Boy, time passes fast. Our trainees will soon be interns. We all hope that each and every one of our trainees have enjoyed the classes and their many new garden friends. Of course, this means party time, the MG Graduation potluck honors our new interns on April 12th. Don't miss this!

Things at the Idea Garden are happening with the new fence installed and the walkway yet to be finished. Now, the Idea Garden awaits the "Wake Up the Garden" on April first. All trainees, interns, and actives are invited and needed in this yearly event. Bring your tools and come. It's actually fun working with so many hands! Work begins at 9:00 a.m.

Then, start dreaming of all the beautiful flowers that will soon be under our care in the garden. The plant plugs will be arriving around March 27th and will be grown in the greenhouse. Thanks again to Ann Tice for cutting through the red-tape to secure these plants for the garden.

There are several upcoming events you won't want to miss. On April 18th, Bill Aldrich from the Chicagoland Gardening magazine will be speaking at our monthly program meeting on "Best Plants for Illinois". (I met him at the Chicago Flower Show and I think we will enjoy his presentation!) He is bringing magazines for all!

Then, there are two plant buying trips coming soon. See details in this Cultivator!

If you have never experienced one of these trips you are missing a wonderful day of sharing and laughing! They are great fun!

- Jan Fisher

Join fellow Master Gardeners for a presentation on the Best Plants for Illinois and Beyond by Bill Aldrich on Tuesday, April 18th at 7pm in the Extension office auditorium. This program is free and open to the public. Bring a guest along and get them excited about spring! Complementary copies of the ChicagoLand Magazine will be made available for your reading pleasure.

Bill Aldrich is the co-author of five books by Lone Pine Publishing: Best Garden Plants for Illinois (coming in 2006), Perennials for Illinois, Annuals for Illinois, Tree and Shrub Gardening for Illinois, and Month-by-Month in the Garden for Illinois.

He is the publisher and executive editor of Chicagoland Gardening Magazineand president of its parent company, Growit Communications, Inc.

Aldrich received a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri. He worked at theChicago Tribune for 32 years, chiefly as a photo editor. His interest in gardening led to a free-lance writing career principally for the Tribune.

Aldrich is also involved with the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, serving on its Advisory Board, its Exhibitors Committee, and as chair of its Program Committee. His company publishes the Show Guide that is distributed at the event. He also is a past president of the Garden Writers Association and has been a Master Gardener with the University of Illinois Extension.

Please call the Extension office, 333-7672 to register for this program.

Don't let your hands suffer. Here's how to choose the right glove for every garden job.

In my crazy youth, I used to plunge into the garden bare-handed, ripping through plants, digging up soil, and pruning back roses. If I got a few slashes, cuts and thorns, so what?

These days, though, I find my aging, thinning skin is a bit more delicate – it doesn't take much to puncture or slice it. Plus, now my skin takes days to heal properly, if at all. (Case in point: rose thorn tip that I can't remove – which then becomes infected. Ouch.)

When I'm using hand tools, a good pair of gloves prevents blisters and calluses. And when I'm working with power tools, gloves absorb the vibrations of the machine and make it less tiring to use – as well as giving me a better grip on a pretty daunting hunk of metal.

Then there's the whole issue of sun protection. The backs of the hands are often one of the first places age spots (a form of skin damage) show up. Prolonged exposure also makes you more susceptible to skin cancer. But if you're a diligent garden-glove wearer, you are well prepared.

I've been on a quest to find the perfect gloves. Unfortunately, they are as elusive as the perfect jeans. Instead, I've assembled a collection of a few different gloves that work well for different situations.

Most of my glove wardrobe is cotton knit gloves that look like the wearer dipped the palms and fingers into brightly colored molten latex. I have several pairs, and pitch them in the wash when they get dirty. They allow for pretty good dexterity, and they're warm in the winter, cool in the summer, flexible, and sturdy. They're padded enough to make handling tools more pleasant.

I also have a pair of lightweight, fitted, stretchy gloves that are great when I need excellent dexterity but some protection - like when I plant seedlings.

On the other end of the spectrum, I have a pair of macho cowhide gloves that I keep by my larger tools. They have lousy dexterity, but provide major protection. I reach for them when I'm messing around with flagstone or a tool that could possibly slice my finger off.

Gloves, to my mind, fall into one of five categories: general purpose, lightweight, heavyweight, rose, and chemical.

General purpose gloves are the ones I pull on first when I head to the garden. They protect your hands when you're doing a wide range of tasks, they provide a moderate amount of protection, and they're comfortable in most types of weather.

Lightweight gloves are for time when you don't need whole lot of protection. One gardener I know swears by surgical gloves – she loves the way she can perform even the most delicate work with tiny seedlings and seeds and still have a good level of protection from the cold, wet, dirt, and pokey objects. Most all-cotton gloves fall into this category too, including the floral print so-called "lady's gloves." Lightweight gloves are ideal for warmer, drier weather, but I find the fingers wear out when I'm working in the wet conditions digging with my hands in gravel or dirt. So either look for finger reinforcement or buy an inexpensive pair that you consider semi-disposable. I also like to have some grip on my cotton gloves, especially if I'm using a hand tool like a rake or spade.

Heavyweight gloves are the macho men of the glove world. They're big and bulky, but they do hard work. They're great when hauling stone or gravel or working with power tools. Cowhide is the most common material used for heavyweight gloves. It comes in smooth leather and suede. Smooth (often called grain) leather is more comfortable but isn't as durable as suede. Pigskin has compact fibers and tolerates sharp or abrading objects. And, if you want to splurge check out goatskin gloves, especially those treated with lanolin. Goatskin is not as durable as cowhide or pigskin, but does well for medium-duty jobs.

Unlike most gloves, leather gloves can't be washed and tend to get stiff once wet. So take care of leather gloves by laying them out to dry after each use, then brushing off dried mud and gunk. Also check out some the new, high-tech glove introductions in the market. The Bionic glove, for example, has built-in pads to disperse pressure from tools – and they're made from washable leather.

With any heavy duty glove, look for a cuff or strap to tighten the glove around your wrist to prevent mulch, gravel, or other loose material from sifting into the glove.

Rose gloves are in a category by themselves. As anyone who has worked with roses (especially with large thorns!) can tell you, those puppies are painful. Their thorns scratch, cut, and can break off under the skin to create painful splinters.

Look for rose gloves with long arms that slip easily over clothes while fitting your hands well. Also look for true puncture-resistant design. I've used gloves touted as rose gloves, only to find that the large thorns my rugosas poked right through. At the same time, you want some dexterity and flexibility – these aren't welding gloves, after all. You'll want to do a little deadheading and grab some weeds while you're out there, and a good pair of rose gloves will let you do that.

Look for breatheability, too. Some rose gloves are made of rubber-like materials. On a hot, sunny day, it's no fun to swathe your sweaty palms and forearms in plastic.

Chemical gloves protect your hands from chemicals, such as sprays or solvents. Even if a chemical is deemed safe for skin contact, it's a good idea to prevent it from absorbing into your skin even slightly.

Surgical gloves are my fist choice, since they're disposable. But when working with oils, acids, or other caustic or petroleum-based chemicals look for either neoprene – or nitrile- coated gloves. Neoprene is oil-resistant and nitrile is more versatile, resisting a broader range of soils and solvents, such as kerosene and turpentine.

When shopping for gloves, always try them on. It can be difficult to find lightweight cotton gloves in large sizes. Conversely, gardeners with small hands may have difficulty finding heavyweight gloves that fit well.

To test a pair of gloves, put them on and make a fist. There should be no undue pulling or tightness. Test dexterity by trying to pick up a coin with the gloves on.

A good pair or two of gloves – like any good tool – makes just about all your garden jobs easier and more pleasant. They're well worth the modest investment. After all, they will quite literally save your skin.

- Gloria Levitt

Thanks to Master Gardener, Ann Chan, for assisting at the Ikebana demonstration at Japan House. Ann also donated that lovely vase that was used for an arrangement and given away as part of the door prize. Ann is a many talented person!!!

On Thursday, March 9, Joan Sargent, Dixie Jackson, Annette Morris, Kathryn Bock, Brenda Marshall, Tom Seals and Ann Marlow volunteered to answer phones at the WILL fund drive. Tom did a great on-air interview that gave the Master Gardeners some very positive publicity. Chatting during the breaks was a great way to get to know each other better, especially the new trainees.

- Ann Marlow '04

Day Trip

April 25: We are going to leave for Hoerr's in Peoria around 7:30, shop and then eat lunch; then on to Hornbaker's in Princeton. Each of these places has a wonderful selection of plants.

So, for you "newbies," this is how it is done: We try to put 3 to 4 people in each vehicle so that we have carrying room for all those wonderful plants! (Each car is a site to behold on the return trip as they look like forests!) We all share the gas expense of the transportation car. We do need drivers to make this trip feasible. Call the office to register and note if you can be a driver. If you are driving, state how many you can carry. Please register by April 21 so we can set up the carpool(s).

Overnight Trip

May 8 and 9: Join us for an overnight plant shopping extravaganza to northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. We will visit the Growing Place, Planter's Palette, Northwind Perennial Farm, and Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery. We also plan to stop at Cantigny Gardens for an educational break. Plan to share the expenses for gas and motel room. Again, please register and state whether you can drive and how many you can carry. Please register by April 28. More information to follow as the date nears.

Happy spring to you all! I wanted to take a moment and thank each of you that helped make last year's season a great success at the Idea Garden. We should all be proud of what we help create and nurture all year at our main educational garden. The 2006 Idea Garden season is now upon us and I wanted to remind interns, trainees and active MG's of the upcoming "special workday" dates:

• April 1–"Wake up the Garden" workday–this is where we do a major opening of the garden.
• June 17–this is the last Saturday before the garden walk where we add mulch, compost, pull weeds and make everything "spiffy".
• August 19–"Save the Garden" workday–the garden usually needs a "pick-me-up" at this time of the season with some extra TLC.
• October 28–"Put the Garden to Bed" workday–we say goodbye for another season to the Idea Garden by pruning, raking leaves and cleaning up for closure of the garden for the season.

We need everyone that can help on these special workdays to come out and lend a hand. Also, as a reminder, regular workdays are scheduled for Saturdays at 9 a.m. starting April 1, 2006. All interns, trainees, and actives are encouraged to attend these days so we can continue the wonderful Idea Garden tradition the community has come to expect. Only have an hour to give? No Problem! We would love to see you there! Don't forget your nametag....

- Heather Miller, Idea Garden Chair, 2006

March 1 – October 1 – Volunteer in the MG office to answer consumer horticultural questions from the community and mentor new interns. Sign-up calendar is available in the MG office. Questions? Please contact Linda Isenhoweror Christine Martinez (333-7672 or cmartinz@uiuc.edu).

April 1 – First IG work day "Wake up the Garden." Work begins at 9am.

April 8 & 9 – U of I Horticulture Club Mom's Day Flowershow, U of I Stock Pavilion. Earn community service hours by serving as a host at the MG informational booth. Volunteer shifts are one hour long. Sign up for one hour or multiple hours. Call the Extension office (333-7672) if you'd like to volunteer. Great way to interact with other MG's and the community.

May 20 – 15th Annual Kid's Building Fair, Orpheum Children's Science Museum, Champaign. U of I Extension will be a participant again in this exciting event for kids and their parents. Volunteer to be part of the gardening station; contact Christine Martinez (333-7672 or cmartinz@uiuc.edu) if you'd like to volunteer. Counts towards community service hours.

June 24 – CCMG Garden Walk. Volunteer to be part of this annual fundraising event. Contact Carolyn Purcell or Heather Miller if you'd like to participate.

All Master Gardeners including trainees and interns are welcome and encouraged to attend any meetings and programs. All meetings are held at Extension office unless stated otherwise.

April

1 Saturday, 9:00am – First IG workday, "Wake up the Garden." Bring your gloves, trowels, and pruners and lend a hand in officially opening the IG for the 2006 gardening season. All actives, trainees, and interns welcome and encouraged to come. Refreshments will be provided.

4 Tuesday, 9:30am – Garden Walk mtg.

5 Wednesday – Happy Birthday MG Carolyn Ogen!

5 Wednesday – MG Training: IG Tour/ Lawns.

6 Thursday, 11:00am – Program Committee mtg.

6 Thursday, 1:00pm – Advisory Committee mtg.

6 Thursday, 6:00pm – 8:00pm – Petals & Paintings Gala Opening, Krannert Art Museum. Enjoy an evening of art, dramatic floral presentations, music, hors d' oeuvres, and wine. For more information call: 333-1801 or visit www.kamcouncil.org.

19Wednesday – MG Training: Gardening Info Resources. Potluck and Graduation. Congratulations Class of 2006! MGs please join us in this celebration. NOTE DATE CHANGE FROM 4/12 TO 4/19 DUE TO ROOM AVAILABILITY

8–9 Saturday & Sunday – U of I Horticulture Club Mom's Day Flower Show. U of I Stock Pavilion, Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana. Show hours: 9am-4pm, Saturday and 9am-2pm, Sunday. Volunteer at the CCMG information booth and earn community service hours. Call the Extension office (333-7672) if you'd like to sign up to volunteer.

12 Wednesday, 8:30am – 3:34pm - Annual Spring Garden Seminar. Sponsored by U of I Extension, Lasalle County. Celebrations 150 Banquet Hall, Utica, IL. Topics covered: "Vegetable Gardening Problems," "Turf Problems (weeds, insects, & disease)," "Ornamental Vines," and "If You Plant it, They Will Come..." Registration fee of $20 includes breakfast and lunch. For more information please call the LaSalle County Unit office at
815-433-0707.

13 Friday, 9:30am – 2:00pm – Gardening is More....than just planting seeds. Edgar County 4H Fairgrounds, Paris, IL. Sponsored by the Edgar County Master Gardeners. Topics covered: "What's New in Perennials and Hidden Gems for 2006," "Digital Photography," and "The Artistry of Gourds." Registraion deadline: April 7. For registration information please contact Edgar County Extension Unit at 217-465-8585.

18 Tuesday, 1:00pm – Telenet: "Summer Flowering Bulbs" is an introduction to a whole new world of flowering bulbs for the landscape. Go beyond spring bulbs and start gardening with summer bulbs. Jim Schmidt, Consumer Horticulture State Specialist will discuss the culture and care of summer bulbs as well as what companion plants work well in the garden. Please call the Extension office (333-7672) to reserve handouts. Open to public.

18 Tuesday, 7:00pm – MG Monthly Program: Bill Aldrich, editor of Chicagoland Gardening Magazine. Bill will discuss "Best Plants for Illinois and Beyond." Open to the public. Please call the Extension office (333-7672) to register.

20 Thursday, 1:00pm – Idea Garden mtg.

20 Thursday – MG Apparel orders due to the Extension office. Please turn your order form and payment in to Pam Herriott, fiscal secretary.

20 Thursday, 7:00pm – Telenet: Summer Flowering Bulbs repeated. Please call the Extension office (333-7672) to reserve handouts. Open to public.

25 Tuesday – "One Day Buying Trip"- Carpool to Central Illinois nurseries and greenhouse to outfit your garden for the season. All travelers are encouraged to share in the cost of fuel. See article in this issue for details. Call the office (333-7672) to sign up for carpool.

25 Tuesday – Christine back from Shanghai.

29 Saturday, 8:00am – 3:00pm – Champaign County Residents Household Hazardous Waste Collection at the Solo Cup – North Parking lot, 1500 E. Main St., Urbana, IL. Rain or shine. Questions? Please contact: City of Urbana (217)384-2302, City of Champaign (217)403-4770 or Illinois EPA (217)9284.

May

2 Tuesday, 9:30am – Garden Walk mtg.

2 Tuesday, 1:00pm – Telenet: Uncommon, Unusual & Underrated Landscape Plants will give you ideas on what to plant that maybe you haven't seen before. University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator, Chris Hilgert, will talk about those plants that will make people stop and ask "What is that?" Please call the Extension office (333-7672) to reserve handouts. Open to public.

4 Thursday, 11:00am – Program Committee mtg.

4 Thursday, 1:00pm – Advisory Committee mtg.

4 Thursday, 7:00pm – Telenet: Uncommon, Unusual & Underrated Landscape Plants repeated. Please call the Extension office (333-7672) to reserve handouts. Open to public.

8-9 Monday & Tuesday – MG Overnight Buying trip. Join fellow MGs on an overnight buying trip to several garden centers and nurseries throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. See article, p. 3. Contact: MG Siska Kallio. Call the office (333-7672) to sign up for carpool.

16 Tuesday, 1:00pm – Telenet: Shade Gardening will offer you many other possibilities for your low-light landscape besides impatiens and Hostas. University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator, David Robson will talk about annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs that thrive in shady areas. Please call the Extension office (333-7672) to reserve handouts. Open to public.

18 Thursday, 7:00pm – Telenet: Shade Gardening repeated. Please call the Extension office (333-7672) to reserve handouts. Open to public.

20 Saturday, 9:00am – Move IG plants out of Turner Greenhouses; MG bedding plant sale. Questions? Contact MG Ann Marlowor MG Dorothy Fritchie.

20 Saturday – 15th Annual Kid's Building Fair, Orpheum Children's Science Museum, Champaign, IL. Presented by the Preservation and Conservation Association and the Orpheum Children's Science Museum, several thousand children and parents participate in this fair honoring National Historic Preservation month. Volunteer to be part of this exciting event; contact Christine Martinez (333-7672 or cmartinz@uiuc.edu).