PARIS — The McLaughlin Garden is celebrating National Public Garden Day with a special presentation on insects, the opening of the plant sale and tours of the garden’s wildflowers, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 12, at 97 Main St.
Kathy Murray, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, is the state’s Integrated Pest Management Program coordinator. All are welcome to hear her presentation at 2 p.m. in the barn.
The presentation is geared toward gardeners who are interested in pollinators and want to learn how to use beneficial insects to combat garden problems.
Ornamental gardeners are often concerned about the best way to safely get rid of pest insects such as the lily leaf beetle, aphids and Japanese beetles. Vegetable gardeners also battle insect pests. At the McLaughlin garden, squash bugs and other pumpkin pests are of concern because of pumpkins for the October Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular.
Tours will take place at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 12 to 14, led by the horticulture director.
The Wildflower Celebration will continue Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14.
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