June is the long-awaited warm beginning of summer, when sweatshirts and sweaters are traded for short-sleeved shirts and shorts, when the fields turn green and flowers bloom everywhere, when the waters are alive with lobster boats full of traps, windjammers full of tourists, and recreational boats that range from the strange to the sublime. To be sure, June has her wet and foggy days — and this year also a few days that were too hot — but those times only make us appreciate more the arrival of summer in Vacationland.
As usual. we Wish You Were Here with four Postcards of the iconic Down East scenes that we monitor during all seasons: the old red boat house in Conary Cove; the near-mountain called Blue Hill overlooking the Bay of the same name; the Harbor Island House that seems to guard Naskeag Harbor, and the view of Mount Desert Island’s mountains from Brooklin’s Amen Ridge:
June wildlife featured our athletic white-tailed deer in their new sleek summer coats; ever-hungry snowshoe hares; ospreys in their seaside penthouses; wild turkeys that got caught in the rain; our ubiquitous herring gulls enjoying warmish sea waters, painted turtles and green frogs enjoying warmer pond waters, and pollinators enjoying the nectar of the emerging summer flora:
Among June’s large floral displays this year were the last of the apple blossoms; horse chestnut tree candles; red maple winged seeds; mountain maple tented flower heads, and crab apple trees in full bloom:
Notable shrub-sized floral displays in June included the last of the lilacs; extraordinary rhododendrons; orange azaleas; beach roses, and viburnum:
The grasses and sedges in the fallow fields were lush and the wild flowers there included lupines; blue and yellow flag wild irises; cow parsley; daisies, and yellow and orange hawkweed:
There was plenty of water in the streams, ponds and bogs, and the flora in the wetlands of course included fragrant water lilies, as well as arrow arum, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and skunk cabbage:
The rain in June also kept the woods from drying out and allowed ferns and bunchberry to flourish:
In the gardens, the floral standouts included bearded iris; poppies; peonies, and allium:
On the working waterfront, June is when the coastal water fishermen get their boats in shape and begin loading and setting out lobster traps:
Fathers’ Day coincides with the opening of the lobster season. It was celebrated at our house by local lobsters, which were bought by our son. Then, they were prepared by our daughter into an insanely delicious meal that shouldn’t be eaten more than once a year. Here’s a look at long-gone Lobster Fettucine Beurre Blanc with pre-cracked shells:
Lobster boats aren’t the only fascinating vessels that cruise the coast. Maine’s fleet of windjammers sail the summer here, often serving their lucky passengers gourmet cuisine and wines, including lobster bakes at beach parties. But, of course, there is no escaping the Down East weather.
Recreational boating and educational boating at the renowned WoodenBoat School come in many forms:
June also contains Flag Day, which is no problem in Maine. The population of U.S. Flags here is not endangered.
Finally, there is the June full moon, which is traditionally called the Strawberry Moon because of that fruit’s appearance during the month. This year, due to its close orbital position, the Strawberry Moon was viewed through our gritty atmosphere, which sometimes gave it a reddish cast:
(All images in this post were taken in Down East Maine during June of 2025.)