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Chicago Master Gardener

A blog for Chicago Master Gardeners providing information on volunteer opportunities, training, workshops and resources.

October 5, 2006

Illinois Big Tree Workshop

Attention nature lovers and big tree hunters, the "New & Improved" Illinois Big Tree Register and the University of Illinois are hosting a Volunteer Big Tree Inspector Training Workshop on Saturday, November 11, 2006, from 10am to 1pm. This interactive workshop will be held at the Sangamon-Menard Extension Unit Office on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL. Pre-registration is required by November 6, 2006. Cost to attend the workshop is $10. The afternoon portion of the workshop will be held outdoors, therefore proper outdoor attire is recommended.

This exciting workshop is open to all citizens and big tree enthusiasts. Prior experience with the Big Tree program or with tree measurements is not required. Participants will learn the history of the Illinois Big Tree program and how to properly nominate, measure, and certify Illinois Big Tree nominations. All participants will receive hands-on training from members of the Illinois Big Tree technical committee. According to Jay Hayek, coordinator of the Illinois Big Tree Register, "The Illinois Big Tree Register has been around since 1962. Due to its growing popularity, the program has developed a strong need for a volunteer network of citizen Big Tree inspectors to assist us with Big Tree nominations and verification of Big Tree measurements."

To register for the workshop, please contact the Sangamon-Menard Extension Office at (217) 782-4617. If you would like more information on the Illinois Big Tree program, please contact Jay Hayek at (217) 244-0534 or visit the Illinois Big Tree Register website.

Posted by Ron Wolford at 8:31 PM | Permalink |

October 5, 2006

Chicago Master Gardener Honors Night

Master Gardener Monthly Meeting

6:30 p.m., October 24, 2006

Jensen Room, Garfield Park Conservatory.

6:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m. Dinner: we will furnish pizza, please bring a potluck dessert.

7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Honors Night

The growing season for 2006 is coming to an end, so let us take some time to celebrate all that we have accomplished this year!

Here are our Honorees!

Flower and Garden Show Ambassadors: Master Gardener State Team Award Winners!

Master Composters who have completed their internship.

Exceptional Volunteers: 100 hours of service in 2005

200 hours of service in 2005

Special Awards!

Three Master Gardeners who have done exceptional, long term school gardens!

Carol Geittler – Jackie Robinson School

Irene Vitillo – Whittier School

Lynn Hyndman - Dawes School

Gallery of Posters

Community and School Garden posters and other special projects!

Art Piece Unveiling!

Lindsay Obermeyer, Master Gardener and Nationally Exhibited Fabric Artist, has designed an art piece to frame our Plant Clinic window. Don't miss this unveiling!

RSVP TO ebruhns@sbcglobal.net

(Just to help us order the right amount of pizza)

DON'T FORGET TO BRING A DESSERT TO SHARE, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO STOP AT THE JEWEL ON YOUR WAY!

Posted by Ron Wolford at 7:47 PM | Permalink |

October 4, 2006

Honors Meeting Poster Display

Our October 24 Honors Meeting at Garfield Park is shaping up to be an exciting evening.

Please make sure that we all know about your special project and/or community/school garden too. Use the pictures you have been collecting to record your work on a poster for display. Sure, make it pretty, but we are more interested in a record of the project than art work. Poster board is available for as little as 99 cents at discount stores. We don't care what size you use.

You may drop off your poster at the Plant Clinic at Garfield Park on the weekend of October 21-22, and we will put it up for you, or bring it with you on October 24. We will have plenty of tape and other assorted "sticky stuff" and a wall space waiting for you.

Thanks for your help. Let's fill up the walls of the Jensen Room!

Elizabeth Bruhns

Master Gardener Coordinator

Cook County/Chicago

ebruhns@sbcglobal.net

Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:06 AM | Permalink |

October 1, 2006

Creature of the Night Volunteers

Hello Volunteers! I haven't seen so many of you in such a long time- hope everyone is well. I am just getting back from maternity leave (baby girl-Ruby Louise), and am gearing up for the year ahead of us. I have missed the conservatory and all the people who help make it a great place. (Some of you I have not met yet, but hopefully, I will soon.) We are once again celebrating the "falloween" season by hosting snakes, owls, and bats here at the conservatory on Saturday, October 28th from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This event, called "Creatures of the Night", is a fun family event that many of you have participated in in the past. There are lots of great education station and activity positions available, as well as set up and take down opportunities. (Don't worry, the animals come with their own presenters, so none of you will be stuck holding a snake.)

We are also hosting a Creatures of the Night training on Thursday, October 19th, from 6 p.m to 7:30 p.m. Though this training is not mandatory for volunteering on the day of the event, if you can attend, it will help the event run smoother to have a section of volunteers who have a comprehensive picture of the whole event. We will also have a fair amount of preparation, both on the day before the event, Friday October 27th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as the morning of (October 28th) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

PLEASE NOTE: Even if you have already signed up to volunteer for this event, please e-mail me back, and confirm that you can commit to the event, what your volunteer station preference is, if you have one, and if you will be able to attend the training on the 19th.

Day of Event Volunteer Stations/ Positions Available- (You don't need to pick a position, but if you have a preference, let me know- otherwise, I will schedule you where there is a whole):

Early Event Set up Support-(Filling popcorn hands, setting up signs, Xeroxing, etc.)

Welcome/ Greeting Table

Survey and Evaluation Distributor

Activity Station Facilitators:

Secret Scent Trail

Popcorn Hand Snacktivity

Grow-In-the-Dark Necklaces

Face Painting Station

Spider's Dinner Interactive (Spider Web interaction station)

Nectar Cup Activity

Draw-In-the Dark Station

Spider Plant Planting

Children's Garden Bone Yard Station

Interpretation Stations (We will provide information for you to present, and your job will be to give out both interesting information, as well as prizes- you will be stationed next to the animal presenters, but will not be presenting the animals, FYI):

"Explore Your Senses" Table

Snake Fact Station

Cockroach Fact Station

Firefly Facts Station

Jasmine Flower Station

Wolf Howling Station

Story Telling Call and Response Station

Fruit Bat Fact Station

Owl Station

Luna Moth Station

Worm Station

Take Down Support

Robin Cline

rcline@garfieldpark.org

Garfield Park Conservatory

773-638-1766 ext.18

Posted by Ron Wolford at 5:44 PM | Permalink |