Give a three trowel salute to your fellow MGs. State MG awards were given out during the MG state conference in Lisle on September 18-20. Champaign County was well represented. Awards are given to certified MG's showing leadership in the MG program. Those receiving the outstanding MG award were Bev Cotter, Jan Fisher and Ann Tice. The sustained Excellence Award was awarded to Jean Dawson and Judy Lay. The Teamwork Award went to The Juvenile Detention garden project headed by Chris Bochte and Nancy Jones. Champaign County was also recognized for having a display during the conference.

Introducing Ernest Young, MG class of 1999

Although he has gardened in central Illinois for more than 20 years, Ernest Young can't get away from or forget his love of tropical plants and zone 8 gardening. A visit to his garden showcases bananas, brugmansias, crepe myrtles, snake palms and sago palms. Of course, these plants do put a strain on his greenhouse and garage during the winter, but a crepe myrtle in bloom makes all the trouble worthwhile. The snake palm provides a winter surprise when it sends out a blossom resembling a calla lily from the mature dried tuber. Ernest's luxuriant garden is a far cry from his former home in Houston where he won his subdivision's Garden of the Month award three times – in main part because of the perfect St. Augustine grass lawn he maintained.

He finds bluegrass more of a challenge. Ernest brought his love of growing gourds with him to Illinois and about ten years ago became a charter member of the Illinois Gourd Society. He and his wife Rita are the area representatives for this part of Illinois. Although many gourds require a longer and hotter growing season than Champaign-Urbana can provide, Ernest did succeed in growing a 'Giant Bushel Basket' gourd. He has passed the seeds on to Mac Condil who operates the Pumpkin Patch in Arthur so he can try his luck with them. The last state meeting of the Gourd Society was held at the Pumpkin Patch.

Originally from Louisiana, Ernest attended Southeastern Louisiana University for his B.A. and L.S.U. for his M.A. in biology and a heavy dose of zoology. He went to Houston to be a research technician at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital and then ended up working for NASA in the Lunar Receiving Lab. Starting with Apollo 8, 9 and 10 and culminating with Apollo 11, he was part of the group that worked on quarantined soil brought back from the moon. With the phase out of the lunar missions, Ernest then came to the University of Illinois to be the Director of the Office of Laboratory Animal Research until his retirement.

Ernest says he has always had a vegetable garden, even as a little kid. He continues to grow vegetables but finds it a little harder to do now that his garden has matured and become shadier. He is concentrating on adding more perennials such as tree peonies and azaleas and he is always trying to push the northern reaches of those southern plants he loves. Recently he has added some new areas in which to try xeriscaping.

Ernest became a Master Gardener in 1999 and since then has been Treasurer of the Advisory Committee, co-chair of the Idea Garden for two years, co-chair of the vegetable section for two years and co-chair of the Strolling/Enabling section. He has won the State Outstanding Master Gardener Award and the Sustained Excellence Award. The Green House Gardening Group is one of his current interests. You will also find him listed in the catalog of the Seed Savers Exchange. Ernest met his wife, Rita, while in school at L.S.U. They have three children – two sons who live locally and a daughter in Los Angeles.

Bring your Household Waste to the Champaign Public Works Center on Saturday, November 1 from 8-3. The center is located at 702 Edgebrook Drive (just east of Super K-Mart). This is your opportunity to get rid of old pesticides, antifreeze, oil based paints, paint thinners, old gasoline, used motor oil, pool chemicals, household batteries, mercury thermometers, fluorescent lamp bulbs, propane tanks, fire extinguishers and automotive batteries.

Unacceptable items include latex paint, fireworks, medical wastes, smoke detectors, commercial wastes and electronic waste such as computers, TVs and appliances.There is no charge to the public. Extension is one of the sponsors. Call Steve at 333-7672 with questions.

The committee to nominate MG officers for 2004, consisting of Carolyn Purcell, Jim Hayes and Paul Shaw, met on September 22, 2003. Fourteen suggested nominees, all of whom were excellent candidates, were considered for the four offices and decisions were based on the duties of the officers as described in article VI of the bylaws and on prior participation in the MG program described in articles II and III of the bylaws. All candidates recommended for the four offices have agreed to be nominated and to serve if elected. The recommendations for the four officers as presented by the nominating committee and accepted by the MG advisory committee are as follows:

President: Ann Tice
Vice President: Jan Fisher
Secretary: Beth Kawski
Treasurer: Nancy Jones

Election will take place at the November 18 business meeting. Nominations can also be made from the floor during the meeting. Absentee ballots may be obtained from the horticulture educator.

The annual business meeting will begin with a potluck dinner on Tuesday, November 18 at 6:30 pm. The Extension office will provide chicken as the main dish. MGs should bring a salad or dessert to share.

At 7:15 pm we will have a short business meeting to elect officers. (Check article in this issue for nominated slate.) At 7:30 pm we will enjoy a virtual tour of "Gardens of the World" by Mac Condil. Before Mac's present work with gourds and pumpkins at the Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, he worked at several of the major botanic gardens throughout the world. There is no charge for the program, but please sign up by November 13 so we can plan the festivities. Call the Extension office at 333-7672 or email Sandy at slmason@uiuc.edu