A thought for the day: "If winter comes can Spring be far behind." I've been holding that thought all through this cold snap. I've broken out the seed catalogues once again to bask in their colorful pictures and bountiful vegetable gardens and lush flower beds. I've also been looking in some garden books and dreaming about what a Garden of Eden I might achieve in our back yard with the help of an unlimited Lottery win.

And with Spring, comes the Peoria County 4-H and Extension Foundation fund drive. There will be many fun projects that will make this drive a bigger success than last year. The Extension Staff is looking for assistance to put the whole shebang together. Perhaps we should put down our seed catalogues and check with the Extension Staff to learn how we can help "If winter come..." John Armbruster

Well, the New Year is over...now the "sleeve-rolling" begins. The Master Gardener Training is in full swing, plans are being made for each of the respective Projects throughout the County and the work begins on the development of the Four Year Program Plan in Horticulture.

Let me preface this next paragraph with a note of thanks to Nancy and Richard Coon for compiling the "stats" from the 2003 Help-Line. In viewing their compilation, I was truly impressed. During 2003, Master Gardeners responded to a total of 1,151 different Citizens' questions on the Master Gardener Help-Line. Now, that is truly impressive. "Talk about positively impacting the Citizens of Peoria County." These results are going into a survey that will help to determine the focus of our Horticulture programming for the next four years.

The survey will be developed with target audiences being Master Gardeners, Nurseries, and other Commercial Horticulture businesses. The input of the Peoria County Master Gardeners will be crucial to the development of Horticulture programming in Peoria County. So, when I approach with the "Green Sheet," you will know your importance in this process.

Now, by the way, I want to thank Melanie Martin for her "rising to the occasion" and accomplishing the task of editing the new emphasis of the Master Gardener Journal. Thank you, Melanie. You did well.

I continue to anticipate the impact of the Master Gardeners as we endeavor to "put knowledge to work" in Peoria County.

"Because life is too short to miss out on a good book!!!"

Front Yard Gardeners: Growing More Than Grass

By Liz Primeau
Firefly Books, 232 pp., 2003
Hardcover $35.00 " Paperback $24.95

" To beginners, a successful garden usually means flowers, lots of them, blooming non-stop for the entire growing season. Experienced gardeners, however, know that learning how to do this can take a lifetime of trying and then you run out of time. This is just a fact of life, not meant to discourage anyone- as all true gardeners know, it's the journey that's important, not the destination."

Primeau, a Canadian gardener, writer and TV garden personality, has put together a wonderful book about the metamorphosis of the 'front yard' garden. She moves from the suburban dream of velvet-like grass and a few foundation plantings to a garden of flowers alive with color, scents, butterflies, birds and personality. Illustrated with over 90 glorious photos by Andrew Leyerle, we see the wide selection of plants, colors and seasons available to us as we wend our way to a front garden that enhances our home and welcomes our family and friends.

The book starts with two chapters on the history of lawns (grass). The author includes the tremendous industry built up around equipment, pesticides and general lawn care supplies.

There is an interesting section on the monoculture of grass that affects our Ecosystem and has become a way of life for most homeowners in Canada and the United States.

The following eleven chapters start with Primeau's personal epiphany experience upon seeing lavish front yard gardens while she was in Amsterdam. Then the author guides us in our own quest for natural front garden beauty.

She includes garden styles, tips on creating and maintaining the garden, planting suggestions and examples of more than 70 front yard gardens across North America.

This book is a must if you've ever been tempted to liven up a sterile front yard. Primeau handles words well and imbues the book with her passion for gardening. It's a great read for winter.

Reviewed by Terry Finan, Peoria County Master Gardener

More interesting reading...

I ran across an article in a soils book that I found interesting. The book is The Nature and Properties of Soils, thirteenth edition by Nyle C. Brady and Ray R. Weil published by Prentice Hall. It mentions that the percentages that are listed on the fertilizer container like 12-12-12 are percentages but that the P and K are calculated as available P2O5 and soluble K is as K2O. So that the P i .44 X 12% = 5.3% and the K is .83 X 12% = 10% 12-12-12 is really 12-5.3-10.

The article mentions that the more concentrated fertilizers are usually a better buy because of the shipping costs of the inert filler. - Bob Coppernoll (If this spikes any interest, see Bob for the complete article)

• Branches of forsythia and pussy willow can be cut now - placed in warm water and "forced" into blooming for indoor color.
• Tradtional indoor seed starting dates are between St. Valentines Day and St. Patrick's Day - but for some seeds, it is better to wait until April Fools Day.
• Test viability of saved or leftover seeds by placing 10 seeds between two damp paper towels which are then sealed in a clear plastic bag. Keep bag out of direct sunlight. Check daily to see if seeds have sprouted. If less than five sprout, toss out saved seeds. Plant those that have sprouted indoors, in containers, for settling in May.
• If we get a wet, heavy snowfall, gently remove snow from evergreens by tapping branches with a broom or plastic rake.
• Prune apple and crabapple trees for improved circulation and more fruitful production. Last month to safely prune oaks.
• Check garden for heaving around fall planted perennials, trees, or shrubs - also shallow rooted perennials such as coral bells and small or newly planted hostas. Stamp down soil around affected plants.
• If we have some "spring" weather, you can get a head start on spring cleanup...cutting down the perennials you didn't cut down in the fall. Wait on chrysanthemums and lavender until April.
• Late February or early March, apply dormant oil spray to plants that are infected with scale. This would include eunoymous, fruit trees, grapevines, roses, broadleaf evergreens an pachysandra. Temperatures must be above 40 degrees with no possibility of freezing until spray dries.

- By Nancy Crawford