I just want to thank all of you for making our "Spring into Gardening" conference such a success. We have been trying to get something like that organized for some time now. We have our first one "under our hats" and will be looking to have an even bigger and better one next year. We were so fortunate to have such a lovely place as the LifeSpan Center to hold our first conference. I hope you were able to fill out the evaluation sheet—this will be a big help for next year.

For those of you who were not able to attend this conference but have some ideas on what you would like for us to do to in the future—just let us know. We appreciate any feed back that you might have.

I have another area I would like to say thank you also—those of you who take to time to call the Extension office with a question or comment concerning this column. Since I and the others, who contribute to this column, are volunteers your interest is what motivates us to bring all these interesting facts and ideas to you.

This is just one area where we as Master Gardeners contribute to educating you, the public, about plants such as annuals and perennials, vegetables, and plants in the landscape. So keep those questions coming—you know we are learning something new all the time also.

Now I told you we would be holding some other informational times so—University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners will be involved in the Friday morning "Kids' Program" at the Annual Farm Bureau Mall Show at the Cross County Mall this weekend, March 6, 7and 8.

Then on March 21^st will be the annual Lawn & Garden Show at Cross County Mall. Master Gardener, Esther Lutz will give a presentation on Squirrels in the Yard and Master Gardener, Kathy Hummel will give you information on Deer resistant plants.

March 28^th SBLH will be hosting "Girls Day Out" at the Presbyterian Church here in Mattoon. A few of our Coles County Extension Master Gardeners will be manning an area to answer questions and sell some of our hypertufa pots, plant markers, etc.

Then that same morning March 28, 10 am Max Davis will be at Douglas Hart Nature Center talking about veggie gardening. So mark these dates down and please join in on any or all these activities.

GARDEN QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Q) Do perennial flowers need any attention this time of year? A) Carefully remove any mulch that was placed around perennials to protect them during the winter. Don't be alarmed if no new growth is evident; many plants are slow to emerge in the spring. Unprotected plants or those sensitive to temperature extremes may have damage to the crowns or the plants may have "heaved" from alternate freezing and thawing. Before removing any plants, wait for temperatures to warm to see if any growth appears.

Q) Why do the flowers on my daffodils become smaller each year? A) The plants are over crowded and need to be divided. The daffodil produces many new bulbs each year and after four or five years becomes overcrowded.

Q) Should I have fertilized my spring bulbs last fall when I planted them, or should I do it now? A) You should have mixed five tablespoons of 10-10-10 soluble fertilizer (or equivalent bulb fertilizer) plus two cups of bone meal per 10 square foot area into the soil at planting time in the fall. As soon as the shoots break through the ground in the spring you can repeat the above soluble fertilizer application. Do not fertilize spring flowering bulbs after they start flowering. This tends to encourage the development of bulb rot and sometimes shortens the life of flowers.

Q) My tulips and daffodils have some disease and the tips are turning brown. What should I do? (A) It's kind of early in the growing season for disease. The leaves were probably damaged during one of our recent cold snaps. However, the bulbs should have escaped damage and ought to flower normally.

Q) What's the difference between a narcissus, daffodil and jonquil? (A) Narcissus is the botanical name for daffodils. Daffodil is the common English name for the genus narcissus. Narcissus and daffodil can be used interchangeably. Jonquil is one small group or type of daffodil bulb in the genus of narcissus.

Q) I need to move some of my spring bulbs. When can I do that? (A) Anytime in the spring is good if you are careful to dig a large enough root ball so as not to disturb the threadlike roots. However, it's usually best to wait until the foliage dies back naturally. The dormancy period for spring bulbs is summer, not winter.

Q) What shall I do for soil that grows annuals and perennials too large and weedy, but weak-stemmed? It probably would be best if you used less nitrogen in the soil and more phosphorus and potassium. Use a 0-10-10 fertilizer, or something similar, 2 lbs per 100 sq.ft. for one or two applications. Excess nitrogen usually disappears rapidly.