The lengthening days are giving me hope of spring. It must be just around the corner! A trip to the Chicago Flower Show will help me get through the fickle nature of March.

We have additional volunteer opportunities for MG's that have become available since our last mailing. Read about them under Notes From the Office - I hope some of you will be interested to sign up and be able to support these new community requests.

If you haven't heard about the Blazing Star Awards sponsored by the Willowbrook Wildlife Foundation, take a moment to read the announcement in the newsletter. Perhaps you or someone you know deserves this recognition!

Finally, very shortly, our MG Interns will complete the classroom training for the 2003 MG program. Eleven weeks and 66 hours of class work is a long time, but this very special group of people has made my job extremely enjoyable. The Veteran and Intern groups will bring our volunteer total to 93 an immense responsibility for me and our Extension office. It's going to be another good year!

Volunteer Opportunities

Naperville Gardeners Club Annual Plant Sale
MG Ron Ory has requested an MG Help Desk for Saturday, May 10. As an active member of the club, he knows that hundreds of people come to their sale. It sounds like a great opportunity for MG's to help gardeners. Call the office if you would like to volunteer for any (or all!) of the time slots. We would like to have two MG's for each. The sale will be located near downtown Naperville, on West St. by the Community Garden Plots.

• 7:30 - 10 am
• 10 am - 12:30 pm
• 12:30 - 3 pm

MG Help Desk at Area Garden Walk
The Bridge Communities will sponsor a garden walk "Through the Garden Gate...The Promise of Things to Come" on Saturday, May 31. The walk will feature 6 – 8 homes in the Glen Ellyn area. We will have help desks at 2 of the gardens. We would like to have one veteran and one intern for each two-hour shift, for a total of 8 Master Gardeners. Please call the office to sign up for either the noon – 2 p.m. shift or the 2 – 4 p.m. shift. Pam Kowalczyk, MG Intern, will be the Team Leader for this event.

Native Plant Sale
In celebration of Earth Day the City of Wheaton will be hosting their Second Annual Native Plant Sale on Saturday, April 26. We participated last year and once again, they would like to have two MG's available to help clientele with gardening questions. Expect to answer questions on native plants, proper planting techniques, composting, etc. If you would like to participate, please call the office to sign up. The sale will be held at the Public Works Garage Facility, 821 W. Liberty in Wheaton from 6:30 am – noon.

Graue Mill and Museum
Very recently Susan met with Forest Preserve District staff and the DuPage Graue Mill Corporation (a non-profit volunteer group) to discuss the possibility of MG's volunteering at Graue Mill and Museum to establish 2-3 gardens located immediately around the Mill. Three plots, each approximately 40 ft. x 15 ft are in need of help.

The Executive Director of DuPage Graue Mill Corporation envisions demonstration gardens that are planted with grain and fiber plants that were grown and utilized in the mid 1800's. These demonstration gardens would then compliment the educational message of the Mill and Museum. Thousands of visitors head to Graue Mill every year. This would give MG's and Extension terrific exposure and a wonderful opportunity to participate in many special events held at the Mill.

It sounds exciting and Susan is hopeful for MG's to get involved. Initially, research study on the exact kinds of plants and their growing requirements would need to be done. Also, a general garden cleanup day(s) will need to be scheduled. An evaluation of the garden site would then help determine plant selection and planting dates.

We are very anxious to get involved and support this effort. We would like to hear from you right away if you are interested in Gardening at the Mill. Graue Mill and Museum is located on York Road at the junction of York and Spring Roads.

Plant A Row Challenge
With one of the largest groups in the state, the DuPage County Master Gardeners and Interns should be able to contribute a ton of produce to the food pantries. This would require 20 gardeners willing to produce 100 lbs. each – or 40 willing to provide 50 lbs. each – well, you get the idea! Last year Art Feid contributed 210 lbs. by himself!

Ten tomato plants will do – add peppers, zucchini, cukes, etc. All that weight adds up!

Come on, DuPage County Veterans and Interns! Sign up for this project; let's show everyone what we can do. Be sure to track and turn in your volunteer hours.

Garden Center / Nursery List
We've been asked to compile a list of area garden centers and nurseries. This list will be included in the packets that are distributed to all attendees at the State MG Conference this year. Please send us a list of your favorite retail garden centers, nurseries, etc. that you visit. Please include the name, address, phone number and comments such as their specialty. You can email or snail-mail it to the office. Thank you for your efforts!

The Willowbrook Wildlife Foundation is springing into action to recognize DuPage County Community efforts to preserve and maintain wildlife habitats. The "Blazing Star Award," named after the beautiful prairie plant, will recognize habitats in four categories: Individual, community, public entity and corporation. A panel of judges will consider nominations through June 30, 2003 and present awards to those who demonstrated the preservation of local habitat at the second annual Willowbrook Wildlife Foundation's Habitat Presentations Awards Dinner on Thursday, October 9, 2003 at the Danada House in Wheaton. For information, please call (630)942-6200 or visit www.willowbrookwildlife.org. The Willowbrook Wildlife Foundation is a support group serving wildlife concerns through the Willowbrook Wildlife Center of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

Spring Kick-off: Diagnosing Plant Problems

Don't forget to sign up for the class- we are offering it twice. Class will be held at the Extension office Conference Room.

• Option 1: Friday March 14, 1:30 – 3:30 pm (nearly full)
• Option 2: Thursday April 10, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Other Classes:

Gardening Telenet Series

(These are advertised to the public. MG's are welcome to come, too.)

April 3, Thursday
Container Gardening
Susan Grupp, presenter
1:30-3:00pm

May 8, Thursday
Underused Annuals
Jim Schmidt, presenter
1:30-3:00pm

A Focus on...Classes by Susan Grupp

• A Focus on Weed ID and Management: Management options for Lawn and Garden. Wednesday, April 16, 1:30-3:30 pm.
• A Focus on Spring Tree Diseases: Friday, May 16, 1:30-3:30 pm.
• A Focus on Grubs and other Summer Pest Problems: Thursday, June 26, 10-11:30 am.

Six more weeks of Winter! There's no getting around it. That darn groundhog is usually, maybe always, right. So my suggestion is, take this opportunity to prepare yourself for the rigors of the coming season. By doing the exercises below, hopefully, you will avoid next months problem of "My Aching Back".

Before you get started, there are a couple of things I would like you to keep in mind. Remember to exhale on the exertion and keep your tummy pulled in and tight.

Smelling the Roses – 3 times

• Begin by placing a small amount of perfume on a tissue. Stand with your feet hip distance apart.
• Place the tissue on a lampshade. Inhale – exhale, bend forward from the hips. If you can smell the rose – Great! – If the tissue sticks to your nose – continue on.
• Place the tissue on the kitchen counter. Inhale – exhale, bend forward and sniff.
• Place the tissue on the coffee table. Inhale – exhale, bend forward and sniff.

I Just Don't Know – 6 times

Stand with your feet hip distance apart with your tummy in. Inhale, raise your shoulders to your ears - exhale, lower your shoulders.

Garden Gods Above – 3 times

Inhale, raise your arms to the sky, following your arms with your eyes and stretch. Exhale, lower your arms to the ground.

Weeding

Look thru your garden catalogs and cut out a variety of plant selections.
The Good – the ones you're going to buy,...
The Bad – invasive, wrong zone plants, and...
The Ugly – obviously your opinion. Make a pile of your selections and place them on the floor in front of you.

Inhale – Exhale, bend forward from the hips and sort thru your pictures making 3 piles – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

• Point to ponder THEN remember:

Anytime your head is below your heart you must equalize the pressure so you don't see those "stars" floating around. If those stars do show up, all you have to do is lower your head, place your hands on your knees and look up for a breath or two.

- by Ambi Pellegrini

Chicagoland is currently experiencing the driest winter since 1871. According to the US Drought Monitor, we are officially at severe drought level. The official snowfall for the western suburban area (to Aurora) is in the 10 inch range; 8 – 10 inches of snow is approximately 1 inches of rain. The severe drought problem is further exacerbated by our 38 inches of frost with little snow cover. Plant roots cannot extract moisture when the ground is frozen and the roots are encased in ice. There must be a thaw before water becomes available. Prior to that, evergreens, which keep their needles all year, draw on their ever-shrinking reserves.

Evergreens require less moisture during winter, but still need more than deciduous plants. In addition to normal transpiration loss, winter winds cause moisture loss in evergreen foliage. Unless anti-transpirants were sprayed on evergreens prior to winter, spraying now has little value other than protection from salts applied by municipalities. Evergreens most drought-susceptible are firs, arborvitae, hemlock and Japanese yews.

Damage to trees will appear later in the spring in the form of tip and branch dieback, browning of leaves, and decreased plant vigor. Even more ominous is the weakening of the plant and increased vulnerability to insects and diseases. Although there might be a noticeable winterkill of insects, the deep freeze affects beneficials and non-beneficials alike.

If we have any accumulations of snow or heavy rainfall, the beneficial effect in the next thirty days may be minimal, as the frost will not allow any appreciable water uptake by plants. In fact, heavy rains or a fast thaw of any impending snow may actually be detrimental due to possible flooding and minimal benefits to plants.

Trees, whether deciduous or coniferous, will be affected by this winter's drought. Watering advice applies to all trees and shrubs. Whether your trees and shrubs are drought-resistant or not, lacking spring rains, you must attempt to provide moisture to plants as soon as possible. Ideally, this should be done before the first flush of spring growth starts. Watering should be delayed until the ground has thawed. Normally (not this year), by the middle of March, raised temperatures and soft rains have caused an 18 inches deep thawing of frost. There are thawing exceptions in shaded areas, sheltered areas and northern exposures.

We need elevated temperatures, soft rains, and a gradual slow thaw of any snowfall. Ideally, we need the equivalent of one inch of rain per week starting in April to overcome the effects of this winter's drought. It is best to use "soaker" hoses for a slow watering. Water deeply, as needed, through August.

Applying fertilizer with adequate water to winter-damaged plants will help greatly in the plant's recovery.

- by Warren H. Senneke

Thymes are confusing, not only in catalogs and nurseries, where their naming is never reliable, but "notoriously difficult to classify...[and] different botanists [even] disagree widely" writes Eleanor Perenyi in her "Green Thoughts." Of the primary types, the true culinary herb is Thymus vulgaris, and the subject of this piece is a cross of that called Thymus citriodorus, the thyme that tastes of lemon. (Why plants that are not lemons - lemon balm, lemon grass, lemon verbena all come to mind - should nonetheless try to taste and smell like them, is material for a whole other column.)

T. citriodorus, lemon thyme, is a gracious addition to the herb patch. A creeper, staying under six inches, it has pink flowers and large (for a thyme), strongly lemon-scented, medium green leaves. (The best way to tell if a plant you are proposing to buy is indeed lemon thyme is to gently squeeze a leaf between your fingers and sniff.)

Thymes do well in northern Illinois, liking our generally alkaline soils. As with most herbs, they do best in full sun and are routinely winter hardy here. Thyme leaves seem to have the best flavor if picked when the plant is in bloom, unlike most other herbs whose leaves become bitter after flowering.

In addition to its lovely scent, this thyme is a favorite of bees, attracting these welcome creatures into the garden. Cookbook author Deborah Madison, in her recent Local Flavors flavors applesauce with lemon thyme, one large sprig per pound of apples. A handful of sprigs inserted in the cavity makes a simple roast chicken something special.

- By Sandy Lentz

Date: March 11, 2003
Time: 7:30 pm
Organization: Council of Catholic Women
Address: Holy Ghost Catholic Church
Ryan Hall
254 N. Wood Dale Rd., Wood Dale
Topic: Seed Starting: Giving Your Garden a Head Start
Speaker: Sandy Lentz

Date: March 24, 2003
Time: 7:30 pm
Organization: DuPage Organic Gardening Club
Location: Winfield Community Bank
Topic: Container Gardening
Speaker: Bill Sheahan

Date: April 1, 2003
Time: 7:30 pm
Organization: Council of Catholic Women
Address: St. John's Church
0S233 Church St., Winfield Topic: Butterflies - Magic in the Garden
Speaker: Eileen Kostock

Date: April 1, 2003
Time: 7:00 pm
Organization: Naperville Park District/Naperville Gardeners Club
Address: Sportsman's Community Clubhouse
Sportsman's Park
West St., Naperville
Topic: Beginning Gardeners Program (registration required)
Speaker: Ron Ory

Date: April 3, 2003
Organization: Hawthorn Garden Club
Topic: Annuals: Three Seasons of Color
Speaker: Sandy Lentz

Date: April 8, 2003
Time: 7:00 pm
Organization: Woodridge Public Library
Address: 3 Plaza Drive, Woodridge
Topic: Container Gardening
Speaker: Pat Pieper

Date: April 9, 2003
Organization: Perennial Friends
Topic: Vegetable Gardening
Speaker: Art Feid

Date: April 10, 2003
Time: 7:00 pm
Organization: Itasca Community Library
Address: 500 W. Irving Park Rd., Itasca
Topic: Annuals: Three Seasons of Color
Speaker: Sandy Lentz

Date: April 11, 2003
Time: 10:30 am
Organization: Hinsdale Chapter - AARP
Address: Community House
415 W. 8th St., Hinsdale
Topic: Annuals: Three Seasons of Color
Speaker: Sandy Lentz

Date: April 15, 2003
Time: 7:00 pm
Organization: Naperville Park District/Naperville Gardeners Club
Address: Sportsman's Community Clubhouse
Sportsman's Park
West St., Naperville
Topic: Beginning Gardeners (registration required)
Speaker: Ron Ory

Date: April 24, 2003
Time: 7:00 pm
Organization: Itasca Community Library
Address: 500 W. Irving Park Rd., Itasca
Topic: The Moveable Garden: Gardening with Containers
Speaker: Pat Pieper

Have you ever wondered where those new, exciting perennial plant introductions come from? That blue corydalis or that red coreopsis? In past years it was likely that the 'new' introduction was a lesser known plant in the U.S. but a very well established plant in England. It is not as likely now, since the U.S. perennial industry has developed to the point that we are likely to be introducing exciting new plants to England.

I attended the Perennial Plant Association national meeting last year and the Mid-American horticultural trade show this January and got a preview of plants that are newer to the trade. Some of these caught my eye and I've listed some perennials that will be carried by some of our local nurseries. I have 2003 catalogs for Midwest Groundcovers in St. Charles (1), Natural Garden, also in St. Charles (2) and Planters Palette in Winfield (3) and I have coded the listing with these local sources. We may be able to find them in other nurseries, but those catalogs are not available now. Not all of these plants are brand new to the trade, but all are noteworthy.

• Agastache ruprestris (2)(3) – not a new introduction but relatively unknown to many gardeners. Exceptionally long bloom period with orangey blooms. A good mixer for a well-drained site in sun.
• Baptisia x 'Purple Smoke' (1)(3) - excellent structural plant for the sun with new colors – dark stems and dusty purple flowers.
• Dicentra formosa 'King of Hearts" (2)(3) – dark rose flowers with lacy blue-gray foliage. Described as perhaps the most beautiful bleeding heart yet.
• Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilafee' (2)(3) – choice shade groundcover with large violet-purple blooms with lighter spurs. German introduction.
• Helleborus x 'Sunshine Strain' (1)(2) – hellebores are becoming a hot item for shady spots and this one has merit. It is a good mix of colors from white into maroons.
• Heuchera x 'Amber Waves' (2)(3) – attention getting amber-gold coral bell from Terra Nova. Should be a good contrast plant to darker coral bells and others. Flowers are secondary to the leaf color.
• Hibiscus x 'Kopper King' (2)(3) – tall plant for a moist sunny area. Copper-red foliage and white flowers with a red eye.
• Sedum x 'Autumn Fire' (3) – distinct improved 'Autumn Joy' with tighter growth, stronger stems, and richer flower colors. Canadian introduction.

- by Don Obuch

With thoughts of St. Patrick's Day on my mind, I wanted to mention some "Irish" plants. Have you heard of the new introduction, Heuchera 'Shamrock'? It is described as having very large green flowers with silvery foliage. I think it would look great with purple flowered plants, like Salvia 'May Night,'Hemerocallis (Daylily) 'Purple Rain' or 'Little Grapette,'Clematis 'Jackmanii' and annual Verbena 'Imagination,' and combined with other green flowered plants like Nicotiana 'Langsdorfii,' Alchemilla (okay, really kind of an acid yellow), and green flowered Moluccella (Bells of Ireland). You could also include some yellow-green foliaged plants like one of my favorite grasses, Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola.'

You might also try the real thing. Oxalis, a/k/a Lucky Clover, Irish Shamrock, is a perennial in zones 7-9. In zones colder than zone 7, the tubers will need to be lifted for winter storage. Grown outdoors they do best in woodland gardens and well-drained soils, such as that of rock gardens. The Oxalis has tiny white, pink, or red single flowers that are held above the clover like leaflets. These leaflets are green on top and purple underneath and close up at night or on overcast days. Oxalis can also be grown as an easy care houseplant. Oxalis deppei or O. regnellii are the most common varieties of Oxalis grown as houseplants. They do require good moisture, with well draining soil and do best in a full sun exposure. Keep them away from drafts. Although many Oxalises grow continuously, some species may require a rest period after they finish flowering. If the plant's leaves begin to yellow after blooming, you should gradually slow down on watering until the foliage dies back. Once the foliage dies back, the plant is in dormancy and should be stored in a cool, dark place. When new green shoots appear on your stored, dormant plant you can then bring it back into a sunny window. Some sources for Oxalis include Telos Rare Bulbs - P.O. Box 4978, Arcata, CA 95518 (their catalog is $2.00), Merry Gardens – 122 Mechanic St., Camden, Me 04843, Phone (207) 236-9064, and finally, an Illinois supplier Oak Hill Gardens - 37W550 Binnie Road, Dundee, IL.60118-0025, Phone (847) 428-8500.

- by Eileen Kostock

Tree and Shrub Handbook

Published by the Morton Arboretum
2nd Edition, 2002

I don't know about you, but when I am researching a particular topic involving ornamental horticulture, I love to check multiple sources of information. I have found that one recently acquired book is of immense help in that respect and is an excellent supplement to our Master Gardener's Handbook. The Tree and Shrub Handbook is published by the Morton Arboretum and is based primarily on the research done at the Arboretum and on USDA research. Since the Arboretum is located in Lisle, IL, the plant trials conducted there should apply well to the areas in which we live in DuPage County.

Tree and Shrub Handbook is divided into major sections on selection, care, pests, and diseases. Of those, the one I find most useful is the extensive section on selection of trees and shrubs.

The selection section is broken down into 24 sub topics and lists. A few examples include "trees and shrubs that attract birds," "trees and shrubs for the four season landscape", and "invasive trees, shrubs, and vines." Virtually every section is profusely illustrated with color photographs. One good example of the thorough coverage of the topics is the section on "small ornamental trees for the home landscape". It contains information on 29 ornamental species and some cultivars and is supplemented by an extensive breakdown of 62 ornamental crab cultivars. There is also a section on "recommended Magnolias for the home landscape."

Tree and Shrub Handbook is published in binder form and is designed to be updated periodically. The purchaser is invited to fill out an enclosed form that, when sent to the Arboretum, will allow it to notify buyers of the Handbook when updates and supplements become available. The cost is $49.99 for non- members of the Arboretum with members entitled to a price of $44.99.

Note: We have a copy in the MG Office.

- by Lou Horton

Can you smell the Springtime in the air yet? Can you? Well, try harder. It's "almost" here. That's what I keep telling myself as I bolt out the door on these well awaited sunshine filled mornings and get shocked wider awake with that jolt of wintry cold air! But the sun does have a way of making you realize that the time is at hand to begin our garden preparations. The calendar helps too, "March" what a nice sound. April will sound even better... (we won't think about the lion/lamb thing... No more snow and cold - yep, that works well for me from this point on). So let's get our thoughts focused, use positive thinking and soon we will be putting some of the following ideas to good use.

Landscaping while the palette is clear...
The art of developing property for its greatest use, potential and enjoyment is the basic idea behind landscape design. During the dormant time of year, we have a greater opportunity to assess our gardens, yards and curb appeal without getting caught up in "oh, that yellow flower really doesn't belong in the middle of my white flower bed..." We can see the forest, for the trees have no leaves... therefore, we can see our basic structures in the flower beds and surrounding areas, for there is nothing growing at the present time. Take time to walk around your property. Look closely at its functions, needs, attributes, and shortcomings and write them down on paper. Then spend some serious time making the types of changes you can vision in your mind's eye. Develop a plot plan to better locate areas of entry, entertainment, play, and work. See how your current design fits those needs and then begin the necessary modifications. It is so much easier if you maintain a garden journal that locates the plantings that currently exist, but you'll be amazed how quickly you will start to see a garden in full bloom as you work away.

Reconsider areas that now have more matured plantings. Did they outgrow their intended space? Do they perform as you would have expected? Do you even still "like" what you had chosen years before? These are some of the questions that you can address and answer with changes and amendments to your landscape design. Sunlight and shade change over time as well as wind and air concerns. Even the view will change as trees and shrubs mature, and other structures are added to the garden. Begin by applying the basic principles of design as outlined in our MG manuals: Unity - Simplicity - Emphasis - Balance - Proportion - Creating Focal Points.

From these building blocks the various elements of a garden can pull it all together to provide a beautiful setting and backdrop to your home and allow you to express your creative passion for gardening. (Now if I can only find someone who can help me draw recognizable "symbols" for my paper layout.)

Bulbs, bulbs, bulbs... What a wonderful invention!

How many of us have let these sunshine filled mornings start us on a hunt for our first snowdrops, crocus, oh ... anything green peeking up from the frozen earth? Well, I know I'm guilty as charged. But isn't that what we plan on when we are on our knees every fall, measuring, digging, smiling! Those of you who took part in the Telenet course "Bulbs and Other Rooting Structures" will probably agree with me that it was well worth the trip to the office. For a mini-session, these programs are very informative. Many important details that aid in the success of growing beautiful flowers from bulbs were covered well in this program. I will try to state a few that might be useful at this time and as a reference for summer bulb plans.

Since our spring bulbs are already "in the works," use this spring as a time to observe how they are working in your garden. Pay attention to placement (so they aren't dug up later in the season by mistake), color, performance and overall health. Keep in mind that a dry spring, which we are presently expecting due to the shortage of snowfall/moisture, requires that we be sure to water the bulbs once they break dormancy. Watch for common problems that arise such as overcrowding. Bulbs such as daffodils multiply rapidly and naturalize well but in doing so may cause a lack of adequate growing space. This can result in smaller bloom sizes and a weaker plant structure. Dig and divide approximately every 4 years or so to improve the quality and expand the quantity of your bloomers. Undersized bulbs may only produce foliage and no bloom at all because there isn't sufficient energy stored within them. Improving the growing conditions will eventually allow the bulbs to increase in size and perform as expected. It is important to note that when originally purchasing bulbs from your local nursery, be sure to choose the largest possible that are also firm and solid. The healthier the bulb the healthier the plant and flower, the happier the gardener!

Other concerns come from high temperatures, which typically result from planting bulbs too shallow or from improper storage. Bulbs also suffer when the foliage is removed too soon. Allow the foliage to die back naturally, absorbing the adequate amount of sun for nourishing the bulb and replenishing its energy store for next year's flowers. Well thought out positioning of bulbs can have unsightly foliage hidden by overgrowth from surrounding plants.

A few final thoughts...

• Use one color when choosing bulbs for the most striking show in the landscape.
• Consider all white in a shady garden area for more impact and display.
• Use similar guidelines for choosing summer blooming bulbs.
• Tuberous Begonias work well in planters.
• Check Dahlias which have been stored, making sure that each division has at least 2-3 buds at the top when planting to assure blooming.
• Read up on various varieties of bulbs available and know their growing needs and habits, example: Caladiums should be started indoors 6-8 weeks before planting outdoors in the garden due to the long germination time needed.
• As always, check the MG manual for more information and recommendations.

Is color really a consideration?...
Colors truly do have their place in the garden. Just as an artist chooses the proper hues and tints to make his painting sing out, so does the gardener when planting just the right flower in just the right place. Not to say that if an individual has personal choices for color preference that rules will be broken... on the contrary, that's what makes each garden unique unto itself. But despite what each of us find as favorites or limitations, certain colors do evoke certain responses to a greater number of people. For instance, colors like blue, violet and green are "cool" feeling colors and tend to recede in the landscape. Other colors such as red, yellow and orange offer the sense of warmth (like the sun) and tend to advance in the garden. Try using cool colored flowers along a patio or sidewalk and notice how they seem to "step-aside - move back" as you walk by. Use warm colors in the back of the garden where they are viewed from a distance and you can almost hear them calling out "look at me" with the vibrancy of their vivid color. Experiment with colors... they are what make each garden a joy to experience.

Wax on – Wax off ...
Just as the wax used for cars and floors leave a slick, shiny smooth finish that also resists moisture, so can it be used in gardening. Think of those times when you were digging in the dirt and came upon a clay mass and for every shovel full you had to stop and clean off the stuck on clay clump... oh how much more that made your back ache! The same thing happens with that heavy, wet snow that seems to cling onto the snow shovel. Try applying either car or floor wax to a clean, dry shovel and then buff it off as you would the car... its slippery finish will keep the shovel much cleaner and easier to maintain. Wax can be applied to many garden tools, including the mower, to help maintain a nicer appearance and reduce rusting as well. Definitely worth a try!

Review, Refresh, Remember, Revive
One of the many things we can do during the garden down time of winter is to make it "up time" for reading up on the many diseases we are plagued with each year. It's easy to get a little forgetful about things such as sooty mold, phomopsis, rust, needle blight, pine wilt, cankers, slime flux... ok, I'll stop, it's making me ill too. But never the less, it is one of our goals to identify, diagnose and prevent the spread of many of these and other common garden concerns. Diagnosing symptoms and signs of pathogens, insects, animals and chemical disorders will help us to better help ourselves as well as others.

• What might cause reduced growth and wilting on older plant leaves?
• What causes the terminal bud to die on certain plant material?
• Can I identify piercing sucking damage on a garden specimen?
• What does vein clearing indicate to me?

This is a great opportunity to put our MG manuals into operation. There are also numerous publications and informative materials at the Extension Office that can be extremely useful. Sign up for one of the Focus on...classes that Susan will be teaching at the Extension Office. And never forget that the internet is a wealth of information too... websites such as our own "Hort Corner" have many issues addressed that are regionally specific to our needs. So pull up a comfy chair, make a hot cup of your favorite wintertime drink, and know you are going to be the best prepared for whatever gardening challenges arise.

Boo...Shooo...Halleluiah!
Don't wait until it's too late to head off the bandits of the garden. The birds and other critters will be well aware of what is ripening in your garden well before you know they're even there. Detour them early with one of many "scarecrow" type aides. Whether it is a standard scarecrow or a "scary straw person," your kids will surely love to help construct this garden protector. Add shimmery, shiny and reflective materials for added effect when the wind blows or the sun catches the light just right. How about those fake owls and hawks... solid plastic, inflatable, whatever works. Cats are natural predators as well. Make your own out of sheet metal or other firm material. Paint the cat in a simple but realistic looking way and add brightly colored beads for the shiny "scary" eyes. Put him on a stake and move him around the garden often to keep the pests guessing. Last but definitely not least, try painting some walnuts bright red and scatter them about in the strawberry patch "before" the actual strawberries ripen. After several failed (and frustrating) attempts, birds and critters will assume that "all" of your berries are "hard as rocks"... and move on.

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

March 8-16
Chicago Flower & Garden Show at Navy Pier

March 8
The Growing Place Aurora: Rejuvenating an Established Garden
Sids, Bolingbrook: Seed Starting
Platt Hill Bloomingdale: Waking up your Pond

March 9
Chicago Botanical Gardens: Zimmerman Lecture Series, "The Botany of Desire"
Morton Arboretum: Exploring the Rainforest

March 13
Chicago Botanical Gardens: Landscape Design Symposium

March 14-16
Morton Arboretum: Midwest Gardening Symposium

March 15
Sid's Bolingbrook: Opening the Pond
The Growing Place Aurora: Front Yard Design Basics
Cantigny: Starting Seeds at Home

March 16
Garfield Farm Museum: Antique Apple Tree Grafting Seminar. Make 3 grafts of antique apple trees to take home for planting.

March 21-23
The Spring Home and Garden Show at the Odeum. Villa Park

March 22
Sids Bolingbrook: Fruit Trees

March 23
Morton Arboretum: Ready, Set ...Let's Grow! Landscape Design Tips
Chicago Botanical Gardens: Lily Lecture

March 29
Sid's Bolingbrook: Organic Gardening
The Growing Place Aurora: Back Yard Design Basics
Platt Hill Nursery Bloomingdale: Basic Landscape Design Principles

March 30
Morton Arboretum: Wandering the Wetlands
Dress for getting muddy and enjoy learning about wetland ecology. After a slide show we'll head outdoors to explore the aquatic life of wetland plants and animals at the Arboretum's Bur Reed Marsh.

April 2
Cantigny: Turf Tips From Cantigny's Golf Course Superintendent

April 4
Wolf Road Prairie: Lose the Winter Blahs at the Brush Blitz. Semi-annual cleanup at the Wolf Road Prairie 31st and Wolf Road, Westchester.12-4 PM

April 5
Platt Hill Bloomingdale: Varied Uses of Herbs
Sids Bolingbrook: Shade Gardening

April 6
Chicago Botanical Gardens: Zimmerman Lecture "Plant Partners"
Morton Arboretum: Wandering the Wetlands
Morton Arboretum: Ready, Set ... Let's Grow! Choosing and Transplanting Plants

April 12
Sids Bolingbrook: Anniversary Event
The Growing Place Aurora: Catch Spring Fever! The Growing Place Aurora: Homeowners' Symposium

April 16, 23, 30
Cantigny: Fundamentals of Gardening Series (Parts 1,2, & 3 of 5) $60 for 5 part series

April 19
Cantigny: Let's Construct a Garden Trough
Sids Bolingbrook: Herbs

April 21
Morton Arboretum: Library Lecture Series: The Designs of Beatrix Jones Farrand

April 22
Chicago Botanical Gardens: Earth Day Walk.

April 25
Morton Arboretum: Arbor Day! Free admission, free tram tours, and guided walks.

April 26
The Growing Place Aurora: Perennial Combinations to Extend Color.
The Growing Place Naperville: What's New for 2003
Sids Bolingbrook: Butterfly Garden
Cantigny: Tour the Flower Production Greenhouse

April 26-27
Chicago Botanical Gardens: Northern Illinois Gesneriad Show & Sale
Morton Arboretum: Arbor Day Celebration

April 27
Garfield Farm Museum: Prairie Walk 9 -Noon
Chicago Botanical Gardens: Central States Dahlia Society Sale, Northern Chicagoland Rose Society Clinic, Lily Lecture
Wolf Road Prairie: Jeepers! They're Peepers! Slide program on wetland wildlife.

May 1
The Growing Place Naperville: A Fountain of Ideas: How to make, place, set up and maintain a variety of Fountains.

May 3
The Growing Place Aurora: Designing a Screen

May 3-4
Chicago Botanical Gardens: Ikebana International Show, Midwest Daffodil Society Show

May 4
Cantigny: Greenhouse Open House

May 8
The Growing Place Naperville: Container gardens for beauty & usefulness.

Many of these events require advance registration and/or fees. For more information or directions to these locations, please contact them.

- By Deb McCullough

Our own Susan Grupp and Jim Schuster are featured on "Green Side Up," a weekly radio program in which they discuss what's going on in your gardens right now. It broadcasts on Thursday evenings at 6:15 pm on COD Public Radio – WDCB 90.9 FM.

"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.

For 2003, the deadlines are:

• Issue #3, April 28
• Issue #4, June 27
• Issue #5, August 29
• Issue #6, October 29

March 14, Friday
Re-certification Class #1 (option 1)
1:30 – 3:30 pm

April 3, Thursday
Gardening Telenet Series
Container Gardening
1:30 – 3:00 pm

April 10, Thursday
Re-certification Class #1 (option 2)
6:30 – 8:30 pm

April 16, Wednesday
A Focus on Weed ID & Management
1:30 – 3:30 pm

May 8, Thursday
Gardening Telenet Series
Underused Annuals
1:30 – 3:30 pm

May 16, Friday
A Focus on Spring Tree Diseases
1:30 – 3:30 pm

June 26, Thursday
A Focus on Grubs and
Other Summer Pest Problems
10 – 11:30 am