Have you always looked at the seedlings at your favorite nursery and wondered how they were started, cared for, and repotted to their size when you buy them? Have you dreamed of starting your own plants, vegetables, herbs, annual and perennial flowers but lack the knowhow to get started? Would you like to take pride in starting your own plants? Do you already start seeds for your garden but would like to join in the discussion, learn more techniques and share your tips with the Master Gardeners?

Take the opportunity to learn and discuss these issues at the February 15 monthly meeting, 7 p.m. at the Plant Sciences Lab, next to Turner greenhouse on Dorner Drive.

Join Bette Hughes for this seed starting and seedling care workshop. Bring empty egg cartons or your container of choice and seeds to plant. Seed starting medium will be supplied. This will be a hands-on workshop with open discussion and questions are encouraged.

- Bette Hughes

"The love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies"–G. Jekyll. What a great thought and one that unites us all. If you have made new years resolutions–please consider one to be more involved with the our group this year. Some great things are on tap for fun, social activites, learning, GROWING, and sharing this joy of gardening with the public!

Welcome new 2005 trainees. This year there are 11 taking the class in Danville and 9 online. Mary Morris has organized volunteers to match these new trainees up with a "Garden Buddy" to be a friend and help them "dig in" to the goings on of our group. Jan Fisher is organizing a different set of volunteers called the "Office Mentors" to help the trainees know the "dirt" on answering phones in the office.

Advisory committee update: At large members of this committee are: Aporn Surintramont, Heather Miller, Robert Schoop, and Joan Farwell-Sargent. ALL MG's welcome to attend this monthly meeting. The Membership Directory is under revision and will include updated bylaws, new trainees, and scholarship opportunities. Inactive MG's will be asked if they wish to still be on the mailing list (they can ask for "alumni status" if no longer able to be active). This may help with mailing costs.

Committees: Program committee co-chairs are Shirley Traugott and Annette Lansford and they are off to a good start. Reserve your calendar also for the April 27 Road Buying Trip to Bloomington & Peoria areas AND bus trip May 21 to Indianapolis to Museum of Art and Oldfields.

Garden Day–don't miss this!! March 4th and 5th- five fabulous speakers, vendors, food, and fun- with the apt theme of "A Breath of Spring"- wow! Do we need this now!!

Garden Walk: Theme of "Town and Country"- will be on SATURDAY June 25th. Keep this date open, too!

Idea Garden: They are spouting great ideas with plants and seeds! We should again receive donated plants from EuroAmerican–yay! Seed orders need to be in end of February & seeds into greenhouse committee early March when they start up. Will be getting bids on repairing the fence

Join In!!: More fun & learning: Check the end of this newsletter, the state newsletter (called Imagine), and the web site for details on: MG meetings: seed starting, hypertufa returns!, telenets, and tons of gardening programs all around Illinois to "spur" you on to the "lark" of gardening (bad pun, get it?–larkspur). Hope to see you!

- Ann Tice, president

Hyper what? I've heard of hyperactive and hypertension, but hypertufa? Hypertufa planters are basically stone looking containers to plant all kinds of cute plants that like their well drained home. It all started in Europe where people admired the look of old stone livestock troughs used as plant containers. Since the livestock troughs are hard to come by and very heavy, hypertufa was the prefect replacement. It's much lighter weight than stone but with all the charm. They are made of Portland cement, peat moss and perlite. These can be expensive if you buy them. We had such great fun at the last workshop we thought a repeat was in order. We have learned a bit since then to make the program more educational and to make it run smoother. Join Aporn and Sandy Tuesday March 15 at 6:00 pm at the Horticulture Research Farm on south Lincoln (south of the Idea Garden across from the U of I Dairy Barns) to make your own stone looking container. Bring heavy duty kitchen weight gloves, a bucket and a container to use as the form. Your planter will be formed on the inside of your form. Form could be old metal roasting pan, stiff plastic or clay pot, plastic shoe box or cardboard box reinforced with duct tape. Form could be for a bird bath as well. It's best if the form does not have many indentations or the hypertufa may get stuck in them. Form should not be much more than 6 inches tall by 15 inches long and 12 inches wide. We will have some colorants available. Fee is $10. Class size is limited to 25. You must register at the Extension office and pay your fee by March 7th.

Okay, I like winter as much as the next person - NOT!!! Enough already with the gray skies and bitter winds! Cutting something usually takes the edge off for me...But there's nothing left to prune...I need hope...now!

To me, February in central Illinois is kind of the "Are we there yet?" month. Gardeners are by nature optimistic. But sometimes they need a little help...e.g. - seed & plant catalogs, garden books...all promises of spring. How about this?

Way before winter's slumber, your local nurseries began working hard to bring something new, maybe even spectacular, to a garden center near you. Whatever your space, time or income allows, you should be able to find a cure for the common garden right here in good ol' central Illinois.

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely ready for some color! Picture this: Your world-traveled in-laws pull up to your front door for the graduation of your child...They love something different and are fully prepared to yawn their hearts out at your place...They are stopped dead in their tracks when they see how you've skillfully woven the newest annuals, perennials, vines & shrubs together to make a living tapestry that knocks their socks off so much they talk about it everywhere wherever they go...Okay, maybe that's getting a little carried away...but you get the picture...don't you?

Got sun? Check out a shrub rose called 'Knockout Pink'. It has dark pink buds & bright , medium pink, cup shaped blossoms that fade to a lighter shade. As winter hardy as its parent 'Knockout'. Very black spot resistant.

How about some yellow cascading 'Surfinia Lime' petunias...Great in window boxes. Or maybe some 'Intensia Lavender Glow' Phlox. It has lavender blue flowers with a white eye..grows 8-12' tall.. There's always room for pansies! Look for ' Whiskers Orange'...a new color of fun cat-whiskered flowers.

The 'Meadowbright Sunrise' Echinacea has single, citron yellow daisy-like flowers that are rose scented! There's not one, but two tiers of petals on the 'Doppelganger' Echinacea. And introduced by the Chicago Botanic Gardens is 'Meadowbright Mango' Echinacea...It has a mango colored fragrant flower!

Got shade or partial shade? There's a multitude of Hostas to choose from...With fun names like 'Christmas Candy', 'Dream Queen', 'Spring Fling' and 'Touch of Class'.

Heucherella 'Stoplight' would be stunning in a border or in containers. In spring, leaves are screaming yellow with a red center. Summer color varies from straw yellow to green with red center. White flowers in spring. Part sun.

How about 'Religious Radish' Coleus? It's a large coleus of maroon & pinks. Or maybe 'Swiss Sunshine' Coleus with its small leaves of vivid yellows & pinks. A couple of Clematis to look for are the 'New Love' & 'Praecox' varieties.

I hope you all get out there and check out what's new at your local nurseries. I know I can't wait!

- Margaret Hill

The Program Committee is planning a wonderful day trip to the newly renovated Indiana Museum of Art: Oldfields - Lilly House & Gardens on May 21. We'll tour the National Historic Landmark of Oldfields and the Lilly House mansion. This 26-acre estate was designed in the 1920s by the Olmsted Brothers firm. The day will not be limited to the gardens as the Museum of Art is located on the same property. Trip details in the next Cultivator...

The sun was shining today which made the temperature in my solar greenhouse about 79. I have noticed lately that the night-time temperatures are staying around 50, and on cloudy days around 60. Not too bad for central Illinois.

I actually have to down-dress to shorts and tee shirt in order to do any work in the greenhouse. Since I do have not have my seeds for the spring garden, I decided to use my time to repot some badly neglected pot-bound plants while pretending to be on the sunny beaches of a tropical country!

While enjoying my time I was reminded of a question asked by one of my gardening buddies, "Why is it that you have so many plants blooming in your greenhouse?" Buying seeds and plants for the greenhouse is much the same as buying for any garden. One tries to have something for all seasons and the greenhouse is no exception. Although I empty most plants from the greenhouse in the summer, leaving only a few tropicals and a growth of Hops, Humulus, on the exterior glazing to shade the area in the hottest months, there is something going on for most of the rest of the year.

I start moving plants back into the greenhouse in August, September, and October. This action alone triggers some species into blooming, especially those with day length sensibility such as the Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti, Zygocactus. These plants normally require some darkness and into the light to cause bloom, but for me it is just a matter of location. For other species it may be the pruning so that they fit into the greenhouse without taking too much space. Reasons for bloom are determined mostly by variety and cultural practices. When searching plants and catalogues, in addition to having a real passion for a plant, one must look at length to bloom and cultural needs. When in a nursery, a friend's home or anywhere where there are plants to admire, I simply have to decide if I like the plant well enough to bother learning the needs and habits of the species to warrant having it to take care of and to propagate. Propagation is just one more fun thing about gardening. There is just something about multiplying plants for one's own garden and to share with other gardeners that is difficult to explain.

And, since I actually grow vegetables and herbs in the greenhouse, this offers more blooms as well as freshness for cooking and eating. I let the herbs and flowers and veggies go to seed so that they can germinate at will, making life easier. I have been able to grow most culinary herbs inside in the winter with the exception of French Tarragon. This herb requires cold treatment, as do Chives and Thyme, but for some reason it hasn't done well for me inside. I'll keep trying, however. In the meantime, I have found that Mexican Tarragon, as we call it, but it is actually a Marigold, Tagetes Lucida, is an excellent substitute that is more user friendly in the winter greenhouse, and although the taste is somewhat sweeter than the French variety, it is delicious and has edible flowers when it rarely blooms. The blooms of Sugar Snap peas, various varieties of Lettuce and Chinese cabbages, Tomatoes, and Arugula, all have beautiful blooms and are edible. What a bonus! Let's not forget the Nasturtium for delicious leaves and flowers that bloom and bloom. I find that getting started early enough to have established plants before the cloudy, dreary days of November assures me better success with most plants.

Plants that offer rewards in my greenhouse are Streptocarpella, also known as false violet, Brugmansia, spp, Geraniums, Pelargonium spp, Clerodendrum Ugandese 'Glory Bower,' Bowiea Vo-Ubilis, commonly called the onion plant and has star-like tiny white blooms, Portulaca spp, Kolanchoe Tubiflora, a tall cactus like plant with a wide umbel multicolor bloom, Ledebouria, Liliaceae, Ginger, 'Dancing Girl,' Oxalis, Purple leaf, Miniature Rose, Salmon cupido, Ruiabri, Kohleria 'Longwood', Begonias, spp, A. plumosus, Asparagus Fern, Abutilon variagata, Flowering Maple, Bourganvilla, Sanderiana, Stephanotis floribunda, evergreen climber Jasmine, and Evolvulus 'Hawaiian Blue Eyes' among others. I brought in a Persian Shield, Strobilanthes dyeriannus this year, pruned it to start new plants, and the new rootings promptly bloomed. I didn't know this popular foliage plant had a bloom. A nice bloom, also, a small Canterbury bell type in very soft blue/purple color. Surprises are mostly nice.

For those of you who may have interests in greenhouses and propagation, we have a Greenhouse Group as a sprout of the Master Gardeners. Contact Carolyn Ogen if you are interested in the workings of this group.

- Bette Hughes

Perennial border means always on the edge, right? Appears that way in my garden. I was experiencing difficulty so I decided to read some of the classic references.

I first read a book by an English author. Don't remember her exact name, but it was something like Gertrude Sissinghurst Jekyll Hampton Hyde-White. Those British names all seem the same. Think she also wrote a novel about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. My perennial border certainly differs from her descriptions in a Jekyll and Hyde manner.

I next read a series of outstanding articles about perennial borders in Horticulture magazine. Don't recall the names of the authors, but they may live in a magical place in Vermont where they grow varieties ranging from zones 1 to 47. Those guys are good! In addition, they maintain an extraordinary ecological balance by raising enough plants for deer in Vermont AND Connecticut. Would they have enough for the deer where I live?

Continued to browse in the library. There must be a simple how to manual from which I could benefit. I began to hate the number 635. All the gardening books were on the same topic? They were located on the same shelves. Where was the variety?

Reading was not working for me. I resorted to my usual strategy of buying one of everything, and then purchasing a second if I favored the first one. Worked out pretty well since the first plant often died. Particularly if I liked it.

One of those garden references did mention focus so I attempted sophistication and finesse. I saw a Gertrude Jekyll rose in a catalog. Must be perfect for a perennial border! I bought 287 bare root plants. Important to have an odd number for artistic expression.

The roses arrived during a Spring snowstorm. No problem. Snow would provide a magnificent mulch. Slipping and sliding I planted the roses. Got them all mostly in the ground in only four days. Chiseling out the frozen turf didn't slow me down too much.

Decided not to water the new plants since it was now so muddy and there was a freezing rain to provide adequate moisture. Most of the branches broke off in gale force winds, but I had read somewhere that pruning was important for roses. The bright sunshine which followed dazzled my vision and gave me hope for the future.

The weather warmed and neighbors enjoyed their pussy willows, crocus and daffodils. I patiently waited for my perennial border of 92 Gertrude Jekyll roses. I was optimistic. So far only 195 had died. A month later none lived. Always on the edge.

I did use the time though to rethink the value of perennial borders. Did I order too many roses? There were no borders or edges in my garden. Just one large garden room. Yes! That would be the future. One large garden room. Think I'll go read about rooms. Important design principle for a modern garden. Destined for the cutting edge.

- Robert Shoop

No matter how many plants we have, we always have room for a few more. "Let no space go unplanted." That's our motto. If you are interested in finding out more about plant propagation than this class is for you.

Plant propagation will be a continued education opportunity for 15 hours credit. It will be three sessions – Friday March 11, Friday March 18 and Friday April 1 from 9am-3pm at the Extension office. Attendance at each one is strongly encouraged.

Format will be class discussion and hands-on activities in the morning, lunch then field trips to campus in the afternoon.

First session will deal with propagation basics such as supplies, equipment, and a little plant physiology. Second session will focus on seed propagation. Third session is vegetative propagation.

Join Sandy as the instructor in this plant multiplication class.

- Sandy Mason

Sudden Oak Death. It's a scary disease. Unfortunately SOD also affects many other ornamental plants including rhododendron, viburnum, honeysuckle and lilac. To date it has not been found in Illinois, however it's important we know symptoms to accomplish early detection.

Phytophthora ramorum is a fungus-like organism, which causes a disease in trees and shrubs called "ramorum blight" or "ramorum dieback", also referred to as Sudden Oak Death. The disease was first discovered on the West Coast where nurseries unknowingly shipped infected plants across the country last year. To date, state and national survey efforts have detected SOD in 21 states.

A detection and response training program for Illinois nurserymen, arborists, landscape professionals and Master Gardeners will be offered on March 7, 2005 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Champaign County Extension auditorium. This program will be offered simultaneously at multiple locations throughout Illinois through the distance conferencing system. We will have a program later for the general public.

Teleconference and PowerPoint presentations will be used to detail SOD hosts, symptoms, and how it has spread, as well as the detection and response protocol for Illinois. Brief updates about several invasive pests of trees will also be provided. The Illinois SOD task force and University of Illinois Extension are providing this workshop.

Please attend this important training. There is no fee but registration is requested to reserve a packet of printed material. To register, call the office at 333-7672.

- Sandy Mason

All Master Gardeners including trainees, interns, and actives are welcome to attend any program or meeting. Meetings are held at the Extension office unless otherwise indicated.

February

1, Tuesday, 9:00am – Garden Walk Committee

1, Tuesday, 10:30am – Garden Day meeting

3-4, Thursday – Friday, 8:00am –5:00pm – Commercial Pesticide Safety Education Program & Testing , Holiday Inn 1001 Killarney, Urbana, Illinois. Training for General Standards, Turf, Ornamentals, Right of Way. For details about training, testing times, and registration call the Extension office: 333-7672.

3, Thursday, 11:00am – Program Committee Meeting

3, Thursday, 1:00pm – Advisory Committee Meeting.

7, Monday, 8:00am- 5:00pm – Vermacomposting Symposium, Northfield Suites & Conference Center, Springfield, Illinois. For more information contact: 217-352-5859 or brett_ivers@commerce.state.il.us.

9, Wednesday, 8:00am – 4:20pm – 2005 Southern Illinois Vegetable School, Holiday Inn, Mt. Vernon. For program information contact: Elizabeth Wahle, 618-692-9434.

11-13 Midwestern Herb and Garden Show at Times Square Mall in Mt Vernon.10am to 9pm on Friday and Saturday and noon to 5pm on Sunday. Hourly educational sessions. U of I Extension Master Gardeners on hand to answer questions. Free Admission. Sponsored by Herbs for Fun and Health Club and Mt. Vernon Convention and Visitors Bureau. PH:800-252-5464 http://groups.msn.com/MidwesternHerbandGardenShow

15 Tuesday at 1:00 pm Flowering Trees and Shrubs for the Home Landscape telenet. Instructor Dave Robson, Horticulture Educator. Great way to accumulate continued education hours. Call the Extension office to reserve an information packet.

15, Tuesday, 7:00pm – MG Monthly Program – Starting Seeds and After Care presented by MG Bette Hughes. A hands-on demonstration on seed propagation. Bring your seeds and egg cartons to get an early start with your gardening. Please call 333-7672 by February 11 to register. Program will be at the Plant Science Lab, Dorner Dr. Urbana.

17, Thursday, 1:00pm – Idea Garden Committee

17, Thursday at 7:00 pm. Repeat of Flowering Trees and Shrubs for the Home Landscape telenet.

19, Saturday, 8:00am-3:15pm. Home, Lawn and Garden Day - Heartland Community College, Normal. Many educational programs and exhibitors for home gardeners. Sponsored by U of I Extension McLean County Master Gardeners and Heartland Community College. Call 309-663-8306 for more information.

19, Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon Gardeners Day – U of I Extension Building #30, Illinois State Fair Grounds, Springfield, IL. Sponsored by the Sangamon – Menard Unit Master Gardeners. For more info contact: 217-782-4617.

22 & 23 – 23rd Annual Southern Illinois Grounds Maintenance School and Trade Show, Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville. Registration due Feb. 11. Advanced registration fee includes lunch, breaks, proceedings, trade show and education program. Certified MGs admission: $25/one day and $35/two days. Registrations questions: 618-650-7050 or madison_co@extension.uiuc.edu.

March

1, Tuesday, 9:00am – Garden Walk meeting

1, Tuesday, 10:30am – Garden Day meeting

1, Tuesday, 1:00pm – Telenet Reblooming Holiday Plants. How to care for and re-bloom your holiday poinsettias, amaryllis, Christmas cactus and more. Instructor Greg Stack, Horticulture Educator. Call the 333-7672 to reserve your information packet.

3, Thursday, 1:00pm – Advisory Committee meeting

3, Thursday, 7:00pm – Telenet repeat of Reblooming Holiday Plants.

4, Friday, 12:00pm- 4:00pm – Pushing the Boundaries: A Workshop for Master Gardeners, Holiday Inn, Urbana, Illinois. Learn how to wisely "push the boundaries" within your garden with guest speakers Tony Avent and Greg Speichert. Several vendors will be on-site. Sign up soon as space is limited.

5, Saturday, 8:00am – 4:00pm – A Breath of Spring: Garden Day 2005, Holiday Inn, Urbana, Illinois. Learn what's new in gardening with guest speakers Ken Druse, Tony Avent, Carol Reese, and Erica Glasener. Several vendors will be on-site. This program is open to the public. Registration brochures available online http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaign/downloads/142.pdf or at the Extension office.

7, Monday, 9:00am –11:00am – Sudden Oak Death Training for Master Gardeners and Illinois Nurserymen. A telenet detailing disease hosts, symptoms, and epidemiology, as well as the detection and response protocol for Illinois. Brief updates about several invasive pests of trees will also be provided.

11&18, April 1 – Advanced MG Training- Plant Propagation. Hands on plant propagation training.

12–20 – Chicago Flower & Garden Show. Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois. For ticket information call 312-222-5086.

12–20 – DACC & Macon County MGs 11th Annual Chicago Flower and Garden Show bus trip. Depart DACC at 7:00am and return at 7:00pm. $45.00/person (includes refreshments, bus ticket and admission). For registration info contact: DACC at 217-443-8778.

15, Tuesday, 1:00pm – Telenet Low Input Landscaping with Groundcover. Instructor Barb Bates, Horticulture Educator. Call the Extension office to reserve your information packet.

15, Tuesday, 6:00pm – MG Monthly Program – Hypertufa: The Sequel, Hort Research Building. Bring your gloves and your forms and get ready to make another great container! Please call 333-7672 by March 7 to sign up.

17, Thursday, 1pm – Idea Garden meeting.