It's hard to believe the DuPage County Fair is only a month away. This year I would like to have Master Gardeners available to help answer garden questions. Also, it would be nice to have an educational display board. If you are interested in helping, please see details.

Another new volunteer opportunity is available in the fall. I am looking for a group of Master Gardeners to help me launch a pilot program of the Junior Master Gardener Program. If you would like to help, please call me right away.

Enjoy your summer and I hope to see you at the Fair. Be sure to stop by and see the 4H projects!

*** Lombard area residents can be on the look out in coming weeks for Paul Stoffels in a video made on site at the Lombard Compost/Demo Garden. Tune to Channel 6, which is the Lombard Community Television Channel.

What could be better than buying new plants for your garden? Why, free plants, of course!

Plan now on attending the DuPage Master Gardener Third Annual Plant Exchange, scheduled for Saturday, September 16 at 12:30 pm at the home of MG Paul Stoffels in Glen Ellyn.

The general idea is that each MG starts now to divide and save their extra perennials in pots. Bulbs, wildflowers, and small trees are all very acceptable. As the summer progresses, add to the collection. Then in the early fall on September 16 we will bring our perennials to Paul's house. Tickets will be given out – you will be given the same number of tickets as the number of plants you bring in. There will be time set aside to view other MG's contributions. Following that, you will turn in your tickets and select a new perennial for each ticket you have acquired. There will be separate spaces in Paul's yard set aside for shade plants and sun loving plants.

So let the fun begin. Save those plants! More details plus a map will follow in the next newsletter.

Please come visit Woodingham Garden – Open June 22, 23 and 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 25 from 1 pm to 5 pm.

See roses, perennials, annuals, water lilies, grasses, herbs, cactus/succulents, orchard, rock garden, topiary, ground covers, containers, vines and ferns.

From Roosevelt Road (west side of Wheaton) at second stop light east of County Farm Road: turn south into Adare Farm. At first stop sign, turn left on Creekside. At third street on right, turn west on Spring Green. Go one block. Garden on left. Free street parking. Home of Perry D. Woodward, Master Gardener.

As many of you know, the office has not been as busy this year as was anticipated. That, combined with a new Master Gardener office which is smaller than the old one, has prompted us to make some changes to the Master Gardener office schedule. We are trying to cut back to only two MG's in the office each day.

Even though it is just the beginning of June, we already have some Master Gardeners who have completed their volunteer requirement, or are very close and will easily complete all their hours when other projects are figured in. With that in mind, we have cut back to two Master Gardeners in the office on days when we knew it would be safe to do so and would not jeopardize anyone's hours. You will have received a letter from Susan if you are directly impacted by this reorganization.

On the days listed below, we still have three Master Gardeners scheduled. If you are scheduled on one of these days and would like to make a switch to September or October when office coverage is lighter, please call the office. We will use our master calendar to help ease the overcrowding. As always, your cooperation is much appreciated!

Office days with three MG's:

June 22 & 28
July 5, 6, 10, 12, 18, 20, 25
August 8, 9, 10, 15

In addition, we have an opening on August 11 if someone would like to move to that slot.

A big thank you goes out to all the MG's who man the phones (and the computers) to answer residents' questions as they are called in throughout the summer months. With the new system in place and the use of the computer, we are well on the way to establishing our database that will come in handy for future use.

There is a new person in the Extension Office-Thea DelMuro, who joins the staff as a new secretary. She sits at the front desk. Be sure to say hello and introduce yourself!

Reminder: Please be sure to keep track and submit your volunteer hours on the enclosed form that has been mailed with this newsletter.

MG Office Volunteers: Please remember to fill in your time card and leave it in Susan's "in-box." That way we can be sure to enter your hours into our computer system and have an accurate record of all your work.

Most Frequently Asked Question:

Now that the garden season is well underway, callers tell us that honey locust plant bug has been wreaking havoc. These bugs are green and about 1/8 inch long with immature insects similar in color, but smaller. They can be seen scurrying over the infected branches of the tree and on any surface nearby if there is a heavy infestation (i.e. your deck). These are quick moving insects (called the "Indy 500" of bugs) that feed on expanding leaflets, causing distortion and twisting of leaflets, petioles and young stems. These leaflets usually stay on the tree, marring the appearance for the growing season, but not harming the tree. Heavy infestations will cause leaves to drop from the tree during June but damaged trees should refoliate. Treatment is rarely needed because once the damage is noticed, the bugs are too big to treat effectively. The leaves and branches of small trees may be sprayed with acephate, carbaryl, or malathion when the insects are young. The possible environmental impact does not justify spraying of large trees for these insects. One thing that you can do to help the tree through the stress is to fertilize it late this fall or early next spring.

At our First Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner held April 19, 2000 MG's Betty Jeppsen and Joe Vartiak were recognized for their many years of service. Betty has volunteered for 14 years and Joe has volunteered for 15 years.

The frost date has passed and gardeners are busy putting out annuals, both in the ground and in containers. Plain terra cotta pots make great containers and with a little paint and sand can become handsome planters. These can be used for flowers, houseplants, grouped together or individually. Use your imagination and have fun.

Tools & Materials
clay pots
exterior latex paint in your choice of colors
sandpaper
sand
paintbrushes or disposable sponge brushes
clear acrylic spray
orange shellac or polyurethane
denatured alcohol (for cleaning shellac from brushes)

Step 1:
Paint the lip and entire interior surface of the pot with exterior latex paint. When the paint dries, sand the lip to make areas of the terra cotta visible. Paint the sides and bottom of the pot a contrasting shade.

Step 2:
Roll the pot in dry sand while the paint is wet or drop sand onto the wet paint. When the pot dries, apply a coat of clear acrylic spray to the interior and exterior surfaces. This seals the pot and helps the sand adhere.

Step 3:
Apply a coat of either orange shellac or polyurethane to all surfaces of the pot after the acrylic spray has dried.

Step 4:
START PLANTING!

Every Thursday at 6:15 pm tune in 90.9 FM on your radio dial and listen to our own Susan Grupp and Jim Schuster discuss gardening topics of interest to DuPage area residents. They have both been doing this show for the past ten years. Many of you have asked for this info -- so dial up!

Ever wonder as you are busy working in your own yard just what style of landscaping you are hoping to achieve? Or maybe you have plans for a new bed and are wondering where to start. Take a few minutes to answer the questions below and rate yourself on your "landscape style."

Give yourself 5 points for each of the following statements with which you agree.

• I love looking at a clean, neat room with everything in place.
• I wouldn't mind if someone came up with "gardening-by-number," where I just spent hours repeating the same task to achieve a certain effect.
• When I doodle, my scribbles have a lot of right angles in them.
• In my home, I tend to have a lot of stripes, squares, and other geometric patterns.
• I think a tux looks great.

Give yourself one point for each of the next statements with which you agree.

• I hate labor-intensive hairstyles.
• I like a garden with a lot of hidden, wild places.
• My dream garden is nothing but curving beds full of perennials and vines.
• I don't mind having a desk that's healthily on the messy side.
• I think people should work with nature rather than try to control it.

Scoring:

• 5-10: Head for the library and read up on everything you can get your hands on about English landscape gardening. You're a person who loves the wild, romantic look.
• 11-15: Definitely work in lots of curving beds and don't worry about a central axis anywhere, but you can tolerate a garden that looks like no one lives there, so proceed with caution.
• 16-20: You like a little structure, but don't overdo it. Start out with a nice, small formal herb garden and see how it goes.
• 21-30: Start saving up for the boxwood hedge of your dreams. And don't forget the marble chips.
  

June 18 - Northern Chicagoland Rose Society Exhibit and Sale

Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
(847) 835-5440. www.chicago-botanic.org

June 18 - Rose Festival

Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
(847) 835-5440. www.chicago-botanic.org

June 18 and June 24 - Garden Open Days

Sponsored by The Garden Conservancy. Chicago's and Rockford's gardens are open. Advance tickets available. Call (914) 265-5384 or www.GardenConservancy.org to find out more about this nationwide program

June 21 - North Shore Garden Club Garden Walk (a plant sale, too)

(Lake County, IL). 11-4. Advance tickets before 6/10 are $15. Day-of tickets are $18. (847) 432-8513.

June 24 and 25 - Garden Clubs of America Show of Summer
Held at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe (847) 835-5440. www.chicago-botanic.org

July 8 and 9 - Lily Show & Sale
Held at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe (847) 835-5440. www.chicago-botanic.org

July 9 - Garden Open Days
Sponsored by The Garden Conservancy.

St. Charles's gardens are open. Call (914) 265-5384 or www.GardenConservancy.org to find out more about this nationwide program. Advance tickets available.

July 15 and 16 - Midwest Pond Tour
Sponsored by the Midwest Pond and Koi Society. (630) 271-9875.

July 16 and 22 - Garden Open Days

Sponsored by The Garden Conservancy. Chicago's and Hinsdale's gardens are open. Advance tickets available. Call (914) 265-5384 or www.GardenConservancy.org to find out more about this nationwide program.

July 22 and 23 - Sheffield Garden Walk and Festival

For more information, please call 773/929-9255. Donation $5.

August 23 - 25 – State Master Gardener Conference

Hosted by the Master Gardeners of Peoria, Woodford, Tazewell, Fulton & Knox Counties. To be held at the Holiday Inn Brandywine, Peoria. More details will arrive in a direct mailing from campus.

Master Gardeners in DuPage County have been busy this spring working on their volunteer hours serving the area residents. The following is a brief update on the programs that have already been presented. A BIG thank you for all your hard work and effort that went into making each of these such a success!!!! Hats off to you all.

Compost/Demo Garden in Lombard
Paul Stoffels heads the team and has already met and set up a schedule. MG'S will be available at the site each Saturday June through September sharing information and answering questions from area residents that come by for a visit. Weather permitting, the work begins on Saturday, June 3 from 10-12 pm. The garden will be tilled and planted with a scheme Paul has drawn up. The garden is located on the NW corner of the Lombard Municipal complex, at the corners of Wilson & Stewart (1/2 mile E of Main, 1/2 mile N of Roosevelt.

After School Programs
"Terrariums From Trash" ... In April, Lynn Bement, Sandy Perakis and Larry States shared their gardening knowledge with over 40 Girl Scouts (in two sessions) making terrariums. The program centered around each Scout making their own mini-garden that they then took home. The girls learned some basic facts about plants as well as soils, compost and Lynn's own favorite topic, WORMS.

Butterfly Gardening
Warren Senneke was also involved in a youth program with grade school children at Churchill Elementary School in Glen Ellyn. Warren was asked to ID plants in a recently planted garden that will attract butterflies. At this same site, Eileen Kostock will be developing an outdoor program about butterflies that she will present for the students.

4-H Flower Arranging Contest
On April 29, Veteran MG's Mary Ellyn Boledovich and Lynn Bement were on hand to serve as judges for the 4 H competition on flowering arranging.

"Budding Gardeners"
A new program has been developed by Susan Grupp and Rae Baldwin that will be sure to be repeated in the future. "Budding Gardeners 4 H Day" was held May 6 at the Unit office. Over 23 young 4-H'ers between the ages of 8 and 15 participated in this hands-on learning experience. Four stations were set up, with Susan, Rae, MG's Pat Pieper, Sue Falco and Warren Seneke. Topics included growing plants from seed, herbs and their uses, how to grow flowers in containers and how to grow tomatoes. To wind up this half-day session, refreshments were served using herbs they had just learned about. The students took home not only a wealth of information but also their own containers of tomatoes, flowers, newly planted seeds and herbs. A big thank you to Susan, Rae, Pat, Sue and Warren for making this "first timer" such a huge success.

Garden Center Info Booths
Sixteen Master Gardeners graciously gave up their Saturdays in May to man MG Info Centers at Wannemaker's in Downers Grove and Planter's Palette in Winfield. It was very much like answering the office phones with the added bonus of meeting residents face to face. Over 360 customers were served and questions ranged from plant selection and ID to disease and insect problems. From a random sample of the MG's that were on hand, everyone enjoyed the opportunity to be at these nurseries helping people AND seeing the selection of plant material. The discount was enjoyed too!

Think about one of the following:

• help to develop the MG Info Display Booth for the DuPage County Fair.
• help to man the Booth at the Fair, Wednesday, July 26-Sunday, July 30 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds. We will have three shifts per day: 10 am-1 pm, 1 pm-5pm, and 5pm-9pm. If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please call the office to schedule your time.
• help to develop a display outlining the DuPage MG program for the State Master Gardener Conference in August.
• help to develop lessons for an outdoor classroom at an elementary school in Westmont. These lessons will focus on four gardens, each with a different theme, that have already been planted.
• man the MG help desk at the Downers Grove Farmers Market during August and September.

If you are interested in helping with any of these, please contact Susan ASAP.

June 14 – Ornamental Grasses, Downers Grove Organic Garden Club, Don Obuch

August 16 – Butterfly Gardening, Darien Park District, Eileen Kostock

September 12 – Ornamental Grasses, Villa Park Recreation Center, Don Obuch

The following is the conclusion of an article on lilies written by fellow MG Eileen Kostock. The first two parts were in previous newsletters.

I would like to tell you about some lilies I have ordered or already have which do not bloom in August, but are so beautiful they need to be mentioned. Without question, my absolute favorite lily is the enchanting and understatedly elegant Martagon Lily, Lilium martagon. I have the lovely variety called Album.' What a charmer! The tall stems bear dozens of pendulous, somewhat small blooms of pure white, blooming in July. I also have Lilium candidum, the Madonna Lily, that also blooms in July. While this, too, is a pretty lily, I mostly grow it for sentimental reasons and for its history. The Madonna Lily has been grown since 1500 BC and is the lily most often given as a present during the Easter season.

I also have quite a few Asiatic lilies in my cutting garden and there are many hybrids from which to choose. Unfortunately, over the years I have lost my tags and don't know the names of most of them. Nonetheless, this doesn't deter me from enjoying their beauty. This year I have ordered two new Asiatic lilies; Duet' – "a breathtaking addition to any garden, rich rosy pink buds opening to reveal sumptuous two toned blooms, stunning white with a glowing rose center" and White Butterflies' – "its nodding flowers resemble delicate butterflies poised for flight and they are just as beautiful from the back as they are in face view."

Other lilies that bloom in June and July that I ordered last fall include the following Chinese lilies: Anaconda,' which I have been told is a real winner, with huge coppery flowers and a spicy fragrance; African Queen,' yellow with an apricot blush (for my apricot colored border); and Golden Splendor,' a huge deep golden yellow (for my hot border). I also ordered a few more Oriental lilies that bloom in July, including Dolce Vita' – "large rose pink flowers...breathtaking," and the dwarf Oriental lily Mona Lisa,' "a gorgeous pink with a white edge." Finally, I also ordered two other lilies; a species lily called Lilium pumilum, "producing many small, glistening sealing wax red Turk's cap flowers on grassy leafed stems" and an Easter lily hybrid called Royal Lace,' "with the largest flowers of all the Easter lilies and also one of the loveliest...enormous cream white blossoms with a delicate texture and a slightly ruffled edge."

In conclusion, I would like to mention one more August blooming "lily" that technically is not a lily at all. Lycoris squamergia, a/k/a Naked Lady, Resurrection Lily and/or Magic Lily is a bulb that you can purchase through most bulb catalogs. It starts out as a set of leaves that eventually dry up and disappear, soon followed by a stem bearing many beautiful mauve pink flowers around mid August here in Illinois. This bulb is just hardy to our zone, so a somewhat protected spot might be considered for planting this bulb. These bulbs also do not like to be disturbed, so pick a spot where you can leave them to spread and multiply.

As I finish this article, I have put myself in shock over all the lilies I have ordered, just this year alone. Oh well, I think the saying should go "one can never be too thin, too rich, or have too many lilies." Hey, I'm doing my part with one out of the three, and that's not bad, right?

Soundless CD's
The following is a good way to recycle damaged CD's and scare the birds away at the same time from your berry patch or fruit trees. Drill a small hole near the outer edge of the disc so that you can thread a piece of fishing line for hanging. To protect fruit trees, hang several CD's from the branches. In the berry patch, you can hang them from a wire stretched just above the plants. Be sure to point the shiny side to the south or west so the sun will reflect better. The wind moves the disc so it reflects sunlight and frightens the birds away.

Ring Around Your Roses
Tying thorny climbing roses to a trellis usually involves a lot of twine and prickled fingers. You can save time and your fingers by fastening the rose canes with shower curtain clips. Either plastic or metal will work. Just make sure the loop of the clip is big enough to fit around the trellis pieces and the rose stem. You can even match the color of the roses or foliage if you use plastic shower curtain clips. They come in a wide array of colors to choose from. Large loops on the clips give the rose canes a little room to move in the wind and won't strangle it. The clips can be easily "unfastened" from the trellis and stored if you need to lay the roses down for winter protection.

Rake Up Your Hose
For spot watering a few plants and avoiding a muddy mess, instead of leaving the hose on the ground try the following. Stick an old bamboo rake into the ground in a central location, driving the handle in the soil. Then wedge the hose between the rake tines instead of laying it on the ground. No more muddy nozzle or mud puddles. If you lock the nozzle on the "on" position, it even makes an impromptu sprinkler.

Lip Gloss For Terra Cotta Pots
We all know the benefits of using terra cotta pots but may find a build-up of minerals especially salt on the rim. Leaves and stems that touch this build up sometimes wilt and die. A cheap remedy is to wax the rims with old candle stubs. Any kind will do--scented, colored, or plain. Simply set the pot and the candle in the warm sun for an hour or so before rubbing. That way the wax rubs on easier and better penetrates the clay. This saves scraping away the crusty deposits and the chance of losing a leaf or flower from mineral damage. It works well for indoor houseplants as well as outside containers.

Garden Bargain
If you have always liked those neat looking bamboo fences and trellises but never knew how to make them, this may be of interest to you. You can even substitute another material for the bamboo. "Making Bamboo Fences & Trellis" shows how to create a sturdy, long-lasting fence in the Japanese 'Yotsume' & 'Yarai' styles, as well as trellises and towers. Gardener's Supply Co. is offering this four-page bulletin FREE to anyone who calls to request it at 800-955-3370. Or, you can request it at their web site: www.gardeners.com.

Web Sites
The following sites may be of interest to you as you are surfing the Web. These deal primarily with plant diseases and insects. There is a wealth of information contained in each with additional links that will send you all over the country.
Cornell Plant Clinic: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu

The last site included here is by far the BEST!
www.urbanext.uiuc.edu.
Our own newsletter can be read from this site.

Occupation: Realtor with John Greene in Naperville
Number of years as a Master Gardener: First year – class of 2000
Personal hero: Harry Truman and my grandfather. Also, Jim Crockett from The Victory Garden. He inspired me to start gardening.
Favorite annual: Impatiens
Favorite perennial: Jacob's Ladder
Something about me not too many people know: I work part time at The Growing Place
My most humbling gardening experience: Finding out two years ago that I had been totally mismanaging my lawn when I took Susan Grupp's class at the arboretum.
Major gardening accomplishment: After I took the landscape classes at the arboretum, I managed to organize my own collection of plants into a design.
Best gardening tip: Put the right plant in the right place to minimize problems.
If I am not gardening, you will find me: At the arboretum, either taking a class or wandering around.

Occupation: Homemaker and part-time employee at The Planters Palette
Number of years as a Master Gardener: This is my sixth year.
Personal hero: Both my parents for the values they instilled in me.
Favorite annual: I love to buy whatever is on sale – then I enjoy finding a place for it in my garden.
Favorite perennial: Rugosa roses
Something about me not too many people know: That I truly believe that there is a reason for everything and a reason for everyone we meet.
My most humbling gardening experience: My husband, Tim, and I planted 150 tulips when we first moved into this house 10 years ago. All the bulbs rotted because of the heavy clay soil.
Major gardening accomplishment: In the back of our yard we removed a swing set and used the space to create a large bed of native plants. Every year we remove more of our grass in the back yard and increase the size of our native bed.
Best gardening tip: Use the plants that best fit into the environment of your yard. Remember microclimates.
If I am not gardening, you will find me: Reading anything I can get my hands on!!

Tuesday, June 27, 2000 - *Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate
Presented by Family Life Educator Molly Hofer
12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M
DuPage County Administration Building
Room 1500B
421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton
and
6:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.
University of Illinois Extension Office
Conference Room
310 S. County Farm Road, Wheaton

Tuesday, July 11, 2000 - *Finding Sanity in Today's World: Decluttering Your Life
Presented by Consumer and Family Economics Educator Karen Chan
12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M
DuPage County Administration Building
Room 1500B
421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton
and
6:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.
University of Illinois Extension Office
Conference Room
310 S. County Farm Road, Wheaton

Tuesday, August 8, 2000 - Extension Program Opportunities
Display - 4-H Projects, Family Nutrition Program, Master Gardener Program
Presented by Extension Volunteers and Personnel
11:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M.,
DuPage County Administration Building
Atrium
421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton

* = Registration required. Please call 630-653-4114

July 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
DuPage County Fair
DuPage County Fairgrounds
Wheaton, Illinois

August 23, 24, 25
State Master Gardener Conference
Peoria, Illinois