Master Gardener Bulb Exchange and Meeting–Thursday, November 3, 5:30 pm, Extension Office–bring your bulbs to share if you have any! And if you don't, come anyway!

Heirloom Gardening Program on Thursday, October 27

Doreen Howard will be the special speaker at this program that will be held at the Freeport Public Library. The program begins at 7:00 pm and will feature a slide show of Doreen's photos of Heirloom plants and vegetables. Doreen captivates audiences with her tales of growing the not so ordinary in her own garden, and inspires others to do the same. She is a former gardening editor for Women's Day, and currently is the editor of several special interest publications, including container Gardening 2006 and Easy Care Landscaping 2006. She is a contributing editor at Mother Earth News. Please join us for this program, will will count as continuing education hours for Master Gardeners.

Bee Workshop, Tuesday, October 25

If you have an interest in Bees, Wasps, Pollination and Pesticides, you won't want to miss this workshop being offered free to Master Gardeners. Stu Jacobson, Research Specialist from U of I-Springfield will bring his hive and gear for participants. Topics will include pollination, effects of pesticides, identification of stinging insects and information on honeybees and native bees biology. The workshop will run from 9:00 am–2:30 pm at Oakdale nature Preserve with lunch provided by Extension. Please call the Extension Office to reserve a seat.

Upcoming Master Gardener Training

Master Gardener Training for 2006 will be held in Dixon . Classes will be held on Fridays and begin on January 27, 2006. Cost of the class is $125.00 for the printed materials. There are plenty of seats available, and we will continue to interview through the end of December, so please pass the word to all your fellow gardeners. Dixon is not too bad of a drive, especially if you car pool. There is also an on-line option which begins January 16 and costs $250. This program has not yet been done by anyone in this county, but this might be the year.

According to Monica David, State Master Gardener Coordinator, you can sit in on classes as a refresher for no cost. Space availability needs to be determined first. If you are interested in brushing up on one or more topics, please contact Margaret Larson at 235-4125.

Autumn Joys a Success

Autumn Joys was held at the Freeport Public Library on Saturday, October 1. The 1/2 day workshop was a success, receiving many positive comments from participants. The Silent Auction earned a total of $265 to support the Master Gardener Program in Stephenson County.

Sessions were presented by Helen Barrett, Pam Rosmann, Patrick Kennedy, Mary Schieder, and Ron Welling, as well as Brian Lang from the Blackhawk Orchid Society. Jenny Pivot did Kidzjoys, a program for K-5th graders (we had 6!). Silent Auction items were donated by Jan Taylor, Brian Lang, Jerrie Lott, Paula Bennehoff, Jenny Pivot, Master Food Preserver Barb Curry, and Mr. Lee Butler.

A special thanks to Paula Bennehoff for coordinating the event.

2005 Service Records Forms

Please complete the enclosed Service Record Form and return it to the Extension Office, if you have not already done so. They are due in the State Office by January 31, 2006. A report on Master Gardener volunteer hours will be sent out after that date.

Pond Management Seminar

Have problems with weeds in your pond this year? Want to know how to stock a pond for great fishing? Don't wait to think about taking care of your pond until mid summer, when it's too late! A pond management telenet seminar will be held on November 9 which will give you plenty of time to prepare for managing your pond in 2006.

The program will be held from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau, 210 W. Spring Street, Freeport. Stephenson County Soil and Water Conservation District and the University of Illinois Extension will co-sponsor the telenet, which will be offered via the U of I teleconferencing system.

Topics to be covered by U of I Extension Educators in Natural Resources Management will include managing aquatic vegetation, fish management, and basic pond ecology. Handouts will be provided, and time will be allowed for questions. The cost of the seminar is $5.00, which will cover the cost of materials.

Joys of Gardening, Saturday, February 25, 2006

Mark your calendars for this event. Planning will begin at the next meeting. Carol Pinter has agreed to once again take the lead in the coordination of this event. We need suggestions for speakers, door prizes and silent auction items, as well as many volunteers to make Joys a success once again.