Union County Master Gardeners met at 7:00 p.m. at the UCSC building in Marysville.

Claire Loeffleman, Vice President, called the meeting to order in absence of President, Karen Long. Claire introduced Master Gardener Member, Roberta Gorden, who spoke on "How You Can Make Your Backyard A Wildlife Habitat." Roberta stated that by restoring your yard for a wildlife habitat, you will also create a healthier and more friendly place for humans.

She stated 4 requirements are needed to qualify your yard as a Wildlife Habitat:

Food        Water
Cover      Places to Bear and Raise Young

For more information on Backyard Wildlife Habitat, visit website http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat

Carol Rasoul mentioned that on May 8th and 9th the Franklin Park Conservatory will be holding a plant sale of plants to attract butterflies.  Your order has to be placed by March 15th. The phone number to call your order in is 614.645.5927.

If you have wildlife that needs to be removed from your yard, you can call the Ohio Wildlife Center at 614.793.9453.

Minutes:  The minutes of the previous month’s meeting were approved as written. Minutes of MG meetings can be accessed at http://union.osu.edu/mgarden/minuteslist.htm 

Treasurer: Claire Loeffleman read the treasurer’s report in absence of Treasurer, Becky Rowe.  No monies were taken in and a check was written for $80.25 for flowers for the Jim Evans Family.

McCloud Park:  Everyone was reminded that the first work day will be April 17 from 9-4 and volunteers are needed.

Garden Tour: Chris Burnard reported her committee had met and the name for this year’s garden tour will be “Sun-Kissed Spaces - Shady places”.  The date is July 11, 2004 with the pre-tour on the 10th. There will be no tour T-shirts this year.  Workers will wear MG apparel. It was also noted that there will be no solicitations this year for the tour.

Chris is looking for the postcard list of people who had attended the tour in previous years in order to send them postcards for this year’s tour.  Sandra Lepard suggested also mentioning the Garden Party on the postcard.

Scotts will be the first garden on the tour this year. Chris said this will be a very interesting addition to the garden tour. Volunteers are still needed to help with publicity with articles for the newspaper or radio spots.

Tickets will be dispersed to all MG members by mail, so that all of the Master Gardeners will be contacted by mail or e-mail about the tour.

Garden Party:  Sandra Lepard reported her committee is working hard and still needs volunteers. They will have a display of Native Plants at the Garden Party and it was suggested that a display and Identification of common weeds would also be helpful.

Leaping Frog:  Maria Huber gave the Leaping Frog to Cathy Weaver from whom Maria says she has learned a great deal.

A class on the Emerald Ash Borer in a specialized 2 day class here and in Detroit. The fee is due by March 19th and the fee is $75. Sign –ups passed around to those interested. When ash trees are cut down, all wood must be disposed of. The fate of the ash tree is bleak with possible elimination within the next 15 years.

March 24-28 Olympics of Landscaping at Columbus State. College students will compete against one another and volunteers are needed for set up. George passed around information and schedule times volunteers are needed. Volunteer time will count toward MG hours.

Pictures of MG apparel available to order were passed around.  George requested a check be sent along with the order.  Check to be made out to Union County Master Gardeners.

A thank you card received the Jim Evans Family for the flowers sent.

George passed around sign up sheets for:

• Library Displays
• Newcomer’s Packet Coordinator (Someone is     needed to put together a package for new people moving into the area. This would publicize the Master Gardeners and Marysville with help from handouts at the Chamber of Commerce.)
• Advertising for Master Gardeners (Someone is needed to put an advertising program together to promote the Master Gardener Program) 
• Photo Opts (Master Gardeners can volunteer to take pictures suitable for framing to fill wall space at new the Union County Agricultural Building on Rt.  4) 
• Creation of a Horticultural Program for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. grade students brought down to their level – possibly in story form. 
• MG Calendar for 2005 (Work to begin in March for new Calendar)
• Horticulture Tour for MG’s (A person needed to research gardens in the area for Master  Gardeners to tour)
  

Claire Loffleman reported on a few ideas and educational programs she has in mind for upcoming MG meetings.

• April - Plant Swap
• May - Visit the Henk Berbee Nursery on Route 4. Find out what plants are hot for this summer. 
• July –Tour our new Union County Agricultural Facility. Claire will try to get someone to come in from Ohio State and talk about Wetlands.
• A program on garden structures with plans for the structures available. 
• An apple testing and tasting meeting. Claire would bring in different types of apples to help decide what type of apples we like best. 
• A tour to the Wilds near Cambridge, Ohio, was recommended by Claire and several members. Many animals roam wild and research is done on trees and plants for animals. 
• There will be only one MG Dinner held this year.  It will be the Recognition Dinner in November to recognize the new class of 2003.
  

Anyone having ideas for the newsletter please contact Carol Rasoul.

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Admin. and Director, OSU Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868

Revised March, 2004