There are lots of projects going on. We went from 25 to 85 degrees last month, what a

rollercoaster. From 10 inches of rain to a possible hot and dry...it's Illinois. Sorry this is

short this time, I haven't been around much inside...it is that time of the year. Hope to

see all of you at the next meeting. Remember: Wear your nametags!

- Mike Wilkins

The business meeting took place in Luthy's Conservatory with 21 members attending.

As well as hearing about the progress on MG projects, we were able to observe

all the different conservatory plants while watching a chipmunk move closer and

closer to our snacks.

News from the Extension office - PARC has selected the Peoria MG group for their

2007 Volunteer of the Year award! The County Board has approved the Extension

budget for 2007! The Limestone raised beds are built and the Girls Scouts spent a

day leveling the topsoil. The attractions at Bartonville Farmer's Market will include a

booth staffed by Extension personnel with live cooking demonstrations on the first

Saturday and MG's will have a plant diagnostic booth on the 3rd Saturday of each

month.

All on-going projects are active and have scheduled workdays or are beginning

around the 1st of June. If you are interested in volunteering at one of the projects,

give the chairman a call. Their names are listed in the Directory section of the

newletter. Some briefs on our projects: The PAR garden has changed locations, and

the site looks very promising for a good year. Bob and Lois Coppernoll represented

the Speaker's Bureau at the Dahinda Oak Run Garden Club with a talk about soil.

Children's Home Walking Trail - Lois Coppernoll reported that the plantings were

finished April 28 together with some local church groups and provides a very nice

walking tour for the area. Jubilee Herb Garden - A thyme garden is being planned.

Plant donations are needed. Plant Sale - The sale netted $770.00. Nancy thanked

everyone, especially Fran Stagg for her good job with the informational booth.

WTVP Garden Walk - The PJS will have a big article on Saturday. Melanie has fliers

available and asked members to post copies in the local areas to help get publicity

momentum rolling.

Meeting adjourned around 1:45 followed by a tour of Luthy's outdoor gardens. Bob

Streitmatter outlined the plans for the new rose garden, and

pointed out some of the new plantings in other garden areas.

There are great new concepts evolving in the rose garden. It will

have a different shape, different rose and woody material

combinations, and four great tuteurs for climbing roses.

The day ended with many of the members heading for the plants

on sale in the greenhouses. There's nothing like a new plant to

bring a smile to a gardener's face!

- Bonnie Hunt, Recording Secretary