As we push through through June, the dry hot weather of an Illinois summer is upon us.

As one who works outdoors all year round I am so looking forward to fall and the cooler

temperatures it brings already. I know what some are thinking...but Michael the

summer is the prime time for growing gardens and summer fun....well what can I

say...I like 60 degree temps. Oh well.

The meeting at Luthy was a nice change of pace and was glad to see many could make

it. As for my involvement with things concerned with gardening...most has been via

telephone answering tree questions as I haven't been home much. Been really busy as

well as most of you probably have been too. I really do need three of me! Hope to see

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

- Mike Wilkins

Twenty-three Master Gardeners met June 20 at the Extension office for their business

meeting. We were reminded that everyone should be turning in the count of their

volunteer hours and their continuing education to add to the 928 volunteer hours and

152.5 continuing hours reported thus far.

ID cards and new member nametags are now available and will be in the Extension

Office.

Are you interested in what goes on at the State level of MG activity? The State

Advisory Committee has two openings. See Kathy Hasselberg for the application

forms. Also, if you are looking forward to the State Conference in September, you

can get the details in the next "Imagine" newsletter. Note that this year, registrations

may be sent in ONLY by on-line process. If you don't have access to a home computer,

you may use the one in the extension office.

Volunteer Projects: Of special note, Angela Zimmerman and

Roger Larson attended the annual PARC banquet where the MG

program received a Teamwork Award. There will be a tea at

PARC for all volunteers on June 22. The other projects are in

maintenance phases with watering and weeding the usual focus.

Call the appropriate chairperson from the back of the newsletter

listing under "Places to Volunteer" if you have time to give or

want more information.

Short Term Projects:

Thirty-nine volunteers were in action June 9 to help with the

WTVP Garden Tour. Around $2,900 in tickets were sold for

the event. These funds will be earmarked by WTVP for future

gardening programming. Laura Petelle reported that 15 Girls

Scouts have planted corn, tomatoes, cukes and peppers at the

Limestone Raised Beds. They have a business plan, which

includes ways to teach backyard gardening techniques to area

residents.

Recurring Events/Activities: Nancy Lemieux reported that the

Jubilee Herb Garden booth at the Old English Faire had a

considerable increase in public attention from the previous year,

possibly due to its bug display and diseased tree wood display.

All the herb booklets were handed out and our inventory is now

depleted. Extension Office Planter Boxes - Look at our new

beauty spot planted by Dixie! The Help Line volunteers will

water. MGs staffed their first booth at the Bartonville Farmer's

Market with a Q & A format. They received questions on

keeping deer out of hosta and other plant disease type questions.

A lot of enthusiasm and good ideas are coming from the

Coordinator of the Market event. Look for continued growth in

this event. Margie Karl reported that Erma Wieland is stepping

down as coordinator of MG participation at ICC Landscape

and Garden Day. Margie needs a chairperson. Call her if you

are interested, as this is a wonderful event to support.

New Opportunities - Lee Hammond attended a class on rain

data. He has pamphlets for anyone who is interested. This

activity does count for hours if you participate in other projects.

Treats are needed for July's meeting!!! See Kathy Hasselberg.

Meeting adjourned around 1:45 followed by a tour of Connor's

hosta reproduction lab, the new grape vine area, and the wine

tasting facility.

Next meeting will be July 18 at the Extension Auditorium. Rick

Smith will talk to us about Moss Gardening following the

business meeting.

- Bonnie Hunt, Recording Secretary

Editors Note: More food for thought...At the Canton MG Garden

Day back in March, the speaker (name forgotten) mentioned

using a solution of 50/50% amonia & water to spray for slugs

control and using self-rising flour sprinkled on cabbage to

control the cabbage worm...his claim is that the flour expands in

the stomach of the bug after being eaten and kills it. For rose

fungus, use 50/50% skim milk and water as a preventative, and

finally sprinkle chile powder on bulbs as you plant them to keep

critter away.

- Melanie Martin