The weather has gotten cold and there is a lot of benefit to the cold weather that we have here in Illinois.  It keeps insect populations under control and helps to control the spread of diseases.  Many of us start to look to the spring as soon as we get our first freeze.  With that in mind keep the wildlife in mind when you are planning your spring plantings.  Wildlife conservation is a very good option to include in your yard and Monarch Conservation is a very popular option.

The conservation of Monarch Butterflies is a complicated question. One of the biggest influences on populations has been the loss of habitat, which is where the common practice of planting milkweed has developed.  However, this is only one piece to the puzzle and not all Milkweed is created equal (at least not in Illinois and the Midwest).  One Milkweed in particular in question is the “Tropical Milkweed.”  If you have read some of my other writings, you know that I am a huge fan of native plants.  The benefits of native plants are numerous, but this is not going to be about native plants and their benefits.

Tropical Milkweed is a popular choice for many gardeners because of its bright color, long bloom time and ease of care.  Tropical Milkweed, however, is not native to any part of the US and some recent research is suggesting that there are some potential negative effects on Monarch Butterflies in the Midwest.  One report suggests that the longer bloom time has had some effect on delaying the start of Monarch migration.  In addition, there are also suggestions that the use of Tropical Milkweed in the Southern US is also causing problems.  It is creating winter breeding habitats in the mild winters of southern Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and in Florida.  The butterflies that overwintered in the US were five times more likely to have a very serious, debilitating  infection known as OE. 

With this in mind, there is a much better choice when looking to plant milkweed.  Native species are going to be a much better choice.  However, they are a little more difficult to find it is becoming more common and easier to find.  When you are thinking about adding Milkweed to your yard, or helping monarchs, reach for a native species before you reach for Tropical Milkweed.

Jason Haupt

Master Gardeners are busy in all corners of the four counties of our University of Illinois Extension unit. In the course of helping others learn to grow through teaching, speaking, consulting, guiding, orienting, equipping, inspiring, and—yes!—getting their hands in the soil, Master Gardeners have a rich and measurable impact on the quality of life in our communities and the quality of the environment we share.

New leaders in UofI’s College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES), of which Extension is a big part, have been impressed by what they have seen on their visits here and by what they have heard about our unit, including the work of the Master Gardeners. Your projects and general activities play out in many different venues, running the gamut from urban settings to rural areas. You serve to make our communities better and stronger, more enriching and beautiful, and you thereby contribute to the achievement of our common mission.

Educational, leadership, and administrative support flows from Extension at the both the state and local levels as the entire Extension community works to further our mission to help others learn to grow. A key part of this activity is ensuring top-notch support for all of you, and continuing to prepare new MGs to meet ongoing community needs and opportunities. Our policies, processes, and systems are designed to support our goals, and they include staying current with all the reporting, record keeping, and governance requirements of University of Illinois; they help us serve the community with excellence and assurance.

If you have received a letter from us with forms to sign (since certain items need to be redone every few years), please get those back to us as soon as you can, but no later than Friday, November 17^th.

For all interns and active MGs, do please record all your hours in the online tracking system by November 17^th. The system can be accessed at https://volunteer.extension.illinois.edu/ and if you haven’t had a chance to set up your account you may do so there as well.  If you don’t have ready access to a computer, you may mail your hours to us and we will capture them in the system for you. You may continue to add your volunteer and training hours through the end of the year, but we’re aiming to get all activity through November 17^th into the system by that date in support of year-end reporting requirements.

In two weeks we will be welcoming twenty new MG interns! This fine group has been working hard and having a lot of fun throughout the fall training this year. We are very excited about the range of experience and interests they will bring to our community, and they, in turn, greatly look forwarding to meeting—and serving with—each one of you.

Rhonda Ferree, our Horticulture Educator, Paula Lane, our Horticulture Team Assistant, and Earl Allen, our Unit Director, join me in thanking all of you for the excellence and inspiration you bring to our communities as UofI Extension Master Gardeners.

Ian Goslin

Program Coordinator, Horticulture

The Fulton/Mason county Master Gardeners held their most recent meeting on October 23 at Orchard Hill Farm in Lewistown.  Wes Carithers, the new owner, gave a brief presentation on the process of renovating the orchard.  A second presentation on the growing and care of orchids was given by Gary Kuzniar who brought many samples of the different types of orchids he grows. The Q & A session was very interesting and informative. Approximately 11 Master Gardeners attended, as well as Ian Goslin.

The group is busy planning the upcoming November 2nd all county meeting which will be held from 6-8 p.m. at Big Creek Park in Canton.

Peoria Project Updates for November 2017 (click HERE for entire report)

Wildlife Prairie Park Butterfly Habitat - Louise Bassett. Just wanted to update you on the habitat. Fall cleanup is underway, including weeding fan removal, and more. I went on a recent Friday to do some fall clean-up thinking it would be a quiet day. Clean up was slow as it was a busy day with over 175 people visiting the habitat. The number one question: "Where are the butterflies?" It gave me an opportunity to talk about the end of season for butterflies…Click HERE for more

The Master Gardener Booth at the Peoria Riverfront Farmer's Market – May Bach. Our summer at the RFM began on a rainy Saturday in May sheltered under the parking garage, but that was the only rainy day all season long.  We ended on a beautiful day near the end of September.  Over those five months, our booth handed out informative brochures to hundreds of visitors, signed up many people interested in both Master Gardener and Master Naturalist training, and answered more questions than we could count…Click HERE for more

The 4-H Learning Garden at Wildlife Prairie Park (formally the Pioneer Garden) – May Bach. Carol Cihla has stepped down from leader of the Pioneer Garden at Wildlife Prairie Park, and Rebecca Knight and I will co-chair/lead that project.  It has been renamed the 4-H Learning Garden at Wildlife Prairie Park. The produce grown in the garden is used to feed the residents of the park. There is room for more MGs to help us bring the 4-H Learning Garden into the 2018 season with new energy, and enthusiasm…Click HERE for more

ICC – Phil Adams .While most of the ICC Master Gardener volunteers are continuing on next year, there are a few small beds in the Demo Garden that could use the special touch of a new volunteer. The Midwest Regional Hosta Society annual convention is in Peoria July 12-14, 2018, and we would like to have the ICC Arboretum in top shape at that time…Click HERE for more

Jubilee Prairie Dawg activities – Doug Franks. About the only thing we can do in winter is brush control.  Last workday we flagged Autumn Olive, Honeysuckle and White Mulberry - while they still had leaves to identify by…Click HERE for more

Common Place Gardens – Rhonda Ferree. I am working with MG Martha Willi to submit an application for a new fund allocation through the Growing Illinois Food Access Allocations…an Illinois SNAP-ED and Illinois Master Gardener Program Collaboration. Martha helps children garden inside and outside the hoop-house through Common Place’s summer and after school youth programs. Beyond funding, the project’s biggest need is human capital. Martha desperately needs additional hands to help show kids (and adults) how to plant, maintain, harvest, and generally care for a garden…Click HERE for more

Tazewell Project Updates for November 2017 (click HERE for entire report).

Green Valley Garden-Bill Baker reported that they are still passing out tomatoes.  They have harvested 570 lbs. They will have another distribution on Thursday.  The herb garden looks good. They have pulled up the plastic. They hope to finish cleaning and do the tilling this weekend and plant a cover crop.  They have received a lot of complements for the city of Green Valley about the garden.

ICC Garden and Workshops-Kathy Pickering reported that 121 people attended the five seminars this summer.  Thanks to everyone who taught a class. The Peoria Journal Star has given us a lot of support promoting the seminars.

She will be cleaning up the fairy gardens at ICC this week.

Mackinaw Gardens-Dee Brown reported all the light pole and flower box flowers did well this summer.  They are taking pictures of all the flowers and making a scrapbook so they have documentation to pass along to future generations. She is storing yellow cannas for use next year.

Morton Giving Garden-Pam Scott reported the garden has set a new record. So far 3,345 ¼ lbs. of produce has been picked and donated. They are planning on picking the rest of the product tomorrow and then get the garden cleaned up by the weekend.

Pekin Main Street-Suzanne Cook reported 30 of the 48 pots have been planted with mums. If anyone wants some of the mums, let her know. She and Lisa will be cleaning out the pots in the next couple weeks.

Washington Community Garden-

Lee Maki advised they had to move up their harvest schedule due to the recent forecast of frost. The late green beans did real well. They have harvested 4500 lbs. this year.

Wildlife Prairie Park Children’s Garden-Carol Cihla advised cleanup has begun. They are still picking tomatoes. They have harvested 190 lbs. of produce for the animals at the park.  Peoria County is taking over this project next year.

Next Meeting-March 26, 2018 at the Pekin Extension Office. Social hour at 5:30 pm and program at 6:00 pm. Program to be announced.

Master Naturalist Recognition & Potluck

Saturday, November 11, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm the Master Naturalist will be having their annual recognition and potluck at Dickson Mounds Museum. Please RSVP with number of attendees to Christine at cbelless@illinois.edu or call 309-547-3711. Be sure to enter all volunteer and continuing education hours by Nov. 6, as Jason Haupt uses the hours in preparation for recognition.

Recognition will be in the auditorium at 11:00 am, with lunch to follow on the 2^nd floor. The Extension office will provide table service and drinks. Thank you all for helping others connect with nature.

• November 2 - 6 pm Unit-wide MG meeting at Big Creek Park in Canton
• November 6 - MV Advisory Committee in Peoria
• November 11- 11am – 2pm MN Recognition & Potluck
• November 15– Peoria MG meeting and program TBD
• November 17 – MG paperwork and online reporting deadline
• November 27th – 5:00 pm  Mason/Fulton Greenery workshop and potluck
• Jan 16, 2018 - Master Naturalist Quarterly Meeting, Tazewell County Extension office.
• April 14, 2018 – Gardeners’ BIG Day
• June 7, 2018 - Plant Bingo, Festival Building in East Peoria