New moon: In Gemini, June 12 (Known as the strawberry moon)
Full moon: In Capricorn (partial lunar eclipse), June 26
Visible planets: Libra, one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac, can be found between Scorpius and Virgo. Lupus, the Wolf, can be seen in the northern hemisphere between Centaurus and Hydra
Astrological sign: Gemini, May 21 to June 20; Cancer, June 21 to July 22
Astrological element: Air
Gem stone: Pearl
Flower: Rose
Born this month: Actress Marilyn Monroe, marine explorer Jacques Cousteau
Harvard history snippet:
“The Shakers’ industry provided them with a very prosperous and comfortable material life. Although they stressed simplicity, theirs was not a life of austerity and self-denial. They ate well, dressed well, and kept in step with the modern conveniences in kitchen and bathroom plumbing. ...But what were the religious doctrines peculiar to the Shakers? They believed that Mother Ann Lee was the Second Christ, and that after her coming, all Believers were living in a heaven on earth.”
—from Directions of a Town, by Robert C. Anderson (1976)
Household tips:
- To remove pollen stains from fabric, apply a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide to six parts warm water, then wash as usual.
- To remove red wine stains from fabric, cover immediately with salt. Let stand for a bit, then rinse with cold water.
- To clean cutting boards, rub with salt and lemon juice.
Going green:
- If you skip rinsing plates before placing them in the dishwasher, you could save up to 15 gallons of water per load.
- Make sure to recycle glass. Otherwise, it will take 1 million years to decompose!
- If you don’t already do it, pay your bills online.
What to do in the garden:
- Create a patio-worthy herb garden by filling a clay strawberry pot with potting soil and planting your favorite herbs in the openings.
- Thin carrots and beets, leaving about 1½ inches between plants.
- To harvest non-heading lettuce, cut straight across the tops when plants are about 2 to 3 inches tall. Cuttings can be taken about every two weeks.
Trivia tidbit: Donald Duck made his film debut in June 1934.
Thought for the month:
“I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.”
—L. M. Montgomery, Canadian author (1874–1942)
Do you have an almanac tidbit you’d like to share? E-mail to editor@harvardpress.com.