Date: Wed. Oct. 21

Time: 1:00pm Short Meeting followed by a tree tour

Place: Norm Meyn's yard, 4304 Grandview Dr., Peoria

Topic: "Fall Tree Tour" Meet at Norm's house for a short business meeting, then we will take a woodland walk down and up the river bluff to see the autumn colors and identify a few trees and plants. Hopefully afterwards, we will know the names of all the beautiful trees giving us the fabulous fall colors. Come prepared to take a walk in the woods...wear appropriate shoes and bring layers for the weather.

Note: Have a topic of MG interest or a guest speaker you would like to have at any our meetings?

- Margie Karl, President

Fall is such a beautiful time of year. Warm days, cool nights and a time to enjoy the changing beauty that unfolds in the garden and all around us. And let's not forget wiener roasts around a bon fire that include s'mores for dessert.

As we all know there is also plenty of work to be done in the fall. I've been busy cleaning up my small vegetable garden and putting it to bed for the winter. Then there's dividing to do. The other day I went snap happy with the camera in order to have plenty of pictures to critique during the coming months. I will try to decide what to do differently in the flower beds next year. I am also adding a flowering tree this year to the landscape. I hope to enjoy it's pretty blooms come spring.

Several of our Master Gardener projects are starting to wind down from what has been a very productive year. I want you all to know how much your support and "volunteerism" has been appreciated. So in closing I encourage you to get outdoors as often as you can and enjoy the beautiful days of fall while they last. Remember, "Historically, a dry September tends to precede a dry October–November. And a dry fall tends to precede a dry winter." The general rule of green thumb is an inch of water a week for perennial flowers, shrubs and trees especially new transplants. This of course can vary depending on soil types, plant species and the amount of sun and wind. Watering is especially important for evergreens such as pines, yews and rhododendrons. As long as the soil isn't frozen and evergreens are not getting at least one inch of water every two weeks through rainfall, than they should be watered.

(Editor's note: Guess we'll be having a wet one this winter!)

Happy Fall!

"Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking forward to Spring." - Anonymous

- Markie Karl, President