What a wonderful evening! It was so impressive to hear about all of the volunteer work you have done for the University of Illinois Extension while making Chicago a more beautiful place. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you for being such good sports about the mistake on the certificates. We are correcting the error as I write. The corrected certificates will be in the mail by 4:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.

Elizabeth

ebruhns@uiuc.edu

Comments: rwolford@uiuc.edu

I was on the WGN radio web site checking out the latest happenings on Mike Nowak's Let's Talk Gardening Show and on his latest show he mentioned a book he received, The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Hershberger, published by Houghton Mifflin Company. The book has great photos of common species of crickets, katydids, locusts and cicadas and a CD of their chips, clicks, trills, rattles and buzzes.

The authors also have a new web site: Songs of Insects which has a section with the sounds of 77 species of insects

Thursday, June 28

7:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.


7:45 a.m. - Depart Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 North Central Park, Chicago (Check-in 7:30am)

8:00 a.m. - Pickup Blockbuster Video, North Parking Lot, 109 South Harlem, Forest Park (Check-in 7:45 a.m.)

Experience the beauty of the 15-acre Rotary Botanical Gardens located in Janesville, Wisconsin

Tour the gardens with a horticultural expert and view the internationally themed botanical garden

Stroll through the French Garden, English Garden, Japanese Garden and Brazilian Garden

Rotary Gardens was selected as one of the sites of Ball Seed Trial Gardens for 2007

The Rotary mission of international peace and friendship permeates the garden

Stop at the unique gift shop and visitor's center

Explore the magical Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois on your own

Admire this impeccably landscaped and authentic Japanese style garden consisting of lagoons, an impressive waterfall and re-creations of traditional Japanese buildings

Anderson Gardens has been rated the #1 Japanese garden in North America

Stop at the Rock Valley Greenhouse & Garden Center for a chance to stock up on your favorite hard to carry garden supplies & plants (Don't forget . . . there's plenty of room in the luggage compartment of your motorcoach!)

Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a camera. This tour will be held rain or shine.

TOUR COST: $54/person (without lunch, add $14 for each box lunch) Minimum of 40 persons necessary.

Optional box lunch may be pre-ordered at additional cost of $14/lunch

Choose from Turkey Club or Roast Eggplant Sandwich; all lunches include veggies/dip, side salad, cookie, bottled water

Insufficient registrations will result in cancellation of tour. Reservations are not refundable, but are transferable to another person. June 18 is registration deadline.

Tour price: includes: Deluxe motorcoach transportation, guided tours and admission fees, City Ventures escorts, light refreshments on motorcoach,all tips and gratuities.

This tour was arranged for the Master Gardeners of Chicago by City Ventures, 708-386-5668 .

RESERVATION FORM-ROTARY GARDEN/ANDERSON JAPANESE GARDEN TOUR

Name(s)__________________________________________Phone_____________

Address__________________________________ City________________________ Zip Code_________________

_____ No. Tickets @$54/person _____ # Box Lunches@$14/lunch ______Club ______Eggplant _______Amount Enclosed

Pickup location: _______Garfield Park Conservatory ________Blockbuster Video, Forest Park


Please make checks payable to City Ventures Inc. and mail along with reservation form to:

City Ventures, Inc... 830 Belleforte Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

For additional reservations, please attach separate sheet.

For information, call City Ventures, 708-386-5668

OPTIONAL BOX LUNCH AT ROTARY GARDEN: CHOICE OF:

TURKEY CLUB -A triple decker club on toasted fresh bread with turkey, tomato, bacon, and lettuce

ROASTED EGGPLANT SANDWICH – Chilled roast eggplant mixed with humus and sesame seed. Served with mozzarella cheese and grilled peppers on sun-dried tomato focaccia bread

All lunches come with veggies and dip, chef's choice of salad, a cookie, and a bottled water.

Lunch Price: $14.00

BOX LUNCH MUST BE PRE-ORDERED AND PAID FOR AT TIME OF TOUR REGISTRATION

Have you always enjoyed taking photographs of your garden creations? Do you like to take pictures of your prized flowers, fruits or vegetables? If so, here is your chance to showcase your gardening talents through photography. Get your cameras clicking and enter the "Master Gardener Digital Image Contest" for the Illinois State Master Gardener Conference for 2007.

There are Four Categories of entries in the contest:

Plants: Images should include plants.

People: Images should include human subjects in a garden or natural setting. If the individuals are close enough to recognize, then a photo release form must be submitted with the entry and include the signature from the subject.

Wildlife: Images should include wildlife such as insects, mammals, reptiles, etc.

Before & After: Images should display a before shot and after shot of any garden or natural area.

Master Gardeners can submit one image per category and only one image per entrant will be selected to win.

All entries must be submitted electronically via e-mail to kbassett@uiuc.edu between May 23, 2007 and August 23, 2007.

Only one image per e-mail and the subject line must state "Master Gardener Digital Image Contest." Images must be submitted in jpeg format and should be 1200 x 800 pixels. No panoramic images. They should be in natural color.

Each image should be named as the Entrant's Name, Master Gardener County, and the Category of Entry.

Example: "John C. Photographer, Smith County, Plants."

Entries will be judged prior to the Illinois State Master Gardener Convention by a panel of three judges. The top entry in each category will receive $25.All entries will be displayed in a slide show at the Master Gardener Convention.

The top 12 entries will also be developed into a calendar. Complete details will followin the Illinois State Master Gardener Conference registration information.

And, would your county like to brag about what project/s you have been doing in 2006-07? Compile a 1-page display in Word Publisher, using digital photos and brief text. Details will be included with the State Master Gardener conference information. Think big! You can use this flier for your local PR, as well. (Chicago Master Gardeners with independent projects - collecting this type of data is something we will be working on during the month of June and July, eb)

The Ecology Club of the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences is hosting a plant sale. Details below:

Where: Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences - 3857 W. 111th Street (in the greenhouse)

When: Saturday, May 19, 2007

Time: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

What: A variety of tropicals and bedding plants

Master Gardeners I need your help documenting the upcoming cicada emergence for my Chicago Cicada Central Blog .

Please email me pictures of any emerging cicadas with a notation about where ex-under maple tree in backyard. Note your address, city, time and date.

Also email me any other pictures like large numbers of cicadas on trees and plants, close-ups of emerging adults or anything else you find interesting. With your permission I will put some of the pictures up on the Cicada blog.

My email address is rwolford@uiuc.edu.

Active Master Gardeners need to do one Plant Clinic session each year to remain an "active MG". 2007 Interns need to complete two sessions to graduate.

Plant Clinic obligations may be fulfilled at Garfield Park Conservatory on weekends, at the Ag School Extension Help Desk during the week and at "Ask a Master Gardener" tables at fairs and Farmers' Markets.

Here are the open dates for this summer at Garfield Park Conservatory. Check your calendars and email:

Jackie Paine at msjlpaine@aol.com

Here are the open dates:

June: 2, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30

July: 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29

August: 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

Name:

1st Choice Date:

2nd Choice Date:

Telephone #:

Please don't try to wait until December to complete your Plant Clinic requirements.

Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail (FBT) is a grassroots organization advocating for the conversion of the unused Bloomingdale freight railroad into a multi-use, elevated linear park. Over the next several years, FBT will actively fundraise, communicate and organize communities in support of this dynamic project. Working closely with our Executive Committee, this new staff person will enable our organizational growth in collaboration with our partners including the City of Chicago, Trust for Public Land and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. As FBT's first paid staff, this position will consist of various administrative responsibilities including the establishment of a new office presence at the Center for Neighborhood Technology.

Part-time/hourly pay with no benefits
June 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007 (6 months)

Check out the listing, and please forward it on to anyone you know who may be interested. We're looking for top-notch candidates to fill this position. It's an exciting time to be a part of the Bloomingdale Trail project, please join us!

Look Up! It's the Bloomingdale Trail!
Paul Smith
Co-founder, Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail

The City of Chicago announces the 2007 Rain Garden for Homeowner's Program.

Help keep Chicago clean and green! This summer Chicago residents have an opportunity to learn how to create a rain garden and to receive rain garden plants at significantly discounted prices through a pilot Rain Garden Assistance Program, supported by the Chicago Department of Environment, Department of Water Management and the Rain Garden Network.

Workshop Sessions are July 7 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and plants will be distributed July 28 or 31.

Presenters: Sue Cubberly, Rain Garden Network; and Greencorps Chicago staff

Location: Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 North Sacramento Blvd

This workshop series is FREE and the rain garden plants will sell for $1 each. The number of plants will be determined according to size of each applicant's garden plot.

At least one person from your site must attend Sessions 1 and 2 (Maximum of 3 attendees per garden).

How To Apply

Application Requirements:

1. Complete Rain Garden Assistance Program Application
2. Must be a City of Chicago resident and site location
3. Proposed garden dimensions must be a minimum of 15 square feet and maximum 500 square feet
4. Include site sketch and a photo of your proposed site for review by horticulture and design professionals.

Application Deadline: May 31, 2007

Valid applications will be reviewed for consideration in the 2007 pilot program.

Applications received after 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 31 will not be considered.

Applicants will be informed of their acceptance by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, June 14, 2007.

Return via mail, email, or fax to:
Chicago Center for Green Technology
Attn: Katie Rehrauer
445 N. Sacramento Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60612
[Fax] 312-746-9192 or [Email] greentech@cityofchicago.org

Master Gardener Buddies!

Garden Club of Oak Park & River Forest's Flower Show is June 1, 2 and 3rd! We will have classes for all your spring garden plants (Iris, Peony, Hosta, etc.!!) and potted houseplants! (Show is at Oak Park Conservatory: contact Bob Haisman for directions)

Just snip a bloom or a few good leaves, grab your prized potted house plants and head for the Oak Park Conservatory Friday (June 1) evening or Saturday (June 2) morning (before 9 a.m.) to enter!

We will help you enter! All gardeners are welcome to show your -- plants! We will help you enter you need not be an expert!!

Unclear with the concept? Confused? Questions!? Call Bob Haisman (or better yet e-mail him - gardenoprf@sbcglobal.net) 708 - 383 -2035!

Want to do a Floral Design for the show? Contact Cherie Fedota -- ASAP -- for details! CZambini@aol.com

Photography? Will be entered next weekend and judged early! Want to enter!!?? Contact Cherie Fedota (above) or Debbie Preiser at dpreiser@oppl.org

Bob Haisman: 708 - 383-2035

When: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 19

Where: Eckhart Park, 1350 West Chicago Avenue

Meet in front of the Field House at 11:00 a.m. or just arrive and look for volunteers.

Activity: Good old gardening stuff, planting, weeding, watering and preparing new space.

Contact: Susan Goss

susan@westtowntavern.com

We will be doing a variety of programming at Dixon Elementary next week. We will work in the garden and greenhouse, plant some EarthBoxes, show off the insect petting zoo and harvest worm castings. If you would like to assist please contact Nancy Kreith at 773-233-0476 or by email at nkreith@gmail.com. Details below:

When: Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Where: Dixon Elementary - 8306 South Saint Lawrence Avenue

What: Gardening Activities with 1st - 5th graders

Time: 10 a.m. – 12 noon

School Contact: Annette Jackson - 773-535-3138

Nancy's cell: 708-567-6101

Thank you.

Nancy Kreith
Extension Program Coordinator
University of Illinois Extension
3807 W. 111th St.
Chicago, IL. 60655
p 773.233.0476
f773.233.0910
c 708.567.6101
Please email me at nkreith@gmail.com

Our May monthly meeting is Graduation for the Class of 2006. Everyone is welcome.

Susan Grupp, Dupage County Horticulture Educator and Master Gardner Coordinator Chairperson for the Northeast Region of Illinois will be on hand to congratulate the graduates.

6:30 p.m.- Dinner

7:00 p.m.- Graduation program

If you will be attending, make your "pot luck" contribution a salad to go with the pizza. Extension is furnishing pizza, soda and cake.

Please RSVP if you will be attending so that we can order the proper amount of food. (We ran out of pizza last year. Not a pretty picture!)

Thanks, we hope to see you there.

Elizabeth

ebruhns@uiuc.edu

The Chicago Tribune is inviting local gardeners to send photographs of their gardens for the 11th annual Glorious Gardens Contest. The judging will be conducted by four judges who will review digital images of the gardens.

I know a lot of our Master Gardeners have spectacular gardens. So take a look at the rules and enter the Glorious Gardens Contest.

Weare having a garden workday at North Kenwood Oakland School. We will be harvesting worm compost, preparing beds, planting herbs, flowers and veggies. We will be working with four classrooms - K - 5th.

When: Wednesday, May 16,2007

Where: North Kenwood Oakland Charter School - 1119 East 46th Street

Time:10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

What: Garden Workday

If interested please contact Nancy Kreith at nkreith@gmail.com or by phone at 773-233-0476.

Emergency numbers:

School phone: 773.536.2399 x2002

Nancy's cell: 708-567-6101

Presented by Midwest Bonsai Society: May 19 -20.

Chicago Botanic Garden

100 Lake Cook Road

Glencoe, IL

For program costs and registration contact:

www.midwestbonsai.org

The weather has warmed up this week and with a dash of rain weeds are popping up in our demo gardens at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. Creeping charlie continues to be our number one weed problem. Two of our perennial beds were carpeted with the weed.

Nancy and I would like to thank Master Gardeners Sandra Taeuber, Ellen Caffery-Garza, Kathy Maskall, Loretta Koperdak and Charlotte Richards who took time out from their busy schedules the last two days to help with the weeding of the demonstration gardens and also answered gardening questions from the general public.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES), in partnership with the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and the Office of Continuing Education (OCE), now offers an innovative bachelor's degree completion program in horticulture for working professionals and community college students in the Chicago area. If you have thought about getting your bachelor's degree in order to advance your career opportunities, or are changing careers and want a second bachelor's degree, this may be the program for you!

Hurry! The window to apply for fall'07 transfer admission is from January 15 to March 1, 2007. (Applications may still be accepted after this date however.) Click here for more information on how to apply electronically or to download a paper application.

Program Contacts:

Northern Illinois - Greg Pierceall, Professor and Program Advisor

630-990-0740 or pierceal@uiuc.edu

Campus Contact:

Piper Hodson, Student Services Coordinator

217-25201360 Ext 45761 or nres@uiuc.edu

Program Web Site: http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/undergraduate/chicagodegree.html

Gloria is a Chicago Master Gardener volunteer at the Lurie Gardens. She has a great blog called Pollinators-Welcome Blog-A Weblog to Record the Development of a Wildlife Friendly Garden at http://pollinators-welcome.blogspot.com/. Check out her latest pictures of the bulbs in the Lurie garden.

Beth Botts who works for the Tribune and is also a Chicago Master Gardener has a blog called The Chicago Gardener at http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/chicago_gardener/.

Check out her blog for a collection of gardening tips for the whole year from the monthly tips that I write for the Tribune.

If any other Master Gardeners have gardening blogs or if you know of a good gardening blog, please email the web site address to me.

Check all the Urban Hort Extension blogs and other hort info at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/urbanhort.html

Ron Wolford

rwolford@uiuc.edu

Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance presents...

Our 3^rd Annual Tulip Bulb Giveaway

Volunteer to assist with bagging the tulip bulbs and be able to take home a personal bag of tulips.

Monday, May 14-Friday, May 18

8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Garfield Park Conservatory

300 N Central Park Ave

Chicago, IL 60624

Tulip Bulb Giveaway

Saturday, May 19

9:00 a.m. until gone

Garfield Park Conservatory

300 N Central Park Ave

Chicago, IL 60624

Bulbs available on a first come, first serve basis.

For more information or to register for volunteering, contact Mike Tomas, 773.638.1766 x14 or Rishona Taylor, 773.638.1766 x17

What: Worm Composting Demo and General Talk on the Master Composter(MC) Program and your experience as a Master Composter.

When: Sunday, June 3, 2007

Time: 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. (Worm demo and talk from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.)

Where: Hyde Park Co-op Market - 1526 East 55th Street This is a part of the Make Mine Raw monthly meeting. They serve all organic food the first hour. You are welcome to come early and enjoy the food free of charge.

If interested please contact Nancy Kreith (contact info below).

Nancy Kreith
Extension Program Coordinator
University of Illinois Extension
3807 W. 111th St.
Chicago, IL. 60655
p 773.233.0476
f773.233.0910
c 708.567.6101
Please email me at nkreith@gmail.com

Hello Master Gardeners,

The University of Illinois Extension 4-H youth educators are hosting a 4-H Fair (5/17) and Community Fair (5/19). We would like to have six Master Gardeners at each event. So we need twelve Master Gardeners total. During each event, our table will host the following activities: worm composting, insect petting zoo and pot-a-plant to bring home. Details below.

If interested please contact Nancy Kreith at nkreith@gmail.com or 773-233-0476.

First Fair:

What: 4-H Fair - Open to students in 4-H, activities listed above.

When: Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Where: Garfield Park Conservatory - 300 North Central Park

Two shifts available (Three MGs at each): 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. or 12 - 3 p.m.

Contact: Nancy Kreith


Second Fair:

What: Community Fair - Activities listed above.

When: Saturday, May 19, 2007 – 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Chicago H.S. for Agricultural Science (outside Extension office) –3807 West.111th Street

Two shifts available (Three MGs at each): 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. or 12 - 3 p.m.

Contact: Nancy Kreith

Hello Master Composters,

The Garfield Park Conservatory (GPC)Compost Series is starting up once again on Saturdays in the demo garden of GPC. We kicked off our first demo at the Green and Growing Fair last Saturday. A special thanks to all that came out and helped: Carol Kolen, Heather Burton, Ruth Melulis and Ella Russell. Thank you!

For the Compost Series, we would like to have two Master Composters for each of the demonstrations. It would be great if you could bring any finished compost or other props for the demos. Harmony Picciuca will be the on site contact and will be able to help you gain necessary materials, i.e: hose, sheers, pruners,green and brown compostables. For on-site assistance please contact Harmony at <hpicciuca@garfieldpark.org> or 773-638-1766 x.24.

Please sign-up with Nancy Kreith at nkreith@gmail.com or call at 773-233-0476. The series is as follows:

Where: Demonstration Garden of GPC

When: One Saturday per month

Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Provided by: University of Illinois Extension Master Composters

Schedule:

April 28 – Green and Growing Fair* - Worm Composting Bins and Compost Basics

Step by step demo on making an indoor worm bin - Scheduled for 12noon - Join us for a free chance to win a working worm bin. Compost Basics all day – bring your fruit and veggie scraps.

May 19 – How to Get Your Bin Started

Do you know the Do's and Don'ts of Composting? Hear the tricks of the trade from the Master Composters.

June 23 – Heating up Your Compost Bin

Learn how to activate your compost pile and build up some heat!

July 21 – Harvesting and Using Compost

Start harvesting that finished compost from spring. Learn how to use your compost as mulch and potting mix. Compost sifting will be demonstrated.

August 18 – Compost Tea Party for You Garden

Join us in the shade for a spot of tea. Compost tea works wonders on your plants and applying it is a cinch. The process of brewing the tea is slightly more complex.

September 15 – County Fair* – Batch Composting

Learn passive composting systems, such as, add- as- you- go, leaf composting and leaving cut grass behind). Compost Basics all day – bring you fruit and veggie scraps.

October 20 – Winterizing Your Compost Bins

Get those bins ready for winter. Harvest your remaining compost and use it after fall clean up. Remember to shred or cut large stems and branches into small pieces.

*Special Event - On-going demonstrations will last 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

We need two Master Gardners to do an ASK A MASTER GARDENER TABLE for some beginning, but enthuastic gardeners. We will load you up with lots of handouts and Extension materials. New Landmark Missionary Baptist Church will provide the tables, chairs and a warm welcome. This is their first gardening event ever. So put on your Master Gardener T-shirts and enjoy the afternoon outside in the sun!

Where: New Landmark M.B. Church, 2700 W. Wilcox Street, Chicago

When: Saturday, May 26, 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.

You will earn credit for one Plant Clinic session for this short term event.

Monday, May 7, 7-8:30 p.m. - Wicker Park Field House, 1425 North Damen
RSVP PLEASE--LIMITED SEATING--$8- wpgarden@aol.com

Good PLANETS Are Hard to Find - 'Garden Variety Environmentalism'
MIKE NOWAK, WGN Radio, Master Gardener, Tree Keeper, MELA http://wgnradio.com/shows/gardening/index.html

Tickets $8 - Register: wpgarden@aol.com or (773) 278-9075

As host of a radio gardening program, Mike has found himself playing a lot of roles in eight years: interviewer, student, skeptic, advocate, teacher, novice, expert, everyman. In his talk, Mike attempts to make some sense of what he's learned and present some practical advice about the role of nature in the urban/suburban world.

He will talk a little bit about a lot of things: the soil, water, bugs, lawns, chemicals, and especially the average gardener's attitude towards them. He will look at where, usually in the name of profits, we've been led down the garden path in the wrong direction, and how we might get back to safety and sanity.

Mike Nowak has been the host of WGN Radio''s "Let''s Talk Gardening" (Sundays at noon on 720 AM) for nine years. He is a Chicago Master Gardener and a graduate of the TreeKeepers Program of the Openlands Project, which teaches people how to care for urban forests. He is a co-founder and past president of MELA, the Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association (www.melaweb.org), which promotes environmentally responsible landscaping and horticultural practices among professionals and the public. Last but not least, he is a writer and award-winning columnist for Chicagoland Gardening Magazine. You can find his sometimes-funny prose and always-funny picture on the inside back page of each issue.