It may be frosty and fall, but I have been enjoying gardening albeit "indoors." Between my geraniums, coleus, assorted herbs and ivies, I have managed to keep my fingers in the "dirt " (soil, I should say). And of course it wouldn't be the same without amaryllis, paper whites, hyacinths and red tulips (red two lips, ready for Valentines Day) - all great companions during the winter months. I hope you are planning and enjoying indoor gardening...it's good for the soul.

In December, the invitation to continue as a MG will be sent to all volunteers who are in good standing and have completed their volunteer work and training hours. In fact, we will probably have the sign up forms available at our Dec. 5 program. As some of you know, we are not training a new class in 2002. The next time we are training will be Jan 2003. I hope your MG experience has been rewarding and that you will be returning in 2003!

Finally, it is a time for reflection. As I wander around the yard, I look over my garden and think, "How did everything do this year"? Some plants flourished while others lagged behind. But that is not the case with DuPage MG's! You have done a terrific job, again. Our community outreach has really grown. I am very proud of all our accomplishments - it takes a real team to do all this work. Thank you.

Wow! What a busy time it has been since September 24! As you know, the 2001 Master Gardener Volunteer Year is quickly coming to a close. Please be sure that you have submitted all volunteer or training hours so that your record is up-to-date. We hope to see all of you at Fall Wrap-Up on December 5. If you have not already R.S.V.P.'d for Wrap-Up, please do so as soon as possible.

The Gardener's Gathering on October 24, had a record attendance of 28 Master Gardeners! I would like to express my sincere appreciation to each one of you for being there. The reception was lovely and the cake was delicious! Thanks go to Susan for planning and putting her extra special touch on the day. Gardener's Gatherings have been a success this year. One idea we have for next year's monthly Gatherings is to announce the "current topic of the day" prior to meetings to enable you to select sessions that would most satisfy your interests.

There is one more thing I would like to share with you. We have a special offer from the people at "Garden Design" magazine of a free trial copy for DuPage County MGs. While we cannot endorse any particular publication, we thought this was a generous offer and wanted to share it with you. We will have the mail-in request cards available at the Fall Wrap-Up.

It has been a pleasure working with and getting to know all of you. See you December 5 at Wrap-Up!

2001 MG Graduation and Fall Wrap-up - We are making final plans for our 10th Annual MG Graduation and Fall Wrap-up on December 5. We'll provide a continental breakfast from 9:30 am - 10:00 (the all-important and enjoyable social time) and then the program follows. Denny Schrock will be with us and share his research on native herbaceous plants. New: If you would like to bring a guest, please call the office. The auditorium provides for extra space this year.

Wheaton Park District Community Center
1777 S. Blanchard, Wheaton
Auditorium - 1st Floor

2002 Garden Calendar - The U of I Extension Garden calendar is really nice! I hope you got your copy (copies) ordered. Special price ends November 15. They'll be delivered to you at Fall Wrap-up.

MG's Working with Kids -A very special thank you goes to Beth Olin and Sandy Perakis for their help with our new lesson on worms! They helped Susan and Leslee plan a two-hour, hands-on lesson for 3rd graders. On Tuesday, November 6, the four of them spent the afternoon introducing the kids to the wonders of worms! It was truly WORMANIA WORMANIA WORMANIA!

Office MG Help Needed! Are you so busy during the growing season that it's hard for you to fulfill your hours? How about volunteering on the Master Gardener phone line over the winter months? We need help on the days listed below. (Remember, since we have MG's in the office only two days per week, we will really count on you!) Please call the office to sign up.

December

Mon., Dec. 3, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 5, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 10, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 12, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 17, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 19, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

January

Wed., Jan. 9, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 16, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 23, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 30, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

February

Wed., Feb. 6, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 13, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 20, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 27, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

March

Wed., Mar. 6, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 13, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Mon., Mar. 18, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 20, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Mon., Mar. 25, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 27, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

In October, we had 1,417,885 hits and we had a daily average of 45,739 hits. October's total was 33 percent higher than our previous high in April 2001 and 58 percent higher than our October 2000 total.

Our daily high in October was 63,729 hits on October 17.

This year so far, we have received more than 9.1 million hits, which exceeds our total from last year by 1.4 million. But what is most impressive is for the last six months, we are averaging almost a million hits a month.

Our sincere apologies to you, and especially to MG Melissa Kaye. Melissa submitted a wonderful article about our Ball Seed field trip in August. Regretfully, we cannot locate that report. However, she also requested Ball's Container Combinations & Baskets Plant List, which we do have! It'll be in the MG office if anyone would like to take a look at it. This 16-page list has all of their container gardens (317) on it!

We received a very nice letter from Gary Webster, Village Manager, thanking our team of dedicated MG's for the wonderful work they have provided at the Millennium Clock Garden. Here is an excerpt from his letter:

"Members of the Glen Ellyn community have enjoyed the results of these Master Gardener volunteers for the entire 2001 season in this highly visible location on one of our major downtown streets. On behalf of the Village and its residents, we wish to express our great thanks and appreciation for your very significant efforts and contributions throughout the entire growing season."

Five Master Gardeners from DuPage County had the opportunity and pleasure of attending the 2001 Illinois Master Gardener Conference in Collinsville, September 26–28. The theme this year was "Horticulture On the Move" and we provided an outstanding display reflecting that theme. The five Master Gardeners were Joan Swanberg, Paul Stoffels, Larry States, George McCoy and myself.

There is rarely a good time to break away from the hustle and bustle of daily suburban living, but we gardeners know that is exactly what we should do to relax and recharge the batteries. For me, the timing could not have been better. I had just hurriedly finished typing an article for a local gardening club, exhorting "patience, strength, and hope" and somewhat lamely tying the events of the past few weeks to preparing the garden for winter. I was ready for a little "hort" therapy. Believe it or not, I found it in Collinsville, Illinois, and in the Missouri Botanic Gardens! I got there a day early with the intention of visiting some sites of the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail. They started in Wood River, Illinois. I also had time to visit Cahokia State Park and the Mississippian Mounds. I took time to reflect that here, within a couple miles, one civilization died out and another began to grow and bloom.

Of course, I had my camera and took lots of pictures of those sites, but the best was yet to come. The first day of the conference was devoted to touring the Missouri Botanic Gardens, which some say surpass even the Chicago Botanic Garden. At least in size, the Japanese Garden at the MBG is the biggest in the area. Its beauty is endorsed by Dave Williams in a recent issue of "Illinois Steward" magazine. Dr. Williams is also the developer of the Japanese Garden at the arboretum on the Illinois campus. He was also the tour guide at the MBG when the state conference was held at Collinsville several years ago.

This year's tour guide was a Master Gardener from Missouri and she was equally knowledgeable in explaining the design elements, which I had forgotten. What a great way to find peace and harmony in these troubling days!

One of the seminars on the following day added even more to my understanding of Japanese gardening. Ben Chu, the curator of many of the gardens at the MBG, including the Japanese Garden, provided an excellent lecture on "Japanese Garden Design." The rest of the conference was educational and rewarding, but Japanese gardens are for me a special place. I would encourage everyone to stop at the Missouri Botanic Gardens and take some time to wander through the Japanese Garden. I would also suggest that you consider attending next year's state conference in Rockford, where the Anderson Gardens, a renowned Japanese garden is sure to be on the tour.

- by Ron Ory

As you look out at your gardens or finish up the last few chores for the season, are you lacking punches of color in your landscape? One hardy perennial mum 'Clara Curtis' is the only thing I have left blooming in my one perennial bed. I have always heard that annuals carry your garden through the season, but with the TWO early back-to-back frosts in mid October, the few I had put in were wiped out. This made me start to be on the lookout for additions of color that would last into and possibly through November. While it's easy to find trees and shrubs that offer colorful fall foliage, my garden is already full and I do not have the available space. I am trying to concentrate on adding small-stature plants with great fall color. I was lucky to come across a recent article on just such a subject in the "Garden Gate" magazine, one of my all time favorites. The following fall foliage perennials, divided by color, are some I would like to consider for next year and hope you will too.

Yellow
Hosta ventricosa
Arkansas Amsonia, Amsonia hubrichtii.
Fountain grass, Pennisetum alopecuroides
Hay-scented fern, Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Tall sedum, Sedum spectabile (now Hylotelephium spectabile)

Orange
Patrinia scabiosifoli
Prairie dropseed, Sporobolus heterolepis
Sedum, Sedum aizoon
Spurge, Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow'

Red, burgundy & mahogany
Bergenia spp.
Bloody cranesbill, Geranium sanguineu
Foxglove penstemon, Penstemon digitalis
Leadwort, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

- by Kathy Riley

In October our interest turns to Halloween and the symbolic pumpkin. To the growers of giant pumpkins, like Greg Sliwka, it is an extremely rewarding experience. After 12 months of analysis, reading, planning, scheduling, web surfing, selection, and caretaking, we witnessed the harvesting of 17 pumpkins. This harvest was the result of only three thumb-size seeds, each of which were started separately in one of three five-gallon containers. Later they were individually transplanted into the carefully conditioned 600-ft. plot of land at Downers Grove's MarDuke public garden.

In early summer the many unique huge leaves rose to 3 - 4 feet high above the ground, making a sea of foliage in his 20' x 30' fenced-in plot. The excitement grew as flowers and subsequent fruit began to form. The plants were under constant surveillance for color, moisture, sun, shade, growth, pests, disease and viruses.

The results were phenomenal. Each plant and pumpkin had an individual log of its own, comparable to a medical chart, on which many observations were recorded almost daily. Each plant was limited to seven pumpkins, each to be nurtured to between 400 to 600 pounds. Greg hopes to grow 1,100 pound pumpkins, comparable to those in Alaska, Washington and Canada where sunlight is extensive, night time is minimal and precipitation is most conducive. Greg's ultimate goal is to prove that, under the proper synthesized conditions, a 2,000 pound pumpkin can be grown in Downers Grove. He won the Illinois Championship Crown on October 6 and hopes to reign for years.

A simple "short" conversation with Greg (1-1/2 hours) becomes an intimate dialogue in the love and life of a pumpkin, its caretaker, and their alliance with nature. Greg is a painter by trade and a horticulturist by heart.

- By Edward G. Matz

One of the best ways to protect grafted roses for the Chicago winter is to mound up soil on the crown of the rose. Also, clean up any diseased foliage. For those of you who use a styrofoam cone, make sure it is properly vented with 2 holes. Whatever you do, don't apply this "winter coat" too early.

After a summer of digging and planting, it's time to hang up your gardening tools for a little R&R. However, you'll be kicking yourself next spring when you find rusted-out tools caused by dirt and sticky sap. Now's the time to thoroughly clean the blades and metal tools using a tough solvent such as kerosene. Then oil tools by wiping them with a rag covered with motor oil. Also, keep in mind that a sharp tool of any kind makes the job much easier. It's time to take off the dull edge. Check to see what side of the tool was once sharp, and then repeatedly file it lightly to keep the bevel even all along the length of the edge. When you are finished, carefully remove the burrs of steel. Better yet, most local hardware stores offer a sharpening service for a nominal fee. Most important: don't forget those shovels!

Place 4-5 copper pennies in the bottom of your birdbath. That tiny amount of copper dissolved in water won't hurt the birds, but it will help to keep algae from getting a foothold in the rough porous surface of your birdbath.

Any soil amendment you usually do in the spring can be done in the fall, leaving more time for planting once the weather turns warm again. In fact, Fall is the best time. No matter what your soil's condition, organic matter can help! Chop up fallen leaves and grass clippings with your lawn mower and work them into the soil. Fall is a great time to empty out your compost bin. Also, Fall is a good time to have your soil tested.

Has your grass ever been burned by too many fertilizer pellets dropping from a leaky spreader? Or have you accidentally spilled an excessive amount in the process of doing your lawn? You could shovel or rake up the excess, but another great idea is to get out your shop vac and just vacuum up the excess. You can then dump it back in the spreader, and be on your merry way.

Winter is actually a dry season for plants in the Midwest, because water is usually locked up as snow or ice. For deciduous trees and evergreens, it's important to water in fall before the ground freezes. Use a soaker hose and irrigate slowly, letting the water run at a trickle around the plant's rootline. For evergreens, especially if they're newly planted, an antitranspirant is also a good idea for added winter protection.

Diazinon will no longer be manufactured or sold, yet homeowners will still be able to use any products they already own. However, if you decide to follow the EPA's lead and discontinue using diazinon in your garden, you can find information on how to dispose of your products from these groups:

National Pesticide Telecommunications Network, 1-800-858-7378, http://www.ace.orst.edu/info/nptn/gen.htm

Botany in a Day: Thomas J. Elpel's Herbal Field Guide

We have all had a "taste" of botany in our Master Gardener training classes. Some of us perhaps have gone even further and taken a class in botany. This book goes beyond that and serves as a great tool for plant identification. Most plant books cover only one or two hundred species. Botany in a Day covers over 100 plant families and over 700 genera--including edible and medicinal uses--applicable to many thousands of species.

Mr. Elpel presents a system of plant ID by showing plant patterns. Using his book on a nature hike or even just a walk around your own backyard reinforces those patterns and makes plant identification fun. While this book could never replace a taxonomy class, it surely is a great aide in recognizing basic plant families. The author uses straightforward, concise, easy to read language. There is also excellent, detailed artwork included. I ordered my copy from amazon.com and especially liked the preview they made available. There were fourteen pages of the text that you could read to see just what this book was all about. For the price of $20.00 it makes a great resource and addition to your gardening library and an asset in plant identification.

• Occupation: Retired after lots of years as a licensed physical therapist. I taught, did clinical research and administration.

• Number of years as a Master Gardener: This is my first year and I like it very much.

• Personal hero: I have no individual personal hero because I believe that we all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. I admire the people who try to be as effective as they can and do their best to contribute to the livelihood of the family or group or society. Those are my heroes - all the workaday people of the world who are just going along, doing their best.

• Favorite annual: No particular favorite.

• Favorite perennial: I like all the prairie garden plants. I enjoy Joe Pye Weed and the Purple Coneflower and the Yellow Coneflower.

• Something about me not too many people know: I am a square dancer. Since the tragedy I have square danced to Amazing Grace, God Bless America, The 1812 Overture and Proud to be an American. I can't sing, but it is wonderful to be able to dance - it somehow helps.

• My most humbling gardening experience: It happens all the time. I can't say one experience is more humbling than another. I just keep trying to improve my technique.

• Major gardening accomplishment: I have a prairie garden, a lovely vibrant area about 50 feet by 50 feet, next to a Forest Preserve containing wonderful Burr Oaks. Sometimes the butterflies come to my prairie garden to enjoy the plants, and I have also seen an owl and a red-tailed hawk come by to give a second look.

• Best gardening tip: Use a lot of mulch.

• If I am not gardening, you will find me: Teaching handicapped children how to ride a horse. They are wonderful and so appreciative. I do the horse grooming and care for the horses but it is worth it to see the confidence it gives these kids.

- By Ann O'Leary

(From the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

A statewide survey of Illinois businesses, agencies, institutions, and others who produce, maintain, use or sell plant materials was conducted in 2000 to assess the industry's economic importance. Some of the results of this survey are shown below. Information was based on 1999 data.

• Preliminary estimates show that, in 1999, the product and service sectors of Illinois' green industry generated nearly 2.9 billion dollars in net sales. These sales figures place the green industry ahead of corn production in its economic importance to the state's economy.

• The combined workforce attributed to green industry activities for all sectors totaled 159,769 with an annual payroll of over $1.74 billion.

• Maintained turfgrass area equals about 1.544 million acres. Single-family homes account for over 60 percent of this area. Of identified end-users, single-family homeowners also account for over 86 percent of dollars paid to contractors.

• The fair market value of all assets directly associated with producing or maintaining green areas and plants is equal to over $8 billion.

If you have an event you want everyone to know about, please contact Deb McCullough. I need the info one week before material is due in the office.

November - Early December
Winter Lecture Series at Chalet Nursery Education Center. Workshops on holiday decorating. Held Fridays & Saturdays 10-11:30 am. 3132 Lake Ave., Wilmette. If you are interested, please call Jennifer Brennan at 847-256-0561, x225.

November - January, Morton Arboretum
Botanical Artists of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. This beautiful exhibit in the Sterling Morton Library displays works from the library's Suzette Morton Davidson Special Collections, some dating to the 17th Century.

November 17, Sid's Greenhouse
Sid's Christmas Open House. Preview what's new and unique for holiday decorating at our annual Christmas Open House. Merchandise specials, door prizes, refreshments, entertainment and pictures with Santa from 10 am to 3 pm! Palos Hills Location

November 17, The Growing Place
Holiday Inspiration...Watch as our team of designers creates front door decorations! 10am.

November 18 , Morton Arboretum
Winter Wildlife. Hawks, Falcons, and Owls, Oh My! Sandy Fejt from the Willowbrook Wildlife Center will bring a few of her raptor friends to discuss how these hunters survive the long winter. All Ages. Noon and 2:00 pm .

November 18, Wolf Road Prairie
Thanksgiving on the Farm. Shirley Slanker tells how the settlers celebrated nature's bounty and prepared for winter.

November 23 through 25, The Natural Garden
Holiday Open House at The Natural Garden, 38W443 Highway 64, St Charles. Come enjoy hot cider and cookies at our Open House. All holiday gifts will be on display. 9 am-5 pm Fri & Sat. 11 am-4 pm Sun. 630-584-0150.

November 23 - January 6, Chicago Botanic Garden
"Celebrations! A Festival of Lights, Flowers & Music" Thurs. to Sun. 5:30-10 pm.

November 24 through January 7, Garfield Park Conservatory
Come see Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves at the Conservatory's Celebration in Lights. The North Pole Crew will use games and clues to help children search for Santa. Celebration in Lights is a tropical salute to Santa featuring music, theatrics and thousands of twinkling lights. 9 am-5 pm.

November 30, Morton Arboretum
"Gifts from the Garden" Holiday Workshop. Attend 1, 2 or 3 workshops on making holiday gifts or decorations. 3-5 pm: Build a Holiday Swag or A Wreath of Everlastings. 5-6 pm: Herbal Gifts Children's Workshop (for children 10 and older). 6-9 pm: Tabletop Topiary or Kitchen Herbal Swag. Prices vary.

December 1, Planters Palette
Decorating for Christmas. 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. $35. Presented by Tony Tyznik

December 1 and 2, Candlelight Receptions at the Garfield Farm Museum.
The 1846 brick inn lighted by candles provides music and hospitality of the season and bake sale. 3-7 pm.

December 2, Morton Arboretum Nature Ornaments
Make an ornament for home using natural materials from the Arboretum, and then make an ornament for the Arboretum's holiday tree! All ages. 1:00 - 3:30 pm

December 2, Holiday "Open House" at the Oak Park Conservatory
617 Garfield, Oak Park. Noon-4 pm. 708-386-4700.

December 2, Wolf Road Prairie
A Pioneer Christmas. Learn how the early settlers had fun during the holiday season. 1-3 pm.

December 4, Morton Arboretum
Natural History of Christmas. Learn the history of mistletoe, holly, ivy, Christmas trees, yule log and more with Michael Stieber, Reference Librarian at the Morton Arboretum. 7:30-9 pm.

December 4 and 5, Morton Arboretum
Winter Plant Walk. The winter aspect of selected plants from the Landscape Plants of the Midwest course will be considered in this class. You will learn the ornamental winter qualities of plants, including silhouette, bud, bark, and twig. Most of this class is conducted outdoors. Please dress for the weather. 1 - 3 pm.

December 6 or December 7, Planter's Palette
Holiday Table Centerpiece. Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. or Thursday, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. $35. Presented by Amy Reynolds

December 7 or December 8, The Growing Place
Wreath or Swag Making 10am.

December 17, Platt Hill Nursery
Winter Containers-Using Cut Greens and Dried Perennials. 10 am.

Many of these events require advance registration and/or fees. For more information or directions to these locations, call:

Cantigny Park/Gardens, Winfield. 630-668-5161
Chicago Botanic Gardens, Glencoe. 847-835-5440
Garfield Farm Museum, LaFox. 630-584-8485
Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago. 312-746-5100
The Growing Place, Naperville 630-355-4000
Morton Arboretum, Lisle. 630-719-2400, http://www.mortonarb.org
The Planter's Palette, Winfield 630- 293-1040
Platt Hill Nursery, Bloomingdale 630-529-9394
Sid's Greenhouse, Palos Hills 708-974-4500
Wolf Road Prairie, Westchester. 708-865-8736

- By Deb McCullough

"The Garden Thymes" is the official newsletter for DuPage area MG's. If you misplace your copy, it can be found at our DuPage County Extension website. From time to time, you may have something you would like to share with fellow MG's or perhaps include an article of your own. We would love to hear from you!! Keep in mind the deadlines below for submissions. As always, your comments and suggestions are most welcome.

The deadlines for all articles to be submitted and for all volunteer hours forms are:

Issue #1 - January 4
Issue #2 - February 28
Issue #3 - April 30
Issue #4 - June 28
Issue #5 - August 30
Issue #6 - October 31

IMPORTANT MG DATES

November 14, 10 am - noon
Cantigny Greenhouse Tour

December 5
Annual Wrap-up and Graduation