It is the month of June,
The month of leaves and roses,
When pleasant sights salute the eyes,
And pleasant scents the noses.
–N. P. Willis (1807-67)

June 2017 Calendar

June is named after the Roman goddess Juno, patroness of marriage and the well-being of women.

Wednesday, June 14 is Flag Day (U.S.). Be sure to raise the flag! See flag guidelines.

The men have their special day on Father’s Day: Sunday, June 18!  Read all about the history of Father’s Day here.

For the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice falls on Wednesday, June 21—heralding the start of summer! Find out more on our Summer Solstice page.

Saturday, June 24 is Midsummer Day, traditionally the midpoint of the growing season, halfway between planting and harvesting.

June is also a big month for fishing. Check out the best fishing days for the year.

Recipes for the Season

Summer brings juicy fruit ripened by the Sun and many garden treats to the table! Try:
Zucchini and Tomato Casserole
Strawberry Delight Cake
Stuffed Artichokes

See “What’s in Season: Summer Recipes” for more seasonal recipes.

Gardening

How are the tomatoes doing? See our Tomato Guide for pest control and plant care.

Got slugs, weeds, or other annoying insects? See our Pests and Problems library.

Mow grass when it’s 2 to 3 inches high. See our lawn care tips.

Cut your thistles before St. John [June 24],
You will have two instead of one.

See our tips on how to keep bouquets fresh!

Everyday Advice

Wedding season is upon us! Check your wedding weather and ideas for great wedding gifts.

Since the weather is warm, try saving some money this summer by using a clothesline to dry your clothes instead of the dryer.

Planning to paint the house? See how much paint you need and how to choose a paintbrush.

Nature

Let’s go fishing! Learn something new about trout and bass:
How to Catch and Cook Trout
Smallmouth Bass: What are They and How do you Catch One?

To help you catch this year’s prize fish, check out the Four Fundamentals of Successful Fishing.

Astronomy

Look up! Enjoy the night sky from your own backyard. See our June Sky Watch highlights.

In 2017, June’s Full Moon rises on June 9 at 9:10 a.m. EDT. Many Native Americans used Moons to follow the seasons and called this the Full Strawberry Moon. Check the Full Moon times for YOUR location.

Folklore for the Season

A dripping June brings all things in tune.

He who bathes in June will sing a merry tune.

If June be sunny, harvest comes early.

June damp and warm does the farmer no harm.

June’s Birth Flower: Honeysuckle or Rose

A rose in general indicates love or desire. Specific roses may relate other messages. For example, a white rose may mean “silence” or “I am worthy of you,” while a yellow rose signifies “jealousy.”

The honeysuckle denotes the bonds of love, or generous and devoted affection.

See more about June’s birth month flowers, or learn about the meanings of other flowers.

June’s Birthstone: The Pearl

Pearls are associated with purity, honesty, and calmness. If you dream of a pearl ring, expect romance.

A few fun facts about pearls:
 

• Mollusks, such as clams, oysters, and mussels, create pearls in response to irritants that get inside their shells. When this happens, a mollusk coats the substance with conchiolin (which acts like a glue) and layers of crystallized calcium carbonate, called nacre or mother-of-pearl. Only a few mollusks create pearls that are of high enough quality to use as jewelry. Natural pearls, found in the wild, can be various shapes; it is rare to find a smooth, round specimen. Colors include creamy white, pink, yellow, brown, green, purple, blue, silver, and black. High-quality pearls have luster with iridescence.
• Most pearls available on the market are “cultured,” meaning that the mollusks are farmed and implanted with nuclei to start pearl development. 
• Pearls symbolize purity and innocence and are commonly worn by brides. The ancient Greeks believed them to be tears of the gods. 
• Alternate birthstones for June include alexandrite (an extremely rare gem that turns from bluish green in daylight to purplish red in incandescent light) and moonstone (a gem that shimmers like moonlight; the clearer the stone and the bluer its sheen, the more valuable).

Click here for more about June’s birthstone.

This Month in History

June 1: A Penny (or 10) for Your Thoughts

On this day in 1880, the first public telephone pay station in the United States began operation. It was installed in the New Haven office of the Connecticut Telephone Company. Callers paid a 10-cent fee to an attendant. In 1889, the first public phone to use coins was installed by the Southern New England Telephone Company in Hartford, Connecticut; the user inserted coins after the call was completed. In 1898, a prepay version was introduced in Chicago. In 1905, outdoor phones were installed with booths. (Superman didn’t start using them until 1941.)

June 4: And The Winners Are…

In the late 1800s, journalist Joseph Pulitzer became well known in the field for his business skill and passion for recognizing and training budding writers and artists. In his 1904 will, he established the Pulitzer Prizes to encourage excellence in the fields of journalism, letters and drama, music, and art.

On this day in 1917, the first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded: 

• Journalism—Reporting: Herbert Bayard Swope of New York World, for a series of articles entitled “Inside the German Empire”
• Journalism—Editorial Writing: New York Tribune, for an article on the first anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania 
• History: His Excellency J. J. Jusserand (French ambassador to the United States) for With Americans of Past and Present Days
• Biography or Autobiography: Laura E. Richards and Maude Howe Elliott, assisted by Florence Howe Hall, for Julia Ward Howe, 1819–1910

Although the first year offered four awards, today there are 21, including 14 in journalism, five in books, and one each in drama and music. Entrants send their submission according to specific requirements and pay a $50 fee. Jurors appointed by the Pulitzer Board for each category review the entries (more than 2,400 submissions are received each year!) and pass along to the Board three nominations as finalists. The Board then reviews these nominations and either selects from among them, finds a substitute, or chooses not to give an award for that category. The Board’s recommendations are then given to Columbia University in New York City, which (as specified in Joseph Pulitzer’s will) presents the awards, usually at a luncheon, in spring. The award varies with category, but currently may include $10,000 cash and a certificate, a gold medal, or a fellowship.