Download Dig It! MASTER GARDENERS Roxie Writes. . . Master Gardener Calendar

MASTER GARDENERS
Dig It!
January—February, 2010
Master Gardener Calendar
January/February 2010 Dig It!
Calendar
January 14
Master Gardener Training Classes
Begin Online
January 15
Master Gardener Training Classes
9:00 am. – 3:30 p.m.
Rock Island County Extension
(see info in newsletter)
January 26; 6:30 p.m.
Master Gardener Monthly Meeting
Rock Island County Extension
Roxie Writes. . .
Happy New Year!!
The Rock Island County Master Gardeners have just finished another year of
giving back to our communities, over 4000 hours!! We have been involved in
various projects throughout our communities and have worked with adults and
children in teaching, programming, presentations, community and school gardens,
etc. We have worked hard to follow the state by-laws for our program and to
fulfill our state motto of “Helping Others Learn to Grow”.
U of IL Extension, Rock Island County Master Gardener training classes begin on
January 15. Upon completion of the classes, passing all exams and completing a
final, each trainee will have finished a very comprehensive education of
approximately 60 hours. Then they become Interns until they have donated 60
hours of volunteer time in the communities – then they will be Certified Master
Gardeners. We welcome them to our group and look forward to working with
them.
January 30
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Mid Winter Hort Workshop
Partnering with Henry-Stark MG’s
First Lutheran Church, Geneseo, IL
Inside is information on the upcoming Nursery School – Lessons in Gardening
sponsored by the RI Co. Master Gardeners. It is a wonderful day of great classes,
fellowship with other gardeners, a chance to get something from a vendor, terrific
lunch, sign ups for free door prizes and so much more. You can sign up online at
www.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland or call Connie at 309-756-9978, Ext. 10 if you
have questions. Deadline to sign up is February 23. Time goes fast, so better sign
up now to ensure the classes you want.
February 9; 6:30 p.m.
Master Gardener Board Meeting
Rock Island County Extension
Have you wondered about forced bulbs, growing and using kale, the pros and cons
of snow, what certain words mean, information about the poinsettia and more –
you will find it in this issue.
February 23; 9:00 a.m.
Master Gardener Monthly Meeting
Rock Island County Extension
At the QCCA Flower and Garden show this year, the Master Gardener garden and
booth will focus on our pollinators and handouts will be on the importance of
taking care of them and what to grow for them as food or as a host plant for some.
Please stop by our booth with any questions you might have – Master Gardeners
will be on hand to answer them. Check the times in the Calendar column.
February 23; 1:00 p.m.
Four Seasons Gardening Telenet
Ferns in the Landscape
Rock Island County Extension
February 25; 7:00 p.m.
Four Seasons of Gardening Telenet Series
Ferns in the Landscape
Since now is the time to plan your garden, please plan some plants, trees, grasses
or shrubs for the pollinators – the quote I leave you with tells you of that
importance. Let me tell you ‘bout the birds and the bees, and a lot of the others:
one out of every three mouthfuls of food we eat is delivered by pollinators. Denise
Cowie
Stay warm –
Roxie
(Continued on back page)
1
Hort Hotline
Excerpt from the Poinsettia Diary
The Hortline has been in a state of hibernation but
there have still been a scattering of calls. After the first
frost hit, a couple of callers were interested in how to keep
geraniums and other annuals over the winter. There are
several ways of trying this: you can pot them and treat
them as house plants, you can allow them to become semidormant by hanging them bare root in a cool dry spot or
you can take cuttings from the plants in the fall and root
them in sterile soil. In the spring, all of the methods
require you to pinch back the tops to encourage thicker
growth.
The dinolite (our digital microscope) once again
proved its value. A client brought in a
container full of “bugs” that she claimed to
have extracted from her skin. She said she
had a terrible rash and even though a
professional had sprayed her house for fleas,
her skin continued to be infested. By
photographing the “bugs,” and having them
analyzed by Phil Nixon, one of the University of Illinois
entomologists, we were able to confirm what her doctor
had already told her. She had a dermatological condition
that made her feel like insects were emerging from her
skin, but there was no infestation.
A few callers were interested in the best time to
do some pruning. Many trees, and all oak trees, should be
pruned during the dormant season to discourage disease.
However trees that flower in early spring should be pruned
after flowering.
We hope that this will be a New Year without
powdery mildew, anthracnose, black spot, galls, creeping
Charlie and rampaging rodents but when that wish doesn’t
come true, the Hortline crew will be ready to help again in
April. Happy New Year everyone-check out those seed
catalogs and think spring.
Submitted by Marilyn Davis
Oct. 1, 2008, 4:55 PM – I am safely tucked in. It is 100%
darkness. I love it. Please don’t open the closet door in the
basement, please, please, please! It will ruin everything!
For the next few months, I’ll be doing this every night. I
have an 8:00 AM wake-up call. My owner is the best. She
knows I need my beauty sleep right now and has made this
cozy little nest for me in the closet under the basement
stairs. She puts on my nightgown (a light-proof bag) and I
snooze away. No one EVER comes in here….let’s hope it
stays that way.
Across the County Line
Once again this year, the Henry-Stark and Rock Island
County Master Gardeners join together to offer the MidWinter Horticulture Workshop on Saturday, January 30th
from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon. This year the event will be at
the First Lutheran Church across from the park on the square
in Geneseo. The address is 114 East Main Street.
Registration is at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast. At
9:00 a.m. the workshop will begin with three wonderful
speakers. Please go to www.uiuc.edu/henrystark to see the
speakers, topics and to register. If you have any questions or
want to register by telephone, please call U of IL Extension,
Henry-Stark Counties at 309-852-1533. Cost of morning
workshop is $15.00. Deadline for registration is January 26.
Nov. 12, 2008, 8:00 AM – Ah…another day of
undisturbed rest. Did I say my owner is the best! I’m
feeling very optimistic about my future. I just hope no one
opens the door while I’m sleeping; it would mean the end
of me.
Dec 15, 2008, 10:00 AM – Oh Glorious day! Where’s a
mirror??? I have Coloooooooor! I can just hear the oohs
and ahs that will be coming my way when the whole
crowd shows up in a few weeks. I should be red as
Rudolph’s nose by then. Now, no more basement, no
more closet, no bag over my head, just my primo place on
the dining room table near the sunny window.
Dec 25, 2008, 7:00 PM – People
everywhere. Yes, I’m gorgeous, yes
she kept me from last year and yes,
she did a great job preserving me
and I look better than ever! My
owner really is the best!
If you’d like to treat your Poinsettia to another year of
blooming, follow these steps:
Total darkness from 5:00PM to 8:00 AM starting in
October in a cool place no warmer than 75
degrees.
When the bracts start to show color, around mid
December, stop the dark night regimen and put it
in a sunny window, in a cool place, but not
touching a cold window pane.
Water only when the soil is dry
Don’t fertilize while the plant is in bloom
Avoid fluctuations of temperature and warm or cold
drafts.
After the danger of frost, your plant can be placed in a
sunny area outside, if you prefer.
After it has bloomed, you can fertilize once a month
You can read so much more about Poinsettia’s, their
history, facts, care and FAQs, at this University of Illinois
Extension website http://urbanext.illinois.edu/poinsettia/
index.cfm.
Researched and written by Kathy Tack
2
Master Gardener Training Class
To Start Soon
On January 15, over 30 new trainees will begin
11 weeks of classes, over 60 hours of education to prepare
them for becoming, U of IL Extension, Rock Island
County Master Gardeners. This year two Master Gardener
scholarships were awarded in the name of A. Jack Mullen
an extraordinary Master Gardener that began with the
program. One scholarship was given by the Hosta Society
and two were given by the Silvis Garden Club. The
classes, taught by University of Illinois Extension
educators, will be held on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. until
3:30 p.m. They will receive an intensive horticulture
education that will benefit not only them, but the
community that they give back to through many Master
Gardener projects. Classes include: Introduction to
Botany, Soils, Pathology, Herbaceous Ornamentals,
Entomology, Fruits and Vegetables, Landscape Principles,
Ornamental Grasses, Turf Grass, Woody Ornamentals,
Problem Solving and Pesticide Safety.
After completion of classes and passing weekly
tests and a final, the Trainees will graduate and become
Interns. When they have given back 60 hours in Master
Gardener projects to the community, they will be come
Certified Master Gardeners. After that, U of IL Extension,
Rock Island County Master Gardeners are required to give
back a minimum of 30 hours and take a minimum of 10
hours of Continuing Education each year. The majority of
the Master Gardeners far exceed those minimums as you
can tell with over 4000 hours of volunteer service and 650
hours of Continuing Education.
We welcome all of the new trainees and look so
forward to meeting and working with them. WELCOME!!
Favorite Quotes
from the Garden Genie
There is no such thing as an ugly garden---gardens, like
babies, are all beautiful to their parents.
Ken Druse, The Collectors Garden
Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking
forward to spring.
Anonymous
I watch daily for the mail carrier, to bring the new treats
hidden in the gardening catalogs, nothing like a hot cup of
coffee while perusing the new offerings and dreaming of
spring. Anyone who has a bulb has spring.
Anonymous
We had better find a way to grow things in asphalt before
we cover the world with it.
Roger B. Swain, Groundwork: A gardener's ecology,
A garden has a curious innocent way of consuming cash
while all the time you are under the illusion that you are
spending nothing.
Esther Meynell, A Woman Talking, 1940
Woods Ridge . . .
Notes from the Corner
“Without leaps of imagination, or
dreaming,
we lose the excitement of possibilities.
Dreaming, after all, is a form of
planning.”
~ Gloria Steinem
Just over two years ago, when I decided to join the
Rock Island County Extension unit, I set out to
contact my major professor from Iowa State
University to seek guidance and advice as I set out on
a new journey. We spoke of his past goals, of his
leadership experience, about advancements in
Extension and the like, but the most important factor
I took away from that conservation had to do with
responsibility. He reasoned that over the head of a
County Director hangs a responsibility to keep this
culture alive, to not let it wither away or go stale.
Those words resonated with me and have stayed with
me until this day, but not within the same parallels of
his mindset. You see the “Extension” responsibility
that hung over my head was one of change. I felt
compelled enough and emotionally attached enough
to my Extension roots that I wanted to do something
more than educate a community and offer classes on
horticulture, youth development and leadership or
offer presentations to which others scarcely listened.
My interests didn’t lie in constantly highlighting our
successes and sweeping our failures under the rug my intent was to provide an honest, collaborative
environment where real issues could be discussed,
and alternative voices could be heard.
As excited I was about this venture, I was also afraid.
Yes, afraid of the reception or the criticism, or worse,
perhaps the apathy. Yet over the past two years as the
Rock Island County Extension has undergone vast
changes, I am finding out that not only were my fears
unfounded, but that I was not alone in my desires for
change and growth. Over the course of less than two
years, I have met and worked with such amazing
individuals (staff and volunteers) who inspire me and
give me hope that yes, there is room for those that go
unheard and that progress is inevitable.
If you’re looking for evidence, you don’t have to
stray too far, take a look at the new and updated
programs offered by Rock Island County Extension
staff and volunteers alike. Together, they have done
3
an outstanding job responding to the call for change
with few objections and widespread
selflessness. Specifically, over the past two years we
have seen many highlights.
Innovative horticultural programs that offer
goals as lofty as they are sweeping: racial
and social justice, environmental
sustainability, improved public health,
economic development and food security. The establishment of new and innovative
programs through the 4-H YOUniversity that
aids our local youth learning leadership,
citizenship and life skills. Experiences
designed to address the four essential
elements of positive youth development:
Belonging, Mastery, Generosity and
Independence. Community development projects and
continuing education programs through
Extension YOUniversity committed to
empowering people, engaging in strategic
business partnerships, building healthy and
sustainable communities and renewing
neighborhood pride through education,
resource development and advocacy. Food and nutrition programs that encouraged
individuals and families to make informed
choices about low-cost, nutritious foods; to
better manage family finances; and to
become more self-sufficient. As we reflect on the past two years and eagerly
engage a new year, I wish to express my sincere
appreciation to our volunteers and staff for being
great people who reject the same old-same old, who
know that the only way towards succeeding is
through change and growth and most importantly speaking up.
I see 2010 as a hopeful and significant year. I hope to
bring several other ideas to fruition, including new
horticultural programs, like Pay Dirt Farm School,
Homegrown Challenge Purposeful Gardening 101
and 201classes, the Homegrown Vegetable Boot
Camp, the Homegrown Market on the Square, a new
local foods directory, local foods dinner series and
farm tours and not to mention the much anticipated
2010 Master Gardener class. This plan also includes
ambitious new Extension YOUniversity and 4-H
YOUniversity classes along with innovative
programs to reach out to even more audiences across
Rock Island County and the region.
In closing, I am reminded of what my major
professor would often remind me of during my
studies. Specifically, he would say that “While
creating a masterpiece, beginning artists must start
with models of those who have practiced the same
art before them. And it is not only a matter of
looking at the drawings, paintings, musical
compositions, and poems that have been and are
being created; it is a matter of being drawn into the
individual work of art, of realizing that it has been
made by a real human being, and trying to discover
the secret of its creation.”
I feel so blessed to be creating a new masterpiece
with the staff and volunteers of Rock Island County
Extension. With each new stroke on the canvas, I
take great pride in the picture we are painting for
those that seek a new portrait of life.
I wish you each a happy and flourishing New Year!
Best regards and thank you…Michael
Test Your Garden Knowledge
What is a Stolon?
A. A stem growing horizontally on or just below the soil
surface of the ground and usually rooting at nodes and
producing a new plant at the top.
B. A shoot arising from the roots of a tree or shrub, or
from beneath the surface of the ground.
The slender part of the pistil, rising from the ovary and
tipped by the stigma.
2. What is Tetraploid?
A. A pore or minute hole in the surface of a plant leaf or
stem, through which gases or water vapor pass.
B. Having four (rather than the usual two) basic sets of
chromosomes.
C. The distal end of a shoot, twig or branch.
3. What Tropism?
A. Not clearly differentiated sepals and petals.
B. The process in which water vapor is lost by land
plants.
C. The growth response of a plant to a change in the environment.
Submitted by Kathy Tack
4
There Really Are Benefits of Snow
While we are shoveling our walks, cleaning off automobiles, trying to drive on a snow drifted road and
doing any necessary winter activity – we may not always appreciate snow. However, there are reasons to.
Snow is a great insulator of the soil. Without it, soil can freeze deeper and can actually damage the root
systems of trees and shrubs, not to mention the damage to our bulbs and other perennials.
It also helps to prevent heaving caused by alternating freezing and thawing cycles. Snow prevents the soil from
getting too warm and too dry. This causes roots to break and our plants to dry out. Snow helps to keep moisture in
the soil and in the spring as it thaws, providing additional moisture.
The artistic beauty of snow is breath taking at times.
Just look out at a newly fallen snow on the various parts of the
landscape. The skeleton of trees, shrubs, plants, grasses and
garden art add an entirely different dimension to the landscape.
Evergreens look greener and the cardinals look even more red.
There are some cons also – some you can do something about. When it comes to your small trees, shrubs and
evergreens, sometimes the amount and the weight of the snow
is too much and can break branches. When you are able, shake
or clean off the branches.
Also, snow acts as a protected layer for mice, vole and
rabbits which like to gnaw on tender plants and trees. If you
have a lot of plants, shrubs and trees, it is not practical to go
out and sweep around all of them to clear the snow but do go
out when the snow melts in the spring to access any damage. Although snow makes winter complete – let’s hope it
doesn’t stay too long.
Written by Roxie DeShane
Resource information from:
U of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension in Lancaster
Ohio State University Extension
U of IL Extension
Year End Meeting and Holiday Get Together
Another year of postponing the last
Master Gardener meeting and it was
voted to change the meeting date.
For some years the date of the last
meeting and holiday get together for
the year has been on the second
Tuesday in December, postponed
and held the next Tuesday. In 2008 it
had to be cancelled. Next year, the
last meeting of the year, voting for
officers and holiday get together will
be on Tuesday, November 16.
Officers for the 2010 year will be
President:
Dallas DeShane
Vice Presidents: Phil Cray
Terri Lamberti
Secretaries:
Julie Keehn
Carol Spalding
Year pins were presented to Master
Gardeners who have been certified
Master Gardeners for 5, 10 and 15
years.
Phyllis Thorngren
Richard VanderLeest
Five Years
Kent Ackerman
Bob Blacklock
Warren Brandy
Michael Daggett
Dallas DeShane
Linda Eastman
Margie Esparza
Sharon Fleming
Joan Hamilton
Julie Hanger
Carole Hartley
Terri Lamberti
Alice Maslanka
Judy Medley
Harriet Phelps
Cathie Pitman
Lou Sacco
Ten years
Ina Ackeberg
Fifteen Years
Jackie Litchfield
Congratulations to officers for the
2010 year and to the Master
Gardeners receiving year pins.
5
Kale—a cool season plant
Christmas Tree Bird Habitat
Plant kale as soon as the ground can be worked, it is very
frost tolerant. Sow ¼ to ½ inch deep, 1” apart in rows 18 –
30” apart. Kale germinates easily in cool soil temperatures.
Choose an area with full sun. If needed, you can enrich the
soil with compost. The flavor of kale is improved if the
plant grows quickly.
The time has come to take your Christmas decorations
down. Some of us that had a real tree are looking for ways
of reusing it or disposing of it in an environmentally
friendly way. One way is to use it to provide cover for
birds. Remove all the artificial decorations and ornaments
from the tree. If you had used cranberries, popcorn or other
berries or nuts in your decorations, you can leave them on.
Move your tree outdoors – you can either prop it up next to
your existing birdfeeder or lay it down by bushes. This
will provide extra protection and food source for birds.
Here are some ideas for continuing to help the birds during
the harsh winter months.
Outdoor Christmas Tree Decorations. When
you're done with your Christmas tree inside, place
it outside and decorate it with bird treats. Always
use only natural cotton yarn to string the treats.
Here's a list of ideas:
Peanut Strings. String peanuts in the shell and
wrap it around the tree. It will keep birds
busy for weeks, including chickadees,
nuthatches, bluejays, woodpeckers and other
seed eating birds.
Doughnuts. Get some day-old donuts, tie a string
to them and hang them from the tree.
Raisins. Take a needle and string and make
strings of raisins to hang on the tree. Make
little wreaths or long string of raisins.
Fruit slices. Slice fruit, attach a string or wire and
hang them from the tree. Oranges,
persimmons and apples are readily eaten by
lots of birds.
Pinecones and peanut butter. Spread peanut
butter on and into pinecones and roll them in
bird seed, and hang them from the tree.
Suet bags. Place suet in red mesh onion bags and
hang from the tree. To make the bags go
farther, cut them into 5-inch squares and
wrap them around small chunks of suet.
Close it shut with a twist tie or colorful
ribbon and hang them from the tree.
Kale leaves can be used at any time for salads or as
garnishes. Leaves are “cropped” leaving the bud to grow
new leaves or the entire kale plant can be harvested at one
cutting. For a fall crop, wait until the kale plants are
touched by a frost to sweeten the taste.
Kale Brassica sp.
Kale is a form of cabbage in colors ranging from light
green to purple. The central leaves do not form a head. It is
closer to wild cabbage than domesticated forms. Kale is
considered to be a highly nutritious vegetable with
powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Kale, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contains
sulforaphane (particularly when chopped or minced), a
chemical believed to have potent anti-cancer properties.
Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C,
lute tin, zeaxanthin, and reasonably rich in calcium.
Because of its high vitamin K content, patients taking anticoagulants are encouraged to avoid this food since it
increases the vitamin K concentration in the blood, which
is what the drugs are often attempting to lower.
It is very simple to incorporate Kale in many recipes. It
cooks and retains texture well. Use chopped kale in a stir
fry or lasagna with other vegetables to increase fiber intake
and make the dish even more nutritious. Kale can also
make a delicious side dish by itself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kale
Recipe:
Kale – 1 bunch, washed and chopped
Onion – 1 medium chopped
Oil – 1 tsp
Garlic – 1 clove (optional)
Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Jalapeno – 1 small chopped
Salt – to taste
Desiccated coconut powder (non sweetened) – 1 tsp
(optional)
In a large pan, add 1 tsp of oil and 1 tsp of cumin seeds.
Add chopped garlic, jalapeno and onions. Cook till the
onions are transparent. Add chopped kale and toss in the
pan. Cook on low flame till the greens are cooked. Add
salt and fry for a few more minutes. Remove from stove
and sprinkle coconut powder. Serve with steamed rice or
Indian bread or as a side dish.
Researched and written by Sugandhi Sivakumar
6
http://www.enature.com/Articles/detail.asp?storyID=407
http://www.springvalleyroses.com/inthegarden/
christmasforbirds.html
http://www.blisstree.com/motherearthsgarden/christmastree-for-the-birds/
Researched and written by Sugandhi Sivakumar
Answers to Test Your Knowledge
Answer to “What is a Stolon?” A
Answer to “What is a Tetraploid?” B
Answer to “What is Tropism” C
Forcing Bulbs in Winter;
Saving Forced Bulbs
Even the dullest gray days of winter can be brightened up
by forcing spring blooming bulbs indoors, Coaxing the
bulb to grow and bloom out of season is not difficult but
requires special handling.
The best containers for forcing bulbs are azalea pots or
bulb pans. But, you can use anything that you would use
for other houseplants as long as it drains well. Since a bulb
contains all it needs to bloom the first year, the planting
mix doesn't necessarily have to provide any nutrients, but
using a good potting soil makes it much easier to transplant the bulbs to the garden later. The addition of bone
meal or bulb food will help the bulbs prepare for an afterlife in the garden.
The pot should be filled to one-half to three-quarters full
with potting mix and then moistened. Gently press the
bulbs into the soil with the broad base down, and the nose
pointed up. They should be arranged as close together as
possible without touching each other or the pot. Face the
flat side of tulip bulbs toward the outside of the pot. Barely
cover the bulbs with additional potting mix and water gently until the soil is thoroughly moistened. Add a little more
soil if settling has exposed the bulbs.
Now the pot must be placed in a dark, cool area for 12
weeks or longer. The temperature must remain below 48°
F. but above freezing (35°-40° is recommended). Total
darkness is best, but if you are chilling the bulbs in the
refrigerator don't worry about the light coming on when
you open the door.
Once the roots begin growing out of the drainage holes in
the pots or the shoots start to grow at about twelve weeks,
give the bulbs a gradual transition to warmth. Don't expose
them to warm temperatures too soon or the blooms will
emerge to fast and will fail before they ever open.
Start them out in the coolest spot of your home and gradually move them to warmer areas. This will make the flowers last much longer. Don't expose pale or white foliage to
full sun until it has 'greened' up in a few days. Rotate the
pots one-quarter turn every few days to keep the foliage
and stems upright. Keep the soil moist, but never soggy.
Once the bulbs have finished flowering, remove the spent
flowers and stems but continue to water and provide light
for the foliage. The foliage will feed the bulb so it can
grow again.
Bulbs for forcing
 Amaryllis needs no chilling, start in a warm dark
begin to flower in as little as a week or so after moving to
warmth.
 Tulips and daffodils will take four to five weeks to be
in full bloom after chilling.
Crocuses and grape hyacinths make a great show when
mass planted in large trays.
 Freeesias and Calla lilies may also be forced without
chilling.
 Paperwhite narcissus takes no chilling.. they'll sprout
just about anytime, anywhere.
 Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale) takes no
chilling.
 Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majus) will bloom in 3-4 weeks if potted up
at 65 degrees
 Dutch Iris (Iris reticulata) takes no
chilling, should be fed every 2 weeks
 Bluebells (Scilla) takes no chilling,
and little effort
Fairy Lily (Zephyranthes) takes no chilling, and little effort.
Saving forced bulbs
If you want to save and plant your forced bulbs in your garden the following spring, you will probably be disappointed. It often takes two to three years for bulbs to rebloom after they have been forced for indoor use. Before
starting, consider whether it's worth the effort.
If you want to try, start by keeping the plants actively growing until the leaves mature and die back naturally. Sprinkle
a small amount of bulb boosting fertilizer on top of the soil,
as most will not flower well again without some help. To
prevent seeds from forming, remove the flowers after they
bloom. Place the potted plants in a cool, very sunny location
and keep the soil moist to the touch. Fertilize with a watersoluble houseplant fertilizer according to label directions.
The longer the leaves stay green and healthy, the larger the
bulb will become. This improves its chances for blooming
the following year.
When leaves dry down, store the bulbs in a dark, cool place
until fall planting time. Because few homes have a good
storage place, it may be better to directly plant the bulbs
outdoors. If the leaves have died back, plant bulbs outdoors
when the soil is workable. If the leaves have not died back,
wait until after the last frost to plant the bulbs with their
leaves. When planting bulbs in fall that have been stored
through the summer, discard bulbs that are soft or diseased.
Tulips, in particular, do not come back well after being
forced. However, a hyacinth plant bulb and a daffodil plant
bulb will generally continue to put out blooms, as well as
some of the smaller bulbs, like crocus and snowdrops.
Researched and written by F. Pearson
U of Illinois Extension
U of Minnesota Extension
place and move to light when the stalk is 4".
 Hyacinths may only need 10 weeks of chilling and
7
NURSERY SCHOOL
Nursery School: Lessons in Gardening
Saturday, February 27, 2010; 8:00 a.m.— 4:00 p.m.
iwireless Center, Moline, IL
This year’s keynote speaker is Richard Hawke, Plant Evaluation Manger at the Chicago Botanic
Garden. The Garden's Plant Evaluation Program is one of the largest and most diverse in the nation,
and also one of the few programs in the United States that formally evaluates perennials. It received
the Award for Program Excellence from the American Public Garden Association in 2008. The
goal of the program is to determine which plants are superior for gardens in the Upper Midwest.
Richard Hawke will discuss the plant evaluation process and present a variety of proven perennials,
including new selections and old favorites during this Keynote Address.
Other classes being offered are:
 New Annuals & Perennials for 2010: Ron & Donna Dieter, Former owners of Sunnyfield
 Wildlife Damage Management: Dave Shiley, U of I Extension, Natural Resources
 Monarch Butterflies: Ann Burns, Environmental Education Coordinator, Hurstville Interpretive
Center, Maquoketa, IA
 Tree Health Challenges in Urban Environments: Mark Vitosh, District Forester, Iowa DNR
Forestry
 ImPRESSive Gifts of Nature: Lynn Lange, Orion, IL
 Cut Flowers from the Garden: Martha Smith, U of I Extension Horticulture Educator
 Designing & Planting a Miniature Landscape: Kathryn Newman, Formerly of Sunnyfield
Greenhouse
 Right Plant for the Right Place: The Proper Use of Evergreen & Deciduous Plants for Home
Landscape; Bud LeFevre, Distinctive Gardens, Dixon, IL
 Made in the Shade: Plants for Shady Areas: Kate (Nelson) Terrell, Wallace's Garden Center
 Tiger Balm Workshop: Darcy Rostenbach, Full Circle Soaps
 Theme Gardens: Martha Smith, University of Illinois
 Demystifying Organics & the Art of Green Gardening: Kate (Nelson) Terrell, Wallace's Garden
Center
 What's With the Weather?: MSgt Tom Erhart, USAF
 Gardening Q&A with Craig Hignight
Pre-registration is required by February 18th, but if you want to be sure to get the
classes you want, sign up early!!! If you did not receive a brochure in the mail, please
call the Extension Office at 309-756-9978 to get a copy or register online at: https://
webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3974.
Lunch choices this year include Chicken Florentine or Eggplant Parmesan. Cost to
attend Nursery School is $45, with an additional $12 fee if you want to attend the Tiger
Balm workshop.
No refunds due to cancellations beyond our control (i.e. weather, power outage). There
will be 1/2 refund or registration fees through February 5 and no refunds after that
date.
8
Tulip Festival— Pella, IA
BUS TRIP TO TULIP FESTIVAL IN PELLA, IA
SPONSORED BY ROCK ISLAND COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS
DATE:
COST:
DEPARTS:
May 6, 2010
$65.00; Includes
 Seat on bus
 Reserved seating ticket to afternoon grandstand show and
parade
 Admission to the Historical Village& Vermeer Windmill
Tour
 Scholte House Tour
 Pella City Tour
 One-day pass on the Golf Car Shuttles
7:00 A.M.
From Southeast corner of South Park parking lot
RESERVATIONS: Can be made online or by calling the Extension Office at 756-9978
Open to Master Gardeners through February 12
Open to the Public after February 12
All reservations need to be made by April 16, 2010.
Lunch and dinner will be on your own.
DEPART:
6:00 p.m.
RETURN HOME:





8:00 p.m.
Lots of shops including:
The Dutch Bakery
Lace Shop
The Klokkenspel
Pella Garden Club
48th Annual Flower Show at Scholte Church
(Historical Village)
Other Activities:
 Order tulip bulbs at the church
 View the hundreds of beautiful tulips in bloom around
the city
 Additional exhibits on display
.
QUESTIONS?: Call Judy Medley 309-792-8619; More information about the Tulip Festival is
found at: http://www.pellatuliptime.com/
9
University of Illinois Extension
Rock Island County
321 W. 2nd Avenue
Milan, IL 61264
309-756-9978
County Director
Michael D. Woods, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
Tracy Jo Mulliken
President
Dallas DeShane
Co-Vice Presidents
Terri Lamberti
Phil Cray
Helping Others Learn to GROW Co-Secretaries
Julie Keehn
Carol Spalding
If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in an Extension program, please contact Rock Island County Extension at (309) 756‐9978. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. University of Illinois‐USDA‐Local Extension Councils Cooperating CALENDAR (Continued from page 1)
February 27
Nursery School – Lessons in Gardening
i-wireless, Moline, IL
March 9; 1:00 p.m.
Four Seasons Gardening Telenet
The Elusive Morel
Rock Island County Extension
March 11; 7:00 p.m.
Four Seasons Gardening Telenet
The Elusive Morel
Rock Island County Extension
web.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland 309.756.9978 Fax: 309.756.9987 March 25; 7:00 p.m.
Four Seasons Gardening Telenet
Gardener’s Guide to Plant Propagation
Rock Island County Extension
March 26 – 28
Flower and Garden Show
Garden and booth
Friday and Saturday –
10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday – 10:00 – 4:00 p.m.
QCCA—Rock Island
March 30; 6:30 p.m.
Master Gardener monthly meeting
Rock Island County Extension
March 23; 1:00 p.m.
Four Seasons Gardening Telenet
Gardener’s Guide to Plant Propagation
Rock Island County Extension
Dig It! Newsletter Staff: Roxie DeShane, Fran Pearson, Sugandhi Sivakumar, Kathy Tack 10
Extension Web Manager
https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/...oUpdate=1&ProgramSubID=944&EditType=ProgramSubDesc&pubID=944&pubTypeID=3[1/27/2010 11:29:25 AM]