University of Illinois Extension

Master Gardener Meeting

Effingham County

Tuesday February 10^th, 2009

Normalie Strickland called the meeting to order at 6:45. In attendance were Dorothy Niebrugge, Betty Boos, Leslie Niebrugge, Purnima Shah, Karen Hakman, Brenda Roedl, Normalie, and Rita Kemme.

Minutes: of the January meeting were read and a motion to approve was made by Betty and seconded by Dorothy and motion carried.

Financial: Not available.

Old Business: A telenet was held last week on the State Conf. Betty, Leslie, Purnima and Brenda listened in on this. Sessions could include Lawns by Scotts, Proven Winners, Weeds, Seed Savers, Chuck Voight on Vegetables, Carol Schlitt on Food Preservation, Drying and Freezing, Tova Martin on Personality Gardens, and Medicinal Plants. Gardening with Native Plants with Mike Jeffers, Ponds and Water Gardening, small to medium shrubs with Mike Brunt and Dike Barkely on Ornamental Grasses, Garden Photography, Tony Bratsch on berries and Nancy Pataky on new and emerging diseases, were also discussed as well as Chef Niall on Herbs in cooking, Value gardening with Deborah Cavanaugh Grant, birds, farm marketing, wildlife control and Ken Robertson with Prairie Starts.

Hands on classes: discussed were Carol Bloemer –gourd painting, basket weaving- Purnima, Dream Pillows - Barb Brayfield and hypertufa bowls.

Tours: Ballard would be a full day with wild flowers ID, fishing, bird and critter watching, tree ID, wildlife-nature walk, invasive plants and a wetland walk. This would include lunch. Also a full day would be the Fayette County MG Gardens and the Mennonite Settlement at St. Peter. Coles Co. is doing Dr. Whiteside Gardens, Eastern or Lakeland and the Idea Garden at the Hospital One half day would be the Cross, Alwerdt's and Cumberland greenhouses. Wolkes, winery tours and Siemer's Mill and Hodgkin Mills were also mentioned.

Vendors: could include some of those from the Midwestern Herb show in Mt. Vernon, Todd Kingery-Willow Furniture, Hodgkin Mills, Ballard and Wildlife Habitat and Gardening with Wildflowers.

Brenda's Notes: Tony Bratsch would like to give a seminar on vegetables and small fruits. Group suggested the 14^th of March, or our meeting night or another eve, maybe a Thurs.

Four Seasons Telenets have gone up in price. Extension does not want to purchase. Rita moved and Purnima seconded that the Master Gardeners purchase the telenets for the year for $120.00. If they are more than that we will have to reconsider.

New Business: Are we going to have a plant sale? Questioned tabled until the next meeting. Be thinking about it.

Brenda gave a demonstration on how to grow your own sweet potato plants and gave away the potatoes to those who wanted to try their luck.

Karen brought her culinary skills to the meeting in the form of a "from scratch" angel food cake. Purely delicious. No comparison with the box. We all enjoyed.

Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 9:15. The next meeting will be on March 10^th, at 6:30 P.M.

Submitted by: Rita Kemme, secretary.

- Rita Kemme