Summer is here and the annuals are thankful! Finally we're seeing some growth and exuberance.

On a more personal note, in spring, Jim Schuster had surgery and recently has experienced a setback in recovery. I think many of you would be interested to know this and might like to send him wishes for a speedy recovery. I would be happy to collect the cards and notes and bring them to him. So if interested, simply send or drop off your notes / cards here at the office and I'll take care of the rest.

Ball Seed Open House. Ball Seed will be holding their "open to the public" day on Sunday, July 27 from 10 am – 4 pm. Don't miss this opportunity to see their trial gardens, landscape beds and container gardens.

West Nile Virus Website and Bookmark Brochure. We have a new website that was recently developed on West Nile Virus, http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/westnile/ and a new bookmark brochure, Fight the Bite.

We are anxious to distribute these bookmarks to appropriate groups and agencies. Please contact the office if you would like to help. These colorful bookmarks are available at no charge.

MG Marketing Efforts. Thanks to Terri for a wonderful design of the MG Help Line tear-off sheets and poster, and the efforts of all the MG's to distribute these items-it has already made a noticeable difference-we served more clientele this June than last year.

Garden Clinic. Many samples have been brought into the clinic and everyone is doing a terrific job of diagnosing plant problems, identifying insects, etc. With your input, Terri has redesigned our forms for both the clinic and the Help Line. They are a big improvement over our previous forms, and they seem to be working well.

MG State Conference. Since the MG State Conference will be held in Naperville/Lisle this year, we hope that many of you will be attending. Be sure to register early so you get your first choice of classes, tours, etc. We have nominated the Gardening Thymes Newsletter committee for the teamwork award, and 5 individuals for the outstanding MG award.

MG Name Badges. Please remember to wear your MG name badge when volunteering at the office and all the other projects too.

Help Needed. We still have three time slots available for the MG Help Desk at the DuPage County Fair. We need two MGs from 7 - 9 p.m. on Friday, July 25, one MG from 7 - 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. If you can help at those times, please call the office ASAP! Thanks.

Job Opportunity. Flexible, PT work available to help at plant grower's local farmers market booths, selling high quality perennials and shrubs on weekends. Call Jane at 773-551-5941 for details.

Do you have a plant to share with your fellow Master Gardeners? How about a piece of equipment you would like to sell or trade (or donate)? Is there a plant you are looking for that one of us might already have? We'd like to put you in touch with each other. Contact Pat Kosmach at Pkosmach@aol.com or 630-279-1655. She will take the information and put all of it together for the next newsletter.

July 12, 2003: Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden by Eileen Kostock
Butterfly Garden Open House.

July 13, 2003: Perennials of Northern Illinois by Warren Senneke
Butterfly Garden Open House.

August 14, 2003: Sure-Fire Perennials of Northern Illinois by Warren Senneke.

Sept. 11, 2003: Composting: Building Your Garden from the Ground Up by Lynn Bement.

Often times I find myself marveling at the creations that surround me. Today for instance, I found the beauty of a dewdrop on the petal of a newly opened rose, which duplicated a gazing ball's reflection. Within this glistening droplet, all that surrounded it was captured like a miniature window's view of nature at its best. As much as I am guilty of complaining at times about all the drawbacks of gardening in Illinois, I know just how lucky I am on mornings like this. I hope you too find those special moments when you truly can appreciate the beauty we are a part of every day. And as gardeners, we can actually take some credit seeing as how we seem to have a "hands on" association.

Without any further delay... here goes

- By Joyce Ernst

With all the new innovations in computer technology and a digital camera, oh the magic we can create! There are many computer software programs available now that will allow you to use digital photos of your garden to make changes and additions from your desktop. It is a wonderful idea to make a permanent record of what you have planted by taking pictures. You can utilize your computer to virtually duplicate or totally overhaul your garden. You can also use the photos to make a "picture perfect" record in your journal. With a photo of each area of your garden, you can note when you first found certain plants breaking dormancy, the color palette that arrives at different times throughout the season, or simply just the location and identification of what's planted.

Taking photos at specific intervals during the season will help you to remember where bulbs are when you want to tuck in a new plant in late June or perhaps assess areas that seem to be lacking color or interest. And heck, you've worked hard... maybe you would just like a few shots that you can take around and show off a bit!

Everything is in full bloom or just about to be, so why not try your hand at "cloning" or something similar. Our Illinois Master Gardeners Manual is packed full of information on this subject. There are ways to reproduce many of our favorite plants, and it just takes a little practice and the use of good reference material to accomplish it. Something as simple as the inadvertent break off of a stem on a prized coleus can be a catalyst to this fun and rewarding process. You will be amazed at how simple many of the procedures really are. I know for myself, "Life has been Berry, Berry good to me..." and don't I have the raspberries to prove it. I have successfully increased my berry patch using a couple of the methods our manual has to offer. Now if I can just get my kids cloned, I could really have time for my garden since they could complete all the household chores! Hmmm... what manual is that one in?

Instead of using sand or mortar between path pavers - consider moss alternatives. There are several low growing choices and the nicest part is... they don't need mowing or any other real maintenance other than weeding out an occasional unwanted intruder. Most will hold up to light or even moderate foot traffic and it really does have a softer, more natural appearance. Now get out those blenders and mix up some moss milkshakes to pour around. (If it's just the same to you, make mine a real chocolate shake... the garden can't take all my fun and enjoyment!)

Carrots! And so tell us, how do they look? It's always a good idea to analyze our harvests to see if we fall short of our expectations. Carrots are as good a veggie as any to take a look at. Most of us are expecting to see straight, tender and lovely orange carrots when we pluck them from their garden beds. But if there is something wrong with that picture, take time to investigate the probable causes and you will be better prepared to address these issues in the future. Some examples of what you might find could be:

Forked Roots - Soil bed may be too rocky or contain solid clumps of incompletely decomposed compost.

Roots Are Split - Plants may have been watered too heavily after a dry spell. Always water moderately during "drought" periods. The good thing here is, taste isn't usually affected - just the appearance.

Heart of Carrot Is Hard or Woody - The carrots either grew much to slowly or they were harvested much too late. Always harvest young carrots - they will be tender and sweeter.

There is a real value in drawing birds to our yards with feeders, birdbaths and houses. They are wonderful insect controllers and of course they add beauty and song to their surroundings. But with the good comes the worry. Baby birds are a part of the package when we invite their parents to live in our yards. And along with the babies comes the constant curiosity of the neighborhood cats. Of course we can't totally control the cats, but we sure can find ways to protect the nesting birds. Plant a climbing rose at the base of tree trunks, on the sunny side of the tree and guide the rose stems around and around. Nothing like a couple of good thorns to send kitty elsewhere!

Speaking of Kitty... Those of us with pet cats that are well behaved outdoors and keep us company in the garden should also be especially cautious about plant choices. Some of our most favorite plants can be quite harmful to pets, especially cats. A few of these would be: foxgloves, delphiniums, daffodils, azaleas, wisteria, certain ivies, and chrysanthemums. Be sure to check any other plants, which you might be uncertain of. Even catnip can be too much of a good thing, so as with most things, "moderation."

I bet anyone who has ever grown zucchini in their garden knows all about "surplus." A zucchini plant, if happy where it is planted, can offer an abundant yield. Some of us are fortunate to have both climate and soil conducive to growing bountiful crops of many different vegetables each season. When this occurs, and you have given your families all they can consume... remember the food pantries, convalescent homes and other special needs places. You will do a great service to those people who will thoroughly enjoy the unique pleasure of "homegrown goodness" in more ways than one. It's a "feel good" thing.

How about those zinnias? A truly easy annual and so joyfully colorful, the zinnia is a gem in any garden or flower pot. Years ago they were fondly called "Cut-and-come again" flowers because they respond greatly to cutting, either for fresh flower arrangements in your favorite vase or just good old deadheading. Such cutting will produce amazing prolific re-blooms. Remember some basic rules for vased flowers:

• Cut flower stems with buds just ready to burst into bloom.
• Use sharp scissors or a knife that is clean of any bacteria.
• Once indoors, re-cut the stems under water if necessary.
• Remove any leaves that will fall below the water line in the vase.
• Change the water at least every other day.
• And enjoy!

Remember that after the 4th of July, it's a good time to hunt for bargains. Many retailers and garden centers begin drastically reducing the prices on the remaining inventory of plants. You can try some new varieties at a fraction of their early season price. Once home, all it might take is a little extra "TLC" to get them to bounce back after the dog days of summer have taken their toll. A perennial's root base, more often than not, is still alive and well under all that dried and wilted foliage. You may not see much beauty this year, but won't it be a joy to watch it grow and bloom next year. And don't forget all the nice hardscape materials that will also be at a more reasonable price. OH the fun of shopping for the garden!

Mosquitoes - They swarm, they bite, they suck blood and they spread disease. So, those walks thru the gardens at dusk are out! Okay, so that's too harsh – do the standard light colors, long sleeves and pants, no perfume or body lotions, and you can apply mosquito spray sparingly. Ahh, Deet! It smells so "outdoorsy."

Look at your garden strolls not only as checking out all the beautiful things growing, but also as a 'seek and destroy' mission. Meaning... empty any water that's standing, and put it to better use to water that hard to reach item. Remember to check for water in all your knick-knacks you have strategically placed, and dump. Then, when it's not too hot outside, clean your gutters. Use BTI donuts in areas where you can't dump standing water. Larvaecide is also available at most garden centers.

Sod Webworms- Sod webworms are on my bug list, and I know you have seen them but don't realize it. The adult sod webworm is probably the bug – moth you've seen in your yard when mowing the lawn. When they're at rest, they look like tiny cigarettes. Their wings are unusual, because they roll up tight and close to the body. Anyway, these moths fly up and out of the grass when you walk by and disturb them. Eggs are laid and the moth dies. Which brings us to late July and into August, when your lawn has dead looking spots in it. Not only dead spots, but it seems like they're filming a sequel to "The Birds" in your yard. On closer inspection, the dead areas are actually dead grass plants with little or no leaf blades. At night, the larvae remove and eat the blades until not a single blade of grass can be found. (This injury is quite different from grub injury.) A number of different insecticides will work. Spray them on and let them dry.

Japanese Beetles - or "The Grub"

The poor annual white grub beetle (also known as the southern masked chafer beetle) dies after it mates, whereas the "Japanese Beetle" not only mates but eats most (it seems) green leaves continuously too. In summer, they dig through the turf and lay their eggs. A few weeks later, in late July and early August, the eggs hatch into grubs and live off the tender young grass roots.

Japanese Beetles can be removed by hand. I've found that a yogurt cup with a top works great. Fill the cup with soapy water and just knock-in the beetle. Add the top, shake and presto! ... dead beetles – shaken...but not "stirring."

Cicadas - Cicadas bug me because once, when I was driving thru Glen Ellyn, the cicadas were singing louder than I was! I had to turn my radio up!...and, on an ugly level, they're up there. Adult Periodic Cicada are about one inch long black insects with red eyes and orange-veined clear wings. They're big! – You feel and hear them coming. The males are the loud singers, because they're trying to attract the females. The males and the singing dies after a few weeks and the females remain alive for 2-4 more weeks longer to lay the eggs. The only real damage they cause is from egg laying. Eggs get inserted into young and thin tree and shrub stems, which may or may not cause branch tips to die or snap off. The control is in trying to prevent egg laying. You can cover your plants with netting or wire screening. Usually this is impractical and not warranted, though you may want to protect young, small newly planted tress/shrubs.

Eggs hatch within a few weeks into small nymphs that fall to the ground and tunnel down not to be seen for say... 17 years (or less, depending on the species).

Spittlebugs - Spittlebugs are the most interesting bug that I didn't even know existed. Spittlebugs look like, and I'm not kidding, gobs of spit (the "spit" is their camouflage and protection. They're sucking bugs similar to the aphid). But if you spray them down with just water, their force field of spit is washed away, exposing the bug to UV rays, predators, or insecticides. Stronger squirts will remove the bug, as well as the spit off the plant.

I'm going buggy with all this bug talk. I realize now that there are too many bugs that bug me to list. In fact, if it weren't for ladybugs, butterflies and lightening bugs (are there any other "good ones?") (yes there are!), I would have to say YUCK to bugs.

- by Ambi Pellegrini

I look forward to sharing information about unusual herbs with my fellow MG's. Comments, suggestions, ideas, etc....e-mail me at hockeymom@iname.com

If an herb is not usable in cooking, if its leaves are not sweet, but often described as "musky"... why take up space in your herb patch with it? Because it is graceful, it blooms all summer, and may even be trimmed into a low, woody hedge. The herb is hyssop - Hyssopus officinalis - a member of the labiatae family. It is native to Europe, and hardy to zone 4.

Hyssop grows 18" to 24" tall, with an upright form and narrow, oval leaves. The blooms are carried on spikes 6" taller than the foliage, and may be pink, deep blue or white. Because of its height, hyssop can fill in toward the back of the herb garden, its showy flowers providing a lovely accent to the other herbs' shades of green. Bees, of course, love them.

Because they quickly become woody, hyssop plants may be clipped to form a small hedge, ideal for a knot garden. Hyssop will, unlike many other herbs, tolerate partial shade, though it may not become as "shrubby" and may not bloom as well.

Most herbs are pretty disease-resistant, but hyssop is subject to a fungal stem rot. A few branches will die back above the damaged area. The infected plant should be removed at first sign of the disease, and a new plant should not be replanted in the same place. Good sanitation, and avoiding crowding which impedes air circulation, can help to insure your plant's health - the colorful flower spikes of hyssop blowing in the summer breeze are well worth having.

- By Sandy Lentz

The Value of Leather Gloves Or Thank Goodness I Still Have All Five!

This article is about the value of leather gloves, as you have probably ascertained by the title. But, just as importantly, it is also about being conscious of the task at hand.

For many years I fought the recommendation to wear leather gloves. Being someone who truly relished playing in the dirt, I felt that gloves were cumbersome. Frankly, I enjoy the tactile experience of having my bare hands in the soil. But this particular accident has left me forever grateful to the inventor of leather gloves.

I think it's very big of me that I hold no ill will towards my Viburnum 'Bailey's Compactum', since they are the subject of not one, but two of my most serious gardening accidents. This time I thought I would give them a quick haircut with the electric clippers and then get busy planting some perennials, which is the project I really wanted to do. So, I was rushing when I slipped into my work boots, grabbed my leather gloves, and plugged in the clippers. I was holding up a large bunch of branches, eyeing the length to be cut. I can hardly say it, but in my unmindful state, I somehow ran the hedge clippers right across my left hand. The pain was blinding and instantaneous and I nearly fainted. I don't know how I made it into the house. I couldn't even bring myself to take off the glove, which was now seeping with blood. Of course, "Ever at the Ready, Paul," my husband, rushed me, yet again, to the ER. When I finally took off the glove, I couldn't believe all the blood. At the hospital they had to irrigate the wound...pain, then numb the site of the wound with a large needle...more pain and then finally stitch it. They also gave me a tetanus shot, which, by the way, causes soreness in your arm that lasts for more than a few days afterward. Today the scar is barely visible, but my index finger is still numb at the site and that fingernail does not grow out properly. Even so, the doctor told me that I was very lucky. If it hadn't been for my leather glove getting caught in the macerating teeth of the electric clippers, I would surely have lost my finger.

• Lesson #1 – Invest in a good pair of leather work gloves and wear them at all times.
• Lesson #2 – When working with power tools, or any tools for that matter, take your time. Don't rush and always focus on the task at hand.
• Lesson #3 – Accidents can still happen, no matter how careful you may be. I recommend that you get your tetanus shot up to date, despite the discomfort this shot may cause.

- By Eileen Kostock

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.

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

July 15

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Landscapes and Vegetation.

July 16

Morton Arboretum: Feng Shui Gardening.
Chicago Botanical Gardens: Returning Fire to the Midwest Landscape and Prescribed Fire in Your Community-A New Kind of Maintenance

July 19

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Roses for the Beginner.
Cantigny: What's Your Plant Problem?

July 19-20

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Daylily Society Show & Sale.
Morton Arboretum: Prairie Heritage Days.July's Prairie theme is "Prairie Passages...the Literature of the Prairie."

July 21

Cantigny: Evening Cart Tour of the Gardens.

July 24

Cantigny: Twilight Walk with Refreshments.

July 26

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Invasive Ornamentals, Water Gardening for Beginners, and Introduction to Local Dragonflies.

July 27

Morton Arboretum: Ready, Set ... Let's Grow! A Prairie Garden.

July 28

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Evening Prairie Walk.
Cantigny: Twilight Cart Tour of the Golf Course Flowers.

July 30

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Invasive Plant Identification and Control.

July 31

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Sustainable Landscape Design: Practical Realities and Innovative Solutions, Natural Alternatives to Lawns.

August 1

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Native Wildflowers for Sunny Spaces.

August 2

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Mulches and Compost.

August 3

Morton Arboretum: Ready, Set ... Let's Grow! Hurray for Hydrangeas!

August 5

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Herbaceous Perennials, Avoid Common Planting Mistakes, Exploring Ethno botany.

August 7

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Enhancing Your Garden View, Selecting and Using Hardscape Materials.
Cantigny: Moonlight Gardening.

August 9

Cantigny: Cantigny Staff Favorite Plants of Summer.

August 9-10

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Pepper Festival .
Fruit & Vegetable Garden

August 10

Garfield Farm and Inn Museum: Prairie Walk. A taste of the old prairie as the six foot tall grasses show their full glory. Reservations required.

August 14

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Flowering Onions, Wetland Ecology and Restoration
Cantigny: Twilight Walk with Refreshments

August 15-17

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Midwest Bonsai Show & Sale

August 16

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Introducing Ornamental Grasses to Your Garden

August 16-17

Morton Arboretum: Prairie Heritage Days. This month's focus is on prairie wildlife, especially the buzzing, creeping, and crawling varieties! On Sunday only, learn about "prairie pollinators"

August 23

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Ornamental Aquatic Plants, Basic Watering Systems, Understanding the Grasses.

August 23-24

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Bromeliad Society Show & Sale.

August 24

Garfield Farm and Inn Museum: Natural Dying Class. Nature provides the palette for participants interested in coaxing colors from plants for use in dying materials. Reservations required.

Garfield Farm and Inn Museum: Heirloom Garden Show. Once common and now rare types of flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs displayed and sold by Midwestern growers.

September 4

Cantigny: Mums and Asters for the Midwest

September 6

The Growing Place: Old House Party (Aurora)
Cantigny: Tomatoes: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

September 6-7

Chicago Botanical Gardens: Garden Clubs of Illinois Flower Show. Central States Dahlia Society Show & Sale

September 7

Garfield Farm and Inn Museum: Prairie Walk. The annual September prairie walk is always the most colorful. Reservations required.

- 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.

For 2003, the deadlines are:

• Issue #5, August 29
• Issue #6, October 29