is encouraging and facilitating participation in the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, and provides presentations and seminars throughout the show on all aspects of horticulture. For more information please visit www.maineflowershow.com.
About Maine Landscape & Nursery Association
Established in 1970, the Maine Landscape and Nursery Association (MELNA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and promotion of its members throughout the industry, including financial support of secondary horticultural education and product research, website connectivity, media representation, and a professional certification program. For more information, please visit www.melna.org and www.plantsomethingmaine.org.
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Repurposing your real Christmas tree
Story by Abby Leeds
When the holidays are over and the needles begin to fall from your natural Christmas tree, continue to spread holiday cheer by returning your tree to nature.
Jarred Brooke, Extension wildlife specialist, and Mitch Zischke, fisheries specialist, share a few creative ways you can repurpose and recycle your tree this year.
“Before you throw your used natural Christmas tree in the trash, think about recycling it on your property. Instead of taking up space in the landfill, your tree could decompose naturally while providing cover and food for fish, wildlife or insects,” said Brooke.
No matter how you choose to repurpose your tree, make sure it is free from ornaments and decorations. Do not recycle trees that have been sprayed with “fake” snow or treated with chemicals.
Read more...
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Staying Healthy with Native Plants: Elderberry Shrub
By now, many of us have heard about the wonderful health benefits of elderberries – they are high in antioxidants, vitamins C and B6, and support overall immune health. It has also been shown to reduce the length and severity of the common cold and flu.* Fortunately for us in Maine and the northeast, elderberry (Sambucus nigra subspecies canadensis, formally known as Sambucus canadensis) is also a native plant to the region. Note that there are several species of elderberry whose fruits are edible, including Sambucus nigra subspecies nigra and Sambucus ebulus, which are the closely-related species native to Europe.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Most of the scientific research on medicinal plants has happened in Germany, through their government funded regulatory Commission E. You can read translations on many species of medicinal plants here. Please do your own research when consuming plants and berries.
Read more...
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Bird Friendly Winter Gardens
Most of our gardening happens from spring until fall, but what about during those cold winter months? If your plants don’t survive during the frost and snowy season, what do your local birds do? In winter, your residential birds seek out three main ingredients needed for survival: food, water, and cover. While most gardens can provide these in the summer, increasing habitat loss makes things harder for birds during the cold months.
Let’s investigate how gardens can provide the essentials for birds who brave the elements!
Brown-headed Cowbirds enjoy a natural water source. Picture by Tim Lenz, eBird submission.
Water Sources
Water is essential for all animals and can be scarce in winter. A natural water source such as a stream or pond is a great place for local birds, but these freshwater reservoirs will often freeze in the winter, preventing birds from accessing them.
Consider adding a heated bird bath or aerator to your space. A heater, bubbler, or other water feature addition will prevent ice from forming on a bird bath. These are often small and relatively inexpensive, plus fresh water will attract tons of birds to your garden! Place it on a ledge or wall to encourage squirrels and chipmunks to benefit as well. You can leave this bath up all year and utilize the heating when needed, just be sure to change the water frequently.
Read more...
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Holiday Tips: Save time by freezing dough for yeast bread, cookies
By Emily Halstead, K-State Research and Extension news
MANHATTAN, Kan. — The holiday season can get busy, and being able to prepare yeast bread dough ahead of time and freeze it for later use could save time, said Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee.
Blakeslee said preparing and freezing yeast bread dough must go hand-in-hand with proper food safety practices.
“When making any kind of baked good, remember to wash your hands before and after handling flour and the dough,” said Blakeslee, who is coordinator of K-State’s Rapid Response Center. “Raw flour has been linked to several foodborne illness outbreaks, so it is important to keep hands clean.”
“To save time during the holidays, or any time of the year, prepare yeast bread dough ahead of time and freeze into dough balls for rolls to bake later,” Blakeslee said. “The trick is using a dough with extra yeast because slow freezing can damage yeast.”
Read more...
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New Garden & Home Resources to Meet New Needs
Timely UMaine Extension Publications
- Webinars & Videos
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Garden Chats: Growing Resilience From the Ground Up- You may have missed the live Zoom presentations, but we've rounded up fact sheets for each week's discussion for your reference
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Victory Garden for ME series: videos for first time vegetable gardeners
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Growing Maine Gardeners: An initiative led by UMaine Extension’s Home Horticulture team to address the increased demand for gardening education throughout the state of Maine and to provide additional support for beginner gardeners.
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Free Distance Nutrition Education Classes through UMaine Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program is free to income eligible adults with children or your adults and if you are eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Head Start.
- Other
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Maine Farm Products and Pick-Up Directory: The directory provides information on available local farm products and alternative pick-up options developed by farmers statewide to accommodate the recommended social distancing in light of COVID-19.
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Learn at Home: Educational Resources to Use During School Closures: From science to financial literacy, whether for toddlers or teenagers, we encourage you to take advantage of these activity books, guides, and other resources to help children remain engaged in educational experiences throughout their school closure.
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Learn at Home with 4-H Friday Fun! Each Friday, watch for a new hands-on activity that you can try out with simple materials you have at home. Watch a short video clip to see how it’s done or download our 4-H Learn from Home activity sheets. Each activity outlines materials needed, easy-to-follow instructions, reflection questions for discussion and activity extensions.
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Social Media: Many of our staff are stepping up efforts to communicate to audiences via social media. For example, see Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden’s short educational Facebook videos (also on Instagram).
Traditional Services Being Offered in New Ways
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Identifying insect pests: Charley Armstrong, will identify pest samples via images. See instructions for submitting an insect specimen.
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Identifying plant diseases: Dr. Alicyn Smart will identify plant disease samples via images. See instructions for submitting a sample.
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Tick testing: Ticks are being tested on a limited basis. See instructions for submitting a tick sample.
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Publication orders: We are still processing orders from our publication catalog, including pesticide application training materials.
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Soil testing: The Analytical Lab and Maine Soil Testing Service remains open and is taking samples with a priority on commercial samples. If you need to drop off a sample, you can place it in the box outside of Deering Hall; do NOT enter the building.
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General gardening questions: Contact your county office. Emails are preferred. If it’s necessary to leave a voicemail, please leave your email address (if available) or a mailing address in addition to your phone number.
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Extension Programs in other states:
If you find a great program when you're poking around online, let me know so I can share with your fellow gardeners: donna.coffin@maine.edu
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Garden Organizations and Allies
Click the links to learn more, find a chapter near you, and get involved.
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Master Gardener Volunteers
Guidelines for Master Gardener Volunteers (Updated 6/8/21):
Reminder for MGV
Check out Kate Garland's information about the "Take Five" Winter Walk Series for Master Gardeners starting in January that was sent to MGVs in a separate email.
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Mission
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the major educational outreach program of the University of Maine with offices statewide. UMaine Extension provides Maine people with research-based educational programs to help them live fuller, more productive lives.
Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.
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The goal of the Central Maine Gardening Newsletter is to connect gardeners with resources and events that encourage and inform.
Quick Links
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Local Weather Anytime
Most outdoor activities are driven by the weather. Our local National Weather Service in Caribou has meteorologists on staff 24 hours a day. They are willing to talk with you about predictions for your town. Give them a call at 492-0180. Or check out their online detailed maps at http://www.weather.gov/car/.
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Interested in Volunteering with UMaine Extension?
Nearly 8,000 volunteers devoted more than 150,000 hours to their communities last year through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension! Look around our
Photos: Edwin Remsberg, Donna Coffin, or Laurie Bowen unless other listed.
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Professor
Kate Garland, Extension Horticulturist
Laurie Bowen, Food Systems Program Assistant
The goal of the Central Maine Gardening Newsletter is to connect gardeners with resources and events that encourage and inform.
The University of Maine does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, 207.581.1226.
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Piscataquis County Office | |
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Open Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
307 Maine Ave Bangor, ME 04401 207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485
Piscataquis County Office - website
Open Monday, Thursday, Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
165 East Main St Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 207.564.3301 or 800.287.1491
7 County Drive Skowhegan, Maine 04976-4209
Tel: 207.474.9622 or 1.800.287.1495 (in Maine)
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