I believe there is truth to the saying that the only thing Gardeners can do in January is cultivate the weather! Is spring arriving sooner than we think? I was selecting branches for forcing and noticed the pussy willow buds on some of the shrubs were already cracked and showing a bit of gray "hairs." We are all wondering how long this unusual weather will continue. So far, blossoms of spring blooming bulbs should be fine, but how about the roses? I have noticed many roses were still showing green growth and newly formed buds in late fall, but now those same roses have dead-brown stems to the soil line. I think all of us will have to "wait and see."

Watch your mailbox for your 2002 MG Volunteer Opportunity Booklet and sign up forms. They should be arriving shortly. Rather than ask you to sign up for the entire year, all at once, I'll be asking for your commitments for project work and other activities several times throughout the season. As new projects are added and confirmed, you'll be getting announcements and the opportunity to sign up. For the most part, I will probably ask for you to commit for three months at a time. Then, another sign up opportunity will be mailed and you can decide what you would like to do at that time. This new approach should allow for more flexibility and a clearer understanding of any newly confirmed projects.

The tentative schedule is: Sign up #1(mailed in January): volunteer to work in April, May, June; Sign up # 2 (mailed in April): volunteer to work in July, August, September, and finally Sign up #3, (mailed in July): volunteer to work in October, November, December. If additional opportunities present themselves between these times, we will mail those to each of you too.

Leslee's recent resignation from the Horticulture Assistant position has left me "back to the drawing board." Until the new "Plan" is complete, I will be covering all the bases, as I have in the past. Between us, Joan, Carolyn, Rae and I will handle all the details relevant to the MG program.

Thank you for all your support!

Happy New Year! Please be sure to take a moment to introduce yourself and say "Hello" to our new secretary, Carolyn Dowdell. I am so pleased to tell you she joined our staff in late November, making our secretarial staff complete. This will give Joan and Judy the additional help needed!

2002 is shaping up to be an exciting year. I am glad you will be part of it and helping us achieve our goals.

Welcome Back!!!
We are delighted that Eileen Kostock is returning to our Master Gardener program this year!

MG Recognition Plaques...We recently had our end of the season graduation and Fall Wrap-up. This get-together gave us a chance to congratulate the 2001 MG class, catch up with fellow MG's, and recognize our achievements for the past year. Certificates were distributed for "years of service" to our program.

The State requires a minimum hours of service each year and we all certainly put our horticultural talents to work in achieving this end. Beyond this minimum, each of us varies year to year in additional commitment, depending upon our other responsibilities. Yet, many MG's have accumulated a vast number of hours, perhaps because of "special projects" or because of their number of years in the program. A decision has been made to acknowledge MG's with an exceptional number of hours of service. Two plaques, one for 300 hours and another for 1,000 service hours will be displayed in the office to honor these individuals.

In order to accomplish this, we will need each of you to verify the number of hours we have on file. We will be mailing your "number of hours" records shortly and ask you for any corrections/changes.

Speakers Bureau...Our volunteer efforts for spring are already off to a fine start. Joan Swanberg, coordinator for Speaker's Bureau team, reports over a dozen presentations are already scheduled for 2002! Here they are. A huge THANK YOU in advance for your time and enthusiasm.

February 7, Ed Matz, Water Gardening, Lilac Garden Club
February 14, Pat Pieper, Shade Gardening, Garden Club of Bensenville
February 19, Sandy Perakis, Moveable Gardens, Violet Garden Club of Glen Ellyn
February 21, Pat Pieper, Shade Gardening, Daisy Garden Club
March 7, Sandy Perakis, Container Gardening, Hawthorne Garden Club
March 12, Warren Senneke, Perennials, Alpha Delta Kappa
March 14, Don Obuch, Ornamental Grasses, Garden Club of Bensenville
April 2, Candace Crossley, New & Underused Perennials, Naperville Public Library
April 10, Warren Senneke, Northern Illinois Perennials, Pleasantdale Garden Club
May 20, Sandy Perakis, Container Gardening, Garden Study Club of Hinsdale
June 4, Pat Kosmach, Water Gardening, Naperville Public Library
August 6, Don Obuch, Ornamental Grasses, Naperville Public Library

Brrrrrrrrr... it's cold outside! But hopefully everyone has had a great holiday season and the New Year is starting out perfect. Well, it could be more perfect if we were gardening, but since Mother Nature is in charge, here is the next best thing I have to offer... Gardening tips and ideas to chase away the winter....!!!

A "Think Spring" Party?
Why not!!! Get together with some fellow gardeners, be they family members, neighbors or friends (or call some of your new Master Gardener friends) and throw on a pot of coffee, cocoa or heck, make some iced tea. Then let the fun begin.... Decorate some terra cotta pots for summer container plantings. You can find all the paints and supplies you need at the local craft stores.

Next, ask everyone who can, to bring cuttings from their houseplants to share. What about a nice "seed swap"... be sure to tell everyone to bring along their left over (or newly bought) seed packets and go to town! We all know that many of those seeds come with far more than we will ever really be able to plant correctly. And then, how about saving on postage and handling... combine a mail order or two from favorite seed or gardening catalog companies. (This is a great idea since it never fails that you want only one small item that costs $4.00 to buy and "$6.00" to ship!!!)

Last but not least, maybe incorporate a grab bag to add "anticipation" to the party. Ask everyone to bring a little "something" for the grab bag. Any small garden related item would do. A pressed flower bookmark, a small bottle of plant food, or even garden gloves. The ideas are many; the time is now... just think of all that garden talk (and maybe a bit of gossip too...the good kind only of course). Have fun!

Fall Bulbs
Forgot to plant those fall bulbs? It is almost never too late. As long as you can get them under the soil, you can plant them well into winter.

• If the ground is frozen, wait until the first thaw.
• Or put a bale of straw or pile of leaves on the garden. Come out a few days later and it may have thawed just enough to break through and plant them.
• Easier still, buy some potting soil. Brush away any snow. Place the bulbs on the bare ground. Cover the bulbs with potting soil to the depth required. Add some straw or leaves.

Seeds
You can harvest seeds right into the winter season. Many seeds on flowers will still be there even after the first snow. If you didn't' get out before, take a walk around the garden and look for those last seeds. Dry them thoroughly.

Also, if you are saving seeds don't be disappointed in the spring. Sometime during the winter, test their viability by planting a few during the winter. The sole object being to test whether they sprout and the percentage that sprout. This will tell you the germination rate.

Garden Journal
If you have one, now is a good time to update it. If you don't have a journal, ohhhh...what a great time to start one. A journal can be used for many reasons, I think of mine as a good friend!

Get an Early Start with Onions
You can get an early start on onions if you are using onion sets. Plant several of them in a small container filled with potting soil now. They will root and begin to grow. Place them out in the garden a few weeks before the last frost. You will have onions weeks before your neighbors.

Spring Flowering Trees
Brighten your home by forcing branches of spring-flowering trees such as forsythia, dogwood, and crabapple. It's simple.

Trees and shrubs, which bloom in spring, form their flower buds the previous fall. After at least eight weeks of cold outdoors (under 40 degrees F), their branches are capable of blooming if you provide the right conditions. To make sure they receive enough cold, don't cut branches until after January 1 in a "normal" year or after January 15 in a "mild" year. Carefully prune out branches so not to injure the plant or ruin its shape. Use sharp pruners, and cut branches at least 12 inches long. Select branches with a large number of flower buds. These are often on younger branches. Make sure you are looking at flower buds and not leaf buds. The flower buds are usually larger and rounder. If in doubt, cut a few buds open to look for leaf or flower parts inside.

Bring the cut branches indoors, re-cut them under water, and place the stem ends immediately in water. If branches are in a bucket, mist them frequently the first few days. If possible, submerge the whole branch in tepid water, such as in a bathtub, for a few hours. This allows buds and stems to quickly absorb water and begin to break dormancy.

The old recommendation was to smash the stem ends with a hammer to improve water uptake by the stems. Sometimes this works, but it may have the opposite effect if stems are mashed too hard. And the mashed ends may make the water more dirty, which will decrease water uptake. The best method is to make a slit or two in the bottom of the stem before placing in the water, such as in a cross or star pattern as viewed from the bottom.

Keep branches in a bucket of water away from hot or cold drafts. Warm temperatures may cause them to develop too rapidly and not open properly. Low humidity, common in many homes in winter, also may cause buds to fall off. Try to keep branches near a humidifier, or in a room with high humidity. Direct sunlight also may cause buds to fall, so keep in bright but indirect light.

Once the flower buds show color, the branches can be used in arrangements. Use of floral preservatives, available at many garden stores and florists, may increase the life of the branches (the "vase life"). Once again, keep stems in bright, but indirect, light. Moving arrangements to a cool location at night (40 to 60 degrees F) will help them last longer.

For cutting in January, consider Forsythia (yellow flowers, one to three weeks to force), Witch Hazel (yellow flowers, one week to force), Poplar (long lasting, drooping flowers called "catkins," three weeks to force), and Willow (catkins, two weeks to force).

In February, consider these same plants plus the Red Maple (pink to red flowers followed by leaves, two weeks to force), Alder (catkins, one to three weeks to force), Birch (long lasting catkins, two to four weeks to force), Quince (red to orange flowers, four weeks to force), Cherries (white and pink flowers, two to four weeks to force), Rhododendrons and Azaleas later in the month (many colors, four to six weeks to force), and Pussy Willow (well-known furry flowers, one to two weeks to force).

Then in March, consider cutting branches of Hawthorns (white, pink or red flowers, four to five weeks to force), Honeysuckle shrub (white to pink flowers, two to three weeks to force), Apples and Crabapples (white, pink and red flowers, two to four weeks to force), Oaks (catkins, two to three weeks to force), Lilacs (many colors, four to five weeks to force), and Spirea (white flowers, four weeks to force). Cut various branches, at various times, for a succession of blooms and color indoors during our long winters. It's one way to help spring come early in the North!

(Note: All forcing times are approximate. Differences in indoor environments will alter forcing times.)

Armchair Gardening
On those very cold and snowy days there is a wonderful pastime. Garden catalogs! It seems that as soon as the New Year begins so does the arrival of catalogs "in the mail." Our thanks to those mail carriers that battle the bitter winds just to make sure our catalogs arrive unharmed!!! Some of those catalogs hold early bird offers and are packed with useful information to stir our thoughts. So mix up some nice hot cocoa, coffee or tea and Enjoy!

Don't Forget the Birds
While you keep those feeders filled and the suet baskets replenished... how about building a birdhouse or two. Hey, even a bat house could be fun! Check the library or bookstore or even the Internet for good instructions.

Never Hurts to Take a Walk
Our winter has started out very mild and with hardly enough snow to act as a sheet, let alone a blanket, for many of our plants. So be sure to take a walk through your garden and check to make sure that the wind, rain and critters haven't disturbed the mulch protection you put into place last fall.

The Votes Are in for 2002!!!
Hosta of the year is 'Guacamole' and the Perennial Plant Association has named Phlox paniculata 'David' as its choice. The National Arbor Day Foundation recently conducted a poll at their website making clear America's choice for their national tree. The mighty Oak won hands down, beating out such contenders as the redwood and ever-popular dogwood on the East Coast.

2002 All-America Selection Award Winners!! AAS has announced 13 varieties as outstanding for 2002. Each was tested in trial gardens and exhibited superior qualities or traits that set them apart from similar varieties. For a detailed description of each contact AAS at 630-963-0770 or at their Website www.aaswinners.com.

The 13 winners are: Geranium 'Black Magic Rose,' Vinca 'Jaio Scarlet Eye,' Cleome 'Sparkler Blush,' Ornamental Pepper 'Chilly Chili,' Pansy 'Ultima Morpho,' Petunia 'Lavender Wave,' Petunia 'Tidal Wave Silver,' Rudbeckia 'Cherokee Sunset,' Basil 'Magical Michael,' Cucumber 'Diva,' Pumpkin 'Orange Smoothie' & 'Sorcerer' and lastly, Winter Squash 'Cornell's Bush Delicata.' Look for seeds and plants this upcoming garden season.

Winter Has Arrived
With frigid temperatures be sure and check perennials. Frost heaving is common especially on coralbells. Press these gently back into the ground. If you were fortunate enough to have had a fresh Christmas tree, cut off the branches and use as mulch for these shallow rooted perennials and any other newly planted additions to your flowerbeds.

While we haven't experienced heavy snowfalls as yet, when it comes, keep in mind to brush evergreens as soon as possible. Use a broom gently in an upward, sweeping motion because heavy snow or ice can accumulate on the branches.

If you enjoyed the Christmas blooms of amaryllis or poinsettias and wish to save these plants, refer to Hort Answer Sheet # A200 and A204 for proper post-Christmas care.

Part 1: The Basics

Winter is a great time for planning our spring gardens. It is also a time to start thinking about starting seeds indoors. In future Newsletters, we will give the basics of seed starting, tips from our own Master Gardeners on what they have found successful, and lastly, special seed varieties and where they can be purchased.

So for the basics...Seeds started indoors require the same conditions as those started outside. But since their environment must be artificially maintained, it takes a little more attention. Like all plants, the three basic requirements are soil, light and water. However, in each case there are special considerations when starting seeds indoors.

It is essential that the soil you use be sterile. One of the great failures of seed growing is a fungus commonly known as Damping-off Disease. The spores of these fungi are ever present in soil and the conditions of indoor gardening seem particularly favorable for the disease to develop. It can wipe out hours of hard work in a matter of days, killing off your young seedlings before they've had a chance. To avoid this, you must use a sterile soil. When buying a seed-starting medium, make sure it has been sterilized! This should be clearly indicated on the packaging. After it has been thoroughly moistened, the medium can be placed in flats, peat pots, dixie cups, and egg cartons. The size of the container will depend on what type of plant you're growing. Often experience is the best gauge. (That's where our own Master Gardeners will help by sharing their tips once we have these basics outlined.)

So to continue... seedlings receiving insufficient light can become tall and spindly or "leggy." They need a lot of light. Even if you have a window that receives full sun, you will probably need to supplement it with artificial light. You can use bulbs that are specifically made for growing plants or cool white fluorescent tubes. Place them just above your seedlings. You'll want to keep these lights on at least 14-16 hours a day. Fluorescent tubes are ideal because they won't produce as much heat, which can quickly dry out your seedlings.

The third ingredient is moisture, and this is the one that will require the most attention. You want to keep the medium moist, but not let it become wet or soggy. In general, it is best to water from below, allowing the medium to soak up the water like a sponge. To promote germination, many gardeners cover the flats or pots with plastic wrap. This keeps the planting medium both warm and moist, but must be removed as soon as the plants sprout. At this point you will need to keep an eye on things to maintain the proper moisture. If you have a totally artificial setup you will probably be able to predict how often you'll need to water. If you're using a sunny windowsill, you'll need to watch more closely. Placing the containers on a raised bed of gravel spread across the bottom of a large pan with a small amount of water can help to prevent your seedlings from drying out. Make sure that the plant containers rest on the gravel and not in the water.

Don't start seeds indoors too early. If they outgrow your flats or small pots, you might try thinning them and transplanting the largest to bigger pots, but for the most part you want to plant them outside just as they become large enough to survive transplanting. For many plants, this is four to six weeks after sowing, when they have at least two sets of true leaves. In other words, if you're aiming to plant the first week of May, you probably shouldn't be starting seeds any earlier then mid-March. But it's best to check seed packets for information on starting inside. Toward the end of this period, you may want to provide your seedlings a little food in the form of a weak, water-soluble fertilizer.

Several of our own MG's undertake this task each year and have graciously shared their tips with us for a successful crop that's ready to plant. So if you're at all inclined to undertake this venture, clear a space, gather your materials and keep an eye out in our next Newsletter for Part 2 of Seeds for Spring and some tried and true MG methods.

- by Kathy Riley

What can you do to keep your children interested in gardening? The answer is "plenty!" Here are some ideas from the American Association of Nurserymen to get you started thinking about indoor gardening projects for your family, scout troop, or other youth group. I'm sure you'll come up with others.

Windowsill gardens. When snowdrifts keep your kids inside, try cultivating a windowsill garden. All you need is a sunny spot and a few containers of soil. Herbs are an excellent choice for windowsills.

Peculiar plants. What kid wouldn't be fascinated by an insect-eating plant? Many garden centers sell Venus flytraps in their houseplant section. Then visit your library or search the Internet for more information on the natural habitat and growth habits of this unusual plant.

Watch seeds sprout. Line a glass jar with a damp paper towel and insert several zucchini seeds between the glass and the towel. Place a lid on the jar, leave it on the kitchen counter, and check the paper every day to make sure it's still moist. Seeds should sprout in a few days. Or try bush beans instead of zucchini.

Kids' gardening clubs. If you haven't visited your garden center lately, you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover the trend towards kid-friendly shopping experiences. Many centers host kids' gardening clubs or special workshops such as building a birdhouse or starting seeds indoors.

Read a book. Books like Peter Rabbit or The Secret Garden can spark your child's interest in gardening. Ask your local librarian or bookstore owner for other suggestions.

Decorate while you wait. Let kids indulge their natural creativity by painting inexpensive terra cotta pots to use next spring, for re-potting houseplants this winter, or for birthday and thank you gifts. Kid-safe, durable paints can be purchased at most craft shops.

Get a jump on spring. Plan a visit to your local garden center to buy seeds. Or let your child help select varieties from the seed catalogs. Then start seeds indoors to plant outside after the last frost. Ask the experts at your garden center or check your favorite gardening book to determine when to start seeds.

Worm farm. Worms will help teach your kids about the interdependence of plants and organisms as they turn vegetable kitchen scraps into valuable compost. A fact sheet giving full instructions is available from the office.

Garden crafts. There are several projects you can try with your kids, depending on their age and interest, such as hand-painted plant markers or homemade whirligigs to put between rows to frighten off birds. Your local craft store should have all the supplies you need.

Terrariums. Carefully place some soil and a few mosses and plants (with roots) inside a clean mayonnaise jar. Keep your indoor garden moist with a plant mister, and cover the opening with clear plastic wrap.

Feed the birds. Stock up on birdseed and suet at your local garden center, and feed the birds this winter. Have your child keep a record of all the species of birds that come to the feeder and what date each first was spotted.

Pot People. Draw or paint faces on small clay pots, then fill with soil. Plant grass seed, water, and watch the "hair" grow.

Build a birdhouse. Birdhouse kits and plans are available at most garden centers and craft shops. This is a great activity for a cold winter's night.

- By Joyce Ernst

An arborist is an integral part of the Plant Health Care team. Two of our own Master Gardeners, Warren Senneke and Joan Swanberg recently completed this training and became certified. Our hats off to you both!! Congratulations! What follows is a brief description of the process they went through to obtain this title.

Certified arborists are individuals who have achieved a level of knowledge in the art and science of tree care. This type of recognition is given by the International Society of Arborists to those individuals who:

Meet the eligibility requirements for admission to the exam (including 3 years experience in arboriculture or a 2 or 4 year degree in a related field)

Successful completion of the exam and

Maintain the necessary number of continuing education units to recertify after three years. Certification is a non-governmental, voluntary process that provides a measurable assessment of an individual's knowledge and competence required to provide proper tree care.

Workshops are offered throughout the year by the Illinois Association of Arborists in preparing for the International Society of Arboriculture certified exam. The location varies around the area. Warren and Joan were lucky to be able to take their classes at College of DuPage and use their years as MG's to meet eligibility requirement #1. Topics covered in the class include tree biology, pruning, diagnosis & treatment, identification & selection, tree nutrition and fertilization to name a few. Classes are scheduled one night a week for 3 hours and run for 10 weeks. There are fees required to sit initially for the exam and to recertify. If you are interested in expanding your knowledge or would love to one-day work in tree health care, it is definitely a good jumping off point to get started in the field. For more information contact the Illinois Arborist Association, PO Box 860, Antioch, IL. 60002 or call 877-617-8887. Their web site is: www.ag.uiuc.edu/~isa. Classes will be starting soon.

The Cold and Flu Garden
by Dorie Byers. 192 pages, $16.95

This paperback book offers over 35 plans (with detailed outlines) for easy to maintain container and backyard garden plots. More than 20 versatile medicinal herbs such as garlic, chamomile, and echinacea are profiled. Master Gardener Dorie Byers offers simple growing instructions and includes recipes for herbal teas and mixes. As one example, the Cold & Flu Garden, outlines plans for a small herb garden with plantings of thyme, garlic, cloves, cayenne pepper, yarrow, echinacea, peppermint, ad rosemary. Other plots include Headache Relief Garden, Decongestant Garden, Healthy Heart Garden, and Woman's Care Garden.

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.

Date	Location	Event Description	Time
January 20	Morton Arboretum	Illinois Landscapes – Nature/Nurture: How Yesterday's Cultures Inform Today..	3 p.m
January 22	Morton Arboretum	Botanical Latin	7 – 9 p.m.
January 22	Morton Arboretum	Prairie Style Landscape Design.	7 p.m.
January 26	Sid's in Bolingbrook	Selecting and Using Grow Lights.	10 a.m.
January 27	Wolf Road Prairie	Great Glaciers and Local Geology.	2 - 4 p.m.
January 29	Morton Arboretum	Shade Gardens.	9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
January 29	Morton Arboretum	The Successful Kitchen Garden.	Meets 6 Tuesdays from January 29 – March 5. 7 – 9:30 p.m.
January 31 & February 5	The Growing Place	Make a Hypertufa Trough.	9:30 a.m.
February 2	Chicago Botanic Gardens	Getting Your Garden Ready from A-Z.	1–2 p.m.
February 2	Sid's in Bolingbrook	Bonsai Demonstration.	10 a.m.
February 5	Morton Arboretum	Introduction to Nature Photography.	9 a.m. – noon.
February 5 or 6	The Planter's Palette	Shade Gardening.	Feb. 5, 7–9 p.m.; Feb. 6, 1–3 p.m.
February 9	Sid's in Bolingbrook	Pond Planning and Construction.	10 a.m.
February 9	The Natural Garden	Shade Gardening.	11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
February 9 & 10	Garfield Park Conservatory	Third Annual Chocolate Fest.	Noon – 5 p.m.
February 10	Chicago Botanic Gardens	Using Woody Plants.	1 p.m.
February 14 & 21	The Growing Place	Make a Garden Clock	9 a.m.
February 16	Platt Hill Nursery	Shade Gardening with Annuals and Perennials	10 a.m.
February 16	Garfield Farm Museum	Natural Area Management Seminar.	8 AM–4:30 PM.
February 16	Sid's in Bolingbrook	The Flower Garden.	10 a.m.
February 17	Morton Arboretum	Step-by-Step Gardening Series: Landscaping Basics.	2 p.m.
February 17	Wolf Road Prairie	We All Live Downstream.	2 – 4 p.m.
February 19 or 20	The Planter's Palette	Perennial Combinations.	Feb. 19 from 7 – 9 p.m. or Feb. 20 from 1 – 3 p.m.
February 19 & 26	Morton Arboretum	Easy Maintenance by Design . 2 Tuesdays	7–9 p.m.
February 21	The Growing Place	Make a Garden Thermometer.	9:30 a.m.
February 23	Platt Hill Nursery	Waking Up Your Pond.	10 a.m.
February 23	Morton Arboretum	Design Basics for the Front Yard.	9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
February 23	Morton Arboretum	Hardy Roses.	10 a.m. – noon
February 23	The Natural Garden	The Best Natives for Your Garden.	11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
February 23	Sid's in Bolingbrook	Hydroponic Gardening.	10 a.m.
February 28	Morton Arboretum	Planning the Herb Garden.	Meets 3 Thursdays, Feb. 28 – March 14. 7 – 9 p.m.
March 3	Garfield Farm Museum	Bat and Bluebird Box Seminar	Bats at 1:30 p.m. – Birds at 3 p.m.
March 9	Sid's in Bolingbrook	Lawn Care.	10 a.m.
March 10	Garfield Farm Museum	Antique Apple Tree Grafting Seminar.	1:30 p.m.
March 9-17	Navy Pier	Chicago Flower & Garden Show.

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, www.mortonarb.org

The Natural Garden, St. Charles 630-584-0150

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 #2 – February 28
Issue #3 – April 30
Issue #4 – June 28
Issue #5 – August 30
Issue #6 – October 3

IMPORTANT MG DATES

January 16-18
Mid-Am Show at Navy Pier

March 9-17
Chicago Flower & Garden Show
Navy Pier

Enrichment, Master Gardener Gatherings and Recertification Class #1 details will be mailed shortly