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Chicago Master Gardener

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

May 31, 2008

2008 MG Conference Registration Online

Registration details for the 2008 Master Gardener conference in Lombard, Sept 11-13 at the Westin Hotel are up on the Illinois Master Gardener Web site at www.extension.uiuc.edu/mg/. Please help us promote this conference as we have great tours, great speakers and a great location!

Early Bird Registration opens for Master Gardeners and one adult guest on June 15th.

On August 1, the registration fee increases for Master Gardeners- so please register early.

On August 1, we will also open the registration up to the public. We are preparing a flier to send out to the public to promote the conference in late July. However, we hope that before that date that we will have the conference filled with Master Gardeners.

Conference registration will be online again this year. Volunteers without computer access should contact their Master Gardener coordinator to register in their office. We prefer credit cards but will accept a check (should be mailed within 7 days of registration).

Posted by Ron Wolford at 3:28 PM | Permalink |

May 21, 2008

Master Gardener Photo Contest

Now is the time to start snapping pictures for the Illinois State Master Gardener Conference for 2008. From flowers to vegetables, from deer to wasps, Master Gardener projects and great garden spots in Illinois, find the category that best fits your image and submit it today!

There are four Categories of entries in the contest:

Plants: Images should include plants.

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

Master Gardeners at work: Images should include Master Gardener(s) or a product of their work.

Illinois Public Gardens: Images should display a shot of any Illinois public garden or natural area.

Master Gardeners can submit one image per category. Only one image per entrant will be selected to win. Only amateur photographers are allowed to enter. The original photographer must submit the entry. No panoramic images allowed. Images should be in their natural color. If individuals are close enough to recognize in a photo, then a photo release form must be submitted with the entry and include the signature from the subject.

All entries must be submitted electronically via e-mail to sarahnav@uiuc.edu before August 21, 2008. Images must be submitted as an email attachment in jpeg format. The name of the photo must include, the Entrant's Name, Master Gardener County, and the Category of Entry (Plants, Wildlife, MGAW, IPG). Example: "John Photographer, Smith County, Plants.jpg". Mail only one image per e-mail and the subject line must state "Master Gardener Digital Image Contest." Entries not adhering to the above guidelines will not be considered. It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to make sure the image is received. The Master Gardener Digital Image Committee is not responsible for computer errors.

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 be developed into a calendar. By submitting an entry you give permission for the digital image to be used for display, in a University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Calendar, and in a slide show at the Illinois State Master Gardener Convention.

Posted by Ron Wolford at 6:02 AM | Permalink |

May 20, 2008

2008 MG Conference Hotel Registration and Silent Auction

Planning is in full swing for conference 2008 to be held Sept 11-13 at the Westin in Lombard. We have a great line-up of speakers and tours. The conference website is up and running at (www.extension.uiuc.edu/mg/conference%202008.htm

Hotel:

Hotel registration is open and may be done by phone at 888-627-9031 or online at the conference website. We were very fortunate to secure a room rate of $109- such a deal for a spectacular new Westin! Please book a room early as the rate only holds till August 20. We MUST fill our room block in order to keep our conference registration rates low.

Silent Auction:

We are in need of donations for the 5th annual silent auction. We would suggest items such as plant material, garden tools, artwork, jewelry, garden sculpture, garden gifts, books, birdhouses etc. Use your imagination! The committee would prefer items rather than gift certificates. These items may either be sent to the DuPage county office or brought directly to the conference in Lombard. However, please contact the DuPage county office at 630-955-1123 and let them know what you are donating. We are requesting that you include the name of the donor, your county and an estimated value with your donation.

Registration:

Registration will open on June 15th for Master Gardeners. All registrations will be done online this year.

Posted by Ron Wolford at 8:28 PM | Permalink |

May 19, 2008

Tulip Lifting Volunteers Needed in Oak Park

The Oak Park District needs volunteers to lift tulip bulbs in Oak Park.

Please call 708-725-2460 to volunteer.

TULIPS FOR SALE!

Stop by the Oak Park Conservatory and purchase tulip bulbs pulled by volunteers from the Oak Park parks.

$2 per Dozen; $4 per bag (2 Dozen Tulips)

Between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday

615 Garfield Street, Oak Park, IL 60304

T 708-725-2460

The Oak Park Conservatory is located between Oak Park Avenue and East Avenue

on Garfield Street on the south side of the Eisenhower.

Posted by Ron Wolford at 10:33 PM | Permalink |

May 19, 2008

Invitation to Master Gardener Graduation

Master Gardeners,
Our Master Gardener Class of 2007 will be graduating on Tuesday, May 27. If you want to come and add your congratulations, let me know. We want to have enough cake for everyone!

RSVP - Elizabeth ebruhns@sbcglobal.net

Thank you.

Nancy Kreith
Extension Program Coordinator
University of Illinois Extension
3807 W. 111th Street
Chicago, IL. 60655
office: 773.233.0476
fax: 773.233.0910
cell: 708.567.6101
url: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/

Posted by Ron Wolford at 10:13 PM | Permalink |

May 19, 2008

Volunteer for 2008 Illinois Master Gardener Conference

2008 Illinois Master Gardener Conference
"Pathways to a Greener Illinois"
Sept 11-13

Westin Hotel

Directions to Hotel

Lombard Illinois

Join us at the 2008 Illinois Master Gardener Conference for a fun-filled experience and meet other Illinois Master Gardeners. This year's conference will focus on "greening"- looking at ways to conserve resources and garden in an environmentally friendly manner.

Mary Horek, DuPage County Horticulture Assistant is recruiting Master Gardeners for a wide assortment of volunteer opportunities during the conference. Please email her the completed volunteer form or mail it to the University of Illinois Extension, Dupage Office at 1100 E. Warrenville Rd., Suite 170, Naperville, IL 60563. Mary would like to receive these forms by May 28, 2008. Of course if anyone has any questions don't hesitate to drop Mary an email or give her a call.

Illinois Master Gardener Conference Volunteer Form

Mary Horek-Assistant-Horticulture
University of Illinois Extension - DuPage
1100 E. Warrenville Rd., Suite 170, Naperville, IL 60563
(630)955-1123

mhorek@illinois.edu

Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:19 PM | Permalink |

May 19, 2008

Master Gardener Graduation Celebration

CONGRATULATIONS to the CLASS OF 2007, and to those very patient Greenwood students from the FALL 2006 on successfully completing your Master Gardener Internship!!!

You graduation, badges, certificates and all, is scheduled for:

6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 27

Community Room

Garfield Park Conservatory

Here is the schedule:

6:30 p.m. - Pot luck dinner

7:00 p.m. - Speaker, Elizabeth Bruhns

7:15 p.m. - Presentation of certificates and badges

(Please be prepared to spend one minute telling about your personal Master Gardener Intern experience)

University of Illinois Extension will be treating us to desert so we need an accurate count. Please let us know if you will be attending and if you are bringing a guest(s).

Please RSVP by Friday, May 23 to Elizabeth at ebruhns@sbcglobal.net.

Posted by Ron Wolford at 5:15 AM | Permalink |

May 19, 2008

Cook County Farm Bureau Soil Testing

The Cook County Farm Bureau does NOT accept soil samples for testing at the Countryside location. They do offer a service where people can purchase prepaid bags to ship their soil to an off-site laboratory. The test results are shared with Extension offices.

The Cook County Farm Bureau has recently had a few people bring in or mail in soil samples to be tested - resulting in disappointed and confused clients. This also puts Farm Bureau in an awkward situation.

Please refer to the attached brochure explaining their program.

Cook County Farm Bureau Soil Testing Brochure

Nancy Kreith

Extension Program Coordinator

University of Illinois Extension

3807 W. 111th Street

Chicago, IL. 60655

office: 773.233.0476

fax: 773.233.0910

cell: 708.567.6101

url: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/

Posted by Ron Wolford at 4:00 AM | Permalink |

May 18, 2008

Design Help Needed at Schurz High School

Hello Master Gardeners,

We received an interesting request below. This could be an opportunity for you to test your plant palette and design skills. Please consider acting as a design consultant for the school below. The Biology and Botany students will be involved. Schurz High School also has Earthboxes and is a part of The Growing Connection. I would love to link up one or two north-siders with Eloise. Let me know if you have questions.

Please contact Eloise directly if interested: school phone (773) 534-3420 .Email: <eroche@ameritech.net>

Dear Nancy and Master Gardeners,

We are interested in designing a landscape for Carl Schurz High school campus, located at 3601 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641. Our engineer is very interested in our campus having an attractive presentation. We would like to accomplish this endeavor before June 1st, if possible. I am available to meet Monday thru Friday between 6 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Our Botany and Biology students will be doing the preparation and planting. All we need is some assistance with the design of plans. Our school phone number is 773-534-3420. If you call the school, you need to tell them immediately that you are calling for me about our landscaping project. If I am in class, you can leave your name and phone number please. I will return your call. !

Thank you!

Eloise Roche

Science Teacher

Nancy Kreith

Extension Program Coordinator

University of Illinois Extension

3807 W. 111th Street

Chicago, IL. 60655

office: 773.233.0476

fax: 773.233.0910

cell: 708.567.6101

url: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/

Posted by Ron Wolford at 6:25 AM | Permalink |