Master Gardener Catherine Murphy reports on Monarch Butterflies in downtown Chicago:

Just wanted to let you all know that there are a zillion monarch butterfly chrysalis on State Street downtown! They are at State and Lake in the little garden in front of that TV station. If you look on the palm that looks like a purple yucca you can see a lot of little green chysali.Then once you see them you can see a whole lot more. There are some clinging to the grasses too - with a lot of spent chyrsali also and probably some newly emerged monarchs. We just came back from there and saw 3-4 newly emerged monarchs and some caterpillars along with the chrysali. When they first emerge they have to stretch and rest so you can get a great view of our usually restless friends. I cut some leaves yesterday that were close to the walkway for my kids in After School Matters class and to protect them from little interested plucking fingers but the ones on the street side are still there. I found one chyrsalis on a very short stem lying on the ground. I took that home and suspended the stick on the neck of a syrup jar (as the stick was so short and it was the only way to suspend the chysalis) and this morning we had a monarch stuck in the bottom of a jar! Jan cut the top of the jar though and now he is warming his wings on the curry plant in on our back porch - he'll fly tonight. The chrysalis turn dark before they open and they like to emerge in the morning and the evening. I hope everyone can get a chance to see them.

1. New Posters from the IDNR Division of Education

Habitats are Homes and Illinois' Threatened and Endangered Species are the latest additions to the flora and fauna poster series from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Division of Education. Each 24" x 36" poster is two-sided. The front of the Habitats are Homes poster depicts animals found in the four main habitats in the state. The back side provides information about the value of wildlife habitat, how habitats change, what you can do to enhance/develop/maintain wildlife habitat, resources to access and grant programs available. Thirty species currently listed as endangered in Illinois are depicted on the Illinois' Threatened and Endangered Species poster. Information about these species is provided along with why species are listed as endangered or threatened, what students and the general public can do to help endangered/threatened species and more. These posters were made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund. To order, visit the online order form at http://www.idnrteachkids.com.

2. Teachers and Students: Help Us Learn About Spiders in Illinois

Join teachers and students from throughout Illinois as they take to the outdoors (and indoors) to collect data about spiders! A cooperative project between the IDNR Division of Education, Northwestern University, the Field Museum and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the IDNR Illinois Biodiversity Spider Study will be conducted through Northwestern University's online Collaboratory Project.

Teachers and their students will learn about spiders in the state and undertake a year-long data collection study about two species commonly found in and around schools. All information is accessed through and posted to the Collaboratory Project. Scientists from the IDNR will monitor data collections and utilize the results in their research. There is no cost to participate, and classes will be able to communicate with students/teachers at other schools to compare results and discuss their experiences.

Teachers who participate in the workshop will be able to share experiences and best practices. Fifteen Continuing Professional Development Units are available as well. To enroll in the IDNR Illinois Biodiversity Spider Study, interested teachers should email the following information to Valerie Keener at valerie.keener@illinois.gov: your name; school email address; school name; school city; school phone number; and the grade(s) that you teach.

3. Illinois' Insects and Spiders Resources Trunks Now Available for Loan

Students are fascinated by insects and spiders. Help them learn more about these creatures by borrowing one of the new Illinois' Insects and Spiders resources trunks produced by the IDNR Division of Education. Each trunk contains books, field guides, equipment, posters, CD-ROMs, life cycle models, observation containers and much more. There's also an Illinois-specific "Crime-Solving Insects" forensic activity. Targeted to grades K-6, the trunks can be borrowed from 30 locations throughout Illinois. For a list of lending locations, visit http://dnr.state.il.us then click on the "Education" button in the right side bar. On the next page, select the link to "Items for Loan."

Registrations for Fall Courses are open and Horticulture and Design courses are available for you!

The University of Illinois has started a new degree completion program in Horticulture in the Chicagoland market.

Starting just a year ago, Greg Pierceall, a Professor of Landscape Architecture, joined the University of Illinois faculty to assist in launching this new degree completion program.

The program is housed in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES). The Chicago area teaching facilities are in Oakbrook, Illinois, with academic partners at the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Morton Arboretum.

Interested individuals can sign up for classes now, for personal and professional development or as a degree-seeking individual.

The program is based on building the pathway from a community or junior college, to a four year degree in Horticulture. Graduate course credits are also available, should you have an undergraduate degree already.

The program is designed for interested and place-bound persons wanting a four year degree, without going to Urbana, the main campus to complete this effort.

Fall courses to be offered are Landscape Design, meeting Thursday nights in Oakbrook; Woody Landscape Plants, meeting Tuesday nights at the Morton Arboretum; and Herbaceous Plant materials meeting Monday nights in Oakbrook. Courses start the week of August 20, 2007.

For more information about the program visit http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/Dynamic.aspx?PageId=145 or to register please visit www.outreach.uiuc.edu. Interested students may also contact Piper Hodson, NRES Student Services Coordinator at 217-244-5761 or phodson@uiuc.edu or Heather Miller, Outreach Program Coordinator, at hmiller1@uiuc.edu or 217-265-6568.

Have you heard about the cow pots that are made from composted cow manure. I was watching the Larry King Show yesterday and they had a gentleman on who hosts a Discovery Channel show called "Dirty Jobs". One of the jobs featured on the show was the story about the two brothers who are dairy farmers in Connecticut and came up with the idea of making the biodegradable pots to start seedlings in from their cow poo.

Need to have a plant problem diagnosed? The University of Illinois Plant Clinic at Urbana is now open for the 32^nd year to diagnose field crop and horticultural plant problems.

The Plant Clinic, open through September 15, specializes in identifying disease problems, nematodes, insects and insect injury, and weeds. Chemical residue testing is not available.

The lab can culture plant parts to test for fungal and bacterial pathogens. Depending upon the organism, this may take anywhere from 24 hours to 10 days. The Plant Clinic offers nematode assays on roots and soil.

Insect and weed identification is a fairly quick process so the turnaround time is normally short. Herbicide injury diagnoses are based on samples, symptoms, and the facts presented. The Plant Clinic is not equipped to assay soil or plants for chemical residues.

The Plant Clinic web site, plantclinic.cropsci.uiuc.edu, provides information on how to submit a sample, sample fees, sample forms (to accompany samples), clinic services, and links to other sites. Responses and how to manage the problem will be returned to clients by US mail and electronically. Most standard testing is $12.50 per sample. Specialty tests require more time and equipment, and thus the charge is higher. Payment must accompany the sample.

The clinic can also diagnose and monitor sudden oak death, soybean rust, legume viruses, Emerald ash borer, giant hogweed, and other plant pathogens and pests that might be exotic invasive concerns in Illinois.

The mailing address is Plant Clinic, 1401 West St. Mary's Road, Urbana, IL 61802. The phone number is 815-333-0519. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 Noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m..

For more information contact theUniversity of IllinoisExtension office at (773) 233-0476.

Tomatoes are a mainstay crop for gardeners in Illinois. The dry, warm June weather was nearly ideal for plant growth and good, clean foliage development, as well as early fruit set. Fortunately diseases, and to an extent insect problems, have been slow to occur under these conditions in most home gardens in central and southern Illinois. However recent periods of rainfall, heat and high humidity have the potential to increase incidence of disease and insect problems, and gardeners should keep a close eye on tomato plants.

Tomatoes can be very productive, and depending on the variety, expect to harvest 10 or more pounds of fruit per plant. To maintain production through the entire season, it is important to maintain good fertility, even soil moisture, and keep the leaves on the plant using good disease and insect control practices. Leaf retention is especially important, as leaves keep tomato fruit nourished and growing, and they also help shade the fruit from direct sun and protect from sunburning.

Plants should be sidedressed with nitrogen containing fertilizer after the first fruit are set. Apply 2 to 3 tablespoons of a general purpose fertilizer such as 10-10-10 per plant when fruit are golf ball size. Make at least two more additional applications at 3 to 4 week intervals to keep late season varieties productive into the fall. Soluble fertilizers such as Miracle Gro™ are a good alternative to dry fertilizers, and they have the added advantage of foliar uptake. Avoid over-fertilizing, which causes large plants with many leaves, and suppresses flower formation and fruit set. Over-fertilized plants also tend to have a higher percentage of blossom end rot, a common tomato disorder related to poor calcium uptake in the fruit. Excess leaves tend to trap calcium, creating a shortage in the fruit. This causes a collapse of cell walls and rot at the bottom of the tomato. Tendency for blossom end rot is variety related, and also seasonal, with the earliest fruit usually exhibiting this problem. Foliar calcium sprays can help reduce blossom end rot, but should be directed toward young, green fruit where it can be absorbed directly. Calcium sprays directed at foliage have no effect on this disorder.

Maintaining adequate soil moisture during the summer is also important. Tomatoes prefer even moisture, and fluctuations between dry and wet conditions should be avoided. Mulching is a useful cultural tool to keep soils moist between rain showers and watering. Steady soil moisture also helps to decrease the incidence of blossom end rot, allowing more even uptake and translocation of calcium into developing fruit.

Lastly, insects and foliar disease should be managed to retain leaves. Insects such as tomato hornworm, Colorado potato beetle, aphids, whiteflies and mites should be monitored and controlled before they damage leaves. Apply appropriate insecticides when these insects are present.

Warm, dry weather helps to reduce disease on tomato foliage, while rainy and humid weather create ideal conditions for fungal blight infection. Most commonly, early blight and septoria spot are the first diseases to appear on tomatoes. Both of these fungal blights begin on the lower leaves of the plant, where spores have been splashed from the soil onto the plant from rainfall. Secondary infection spreads to other leaves from infected lower leaves

These foliar blights require immediate attention, or they will gradually progress upward on the plant, defoliating it by the end of the season. Early infections should be monitored, and spotted lower leaves removed from the plants and buried or composted. Fungicide sprays are effective at preventing initial infections and slowing the spread when the disease sets in. Several materials are available in home garden centers. Look for those which contain chlorothalonil, mancozeb or other fungicides labeled for tomatoes. Alternating fungicide products helps to reduce resistance build-up by the fungus. Product directions should be followed carefully, and applications made on a regular basis (every 7 to 14 days, weather dependent) through the remainder of the growing season. Fungicides are particularly effective when applied prior to a rain event. Mulches may also slow initial infection by preventing soil splashing, however spores can be blown in from outside locations, such as a neighbors poorly tended garden, resulting in infection anywhere on the plant. Bacterial infection can also be a problem on tomatoes, and diseases such as bacterial spot or speck on the fruit and leaves can be suppressed by regular use of copper containing materials.

If you find that diseases overwhelm your plants even with fungicide applications, try varieties that are known to have some resistance to these blights. Many varieties in the home garden trade are older types, sold mostly because of name recognition and known fruit quality. However many of these varieties have limited disease resistance compared to newer varieties. The 'Mountain' variety series ('Mtn. Fresh', 'Spring') are examples of tomatoes known for their blight tolerance, and are a favorite of commercial tomato growers.

Controlling diseases and insects, as well as maintaining adequate fertility and moisture will help ensure a successful tomato growing season. For more information on tomato and other vegetable crop growing, check out the University of Illinois publication "Vegetable Gardening in the Midwest", available from your local county Extension office or visit the U of I Extension website "Watch your Garden Grow" at: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/.

Source: Anthony Bratsch, Extension Educator, Horticulture, bratsch@uiuc.edu