June Happenings
With the June luncheon less than two weeks away, another great EAGC year has gone by. We’ve had successful fundraisers, great programs and presentations and a lovely Christmas luncheon all with our fellow members. The camaraderie and good times are benefits we cherish. Those of us who tend our own gardens and help tend the town gardens search the skies for signs of rain clouds each week. Who knows what the summer will bring weather-wise? In any case, enjoy your summer time.
Here’s a wonderful message from Ellen J. about the new pollinator garden in Stratham:
Hello Gardeners! The Native Pollinator Classes have been attended. The plants have been ordered. The mulch has been delivered. The designs are starting to come to life!
From the very generous grant awarded by EAGC, the Stratham Garden team has been putting in native pollinator plantings surrounding the exterior fencing. The goal is to provide education on all pollinators, with an emphasis on native pollinator plantings, including shrub and small fruit trees. Eventually, each plant will have an identification marker, such as the one posted below which details what the plant requires, what pollinators it benefits and how to care for it. The hope is the information on each tag is sufficient that every member of the community can see how to take care of the plant as it matures.
We were fortunate to have the grant in time to attend classes given by SELT and Van Berkum Nursery at Burley Farms, at to participate in the SELT fundraiser to purchase native pollinator plants which will be placed in (hopefully) scalloped edged beds along the front of the garden. The plants from Van Berkum arrive in mid-June, and the planting will take place shortly thereafter. Joining these plants will be other native pollinators that members of the EAGC have graciously donated from their own gardens, such that they can also help others learn about “why pollinators?”
We invite you all to stop by at any time, to watch our progress, to ask questions, to wander down the paths and read about each of the plants. We are located at 10 Bunker Hill Avenue in Stratham. As you pull into the municipal parking lot, look to your right. You should see the garden. So please, fee free to come wander, learn, and watch us “sleep, creep, and leap!”
Pictured below are new starts by Linda V and and Betsy V, young pollinator shrubs of mayberry, cranberry, elderberry and bearberry trees; and sweet fern show with a handy list of the plants needs. Nifty.
Highlights from the May 21 EAGC General Meeting
Did you know that dandelions produce seeds that can travel up to 60 miles to find a spot to germinate? In addition, the flowers, which close at night, can be made into fine wine. Dandelions are early pollinators and can be eaten in a salad or cooked.
The Designs Committee’s Lee C. organized a new tablescape exhibit after last year’s was a hit. Each tablescape was lovely and unique. Using color themes and personal items like decorative crockery, cups and silverware each display told a story: from a romantic theme with that lots red roses to a display with yellow flowers and matching napkins and cups. A favorite could have been the Ikebana display in its simplicity, but it was just too difficult to select the one!
Our 2026-2027 officers were inducted at the May meeting. Anne Campbell led the ceremony by describing the duties of each office. A picture of the new line-up is in the bottom right corner. Thank you to our outgoing officers particularly Vicki B. Her good humor and tireless work was a gift to all.
Other Garden-Related Events
The 37th annual Portsmouth Pocket Garden Tour in the historic South End is June 19 and 20. On Tuesday June 19 the tour runs from 5 to 8 pm. The Wednesday June 20 tour begins at 9am and concludes at 3 pm. Tickets are $25 in advance UNTIL JUNE 12 and can be purchased at Churchills, Wentworth Greenhouses and Gardener’s Supply. Tickets (paper or digital map required to enter gardens) are available during the tour and can be picked up Friday, June 19, 4–8 p.m., and Saturday, June 20, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at South Church, 292 State Street.
Notes from the flyer….”pocket gardens sprang up across Portsmouth over the decades when residents planted flowers, herbs, vegetables and fruits for household use in small and often oddly shaped parcels of land. Each garden has a distinctive personality, with many featuring elaborate stone work, water features, sculptures, outdoor furniture and greenhouses.”
The Garden Conservancy is again sponsoring a number of tours of gardens in Maine and New Hampshire. Notably, the Braveboat Harbor Farm in York, Maine will be open on June 27. See all the open gardens at www.gardenconservancy.org/garden-directory/open-days Registration is $10 for non-members.
Bedrock Gardens will hold “The Rare and Unusual Plant Sale” on June 20 from 10 am to 4 pm 45 High Road, Lee, NH. New England growers and specialty nurseries will offer a wide and diverse selection of rare, unusual and hard to find plants that will grow in the surrounding zones. Bedrock Gardens states “Our vendors are carefully selected for the quality, uniqueness, and integrity of what they grow.”
New Hampshire Audubon Massabesic Center, Auburn, NH July 9 9am to 11am. An informal drop-in style event during a volunteer workday is the “perfect opportunity to learn how you can create similar garden spaces in your own backyard, whether you have an acre or a patio pot. Curious about what plants might work well in full sun or full shade? What plants attract birds and pollinators? How can you grow vegetables for yourself, while being friendly to the local wildlife who might want to share your crops?” Free. http://nhaudubon.org/event/gifts-of-the-garden-qa-sessions-2/