Karen then called on Claire Loeffelman to give an educational segment. Claire showed us something she found in her yard called a mud chimney. We were to guess what formed them.  Some members were familiar with the chimneys as products of crawfish. This phenomenon occurs during wet periods with excessive rainfall. The crawfish are not harmful unless a skunk or mole likes them for dinner.

Karen introduced the new Master Gardeners for the 2004 year. They are as follows:

Minutes: The minutes of the previous month’s meeting were approved as written. 

Treasurer Report: Becky Rowe reported the balance on hand. She urged all chairs of committees to watch their budgets and all expenditures need to approved. She noted there was a loss of money on the sale of calendars. Although they are very nice, it is late in the year to try to sell them. Eunice Hornsby made a motion to sell the calendars at half price, $3. The motion was seconded and approved. It was suggested we start selling the calendars earlier in the year to get more sales in.

Karen reminded everyone to check their mailboxes at the Extension Office frequently. George McVey is at the Extension Office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He is there from 1- 7.  It is always good to call ahead to make sure he is there.

McCloud Park:  Lisa Anderson reminded everyone that the next Weed and Feed will be May 22 from 9 – 12.  40-50 fairy roses need to be dug up and replaced with a disease resistant variety of roses. Annuals will also be planted at this time. Everyone is encouraged to attend. There will be a Throw in the Trowel with a gift certificate as a prize.

Wednesday May 5, at 6 p.m. the new perennial bed will be planted at McCloud Park. They will be planting 5 or 6 different perennials and a climbing rose against the fence.

Garden Tour: Chris Burnard announced the garden chairs and their gardens:

Audrey Hall---Scott’s
Amber and Mary Haynes---Baker Garden
Robert Gordon--- Blackburn Garden
Joy Bingman-----Hutson Garden
Mariam Carson---Henson Garden
Barbara Ramm---Jane Payne Garden

George McVey has contacted several sources for publicizing the tour including the OSU Grapevine. Each Master Gardener will be sent 5 tickets to sell for the tour. This, plus newspaper articles with pictures and radio spots will help publicize the tour. The musical group that played last year will play again for the tour. They most likely will be located at the garden at Scott’s.
Chris suggested that any questions about the gardens should go through the garden chair rather than bothering the garden owner.

Program Committee for Garden Tour:  Eunice Hornsby reported that her committee has been working hard and they have the garden histories done and ready for the owners to approve.
She listed what the committee feels should be the educational emphasis of each garden and asked for volunteers to work on displays for this purpose.

Some of the garden educational themes are as follows:

Henson garden----Landscaping and gardening around a pool.
Blackburn garden---Garden rooms and principals of design for the rooms
Jane Payne—Emphasis on nature and wildlife
Hutson----- Emphasis could be on woody ornamentals in the garden.

There are many display items and trifolds at the Extension Office to utilize for the displays.
Chris Burnard is still looking for someone work with her to co-chair the position of Garden Tour Chairman.

Garden Party: Sandra Lepard reported her committee met this week and she would recommend doing the garden party next year in April. The date for this year’s Garden Party is August 21. Each Master Gardener should try to donate 12-15 plants each to make this sale successful. That would make 1000 or more plants available. Plants will be sold for $1, $2, $3,  depending on size from 4 inch to gallon size. They will not be using the fairy roses from McCloud Park.

If you have garden related items you are not using and want to donate them contact Claire Loeffelman who is charge of the garage sale for the Garden Party.

Chairmen of the Garden Party Committees are:

Education—Maria Huber
Publicity—Phil Jackson
Garage Sale—Claire Loeffleman
Vendors---Kathy Weaver
Plants—Sandra Lepard and Becky Rowe

People will be asked to bring plants in by the 20th of August. Area vendors will be invited to sell garden related items, but no one will be selling plants. A 10x10 booth fee will be $20. The sale will be held in building #2 at the Union County Fairgrounds. The next Garden Party Meeting will be May 17 at the Extension Office. People are needed to baby-sit plants. The volunteer hours for this have not been set as yet.

There is a possibility of Scott’s donating potting soil.  They will vote on May 5 as to whether they can do that or not. This will assist people with soil to pot plants. Setting up for the sale will be on the 20 with cookout and party at the fairgrounds.

Adopt A Pot: Cindy Shuster reported that May 22 the pots will be planted. 4-H’ers and Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts will assist. One Master Gardener is needed for each pot to over see the students. The planting will begin between 8 and 8:30 am. Someone is needed with a truck to pick up the 750 plants being purchased at Cuthbert’s on Cotton-Slash Road. Carol Rasoul volunteered her trailer.  People can pick up their plants on Friday or Saturday.
 
Liberty Park Milford Center: Jane Payne reported they planted annuals last year at the park and to eliminate some work they are looking to planting perennials and a few trees this year.  May 15 is slated as the work day.

Huston House:  Joan Phillips was absent and no report was made.

Leaping Frog:  Chris Burnard passed the leaping frog to George McVey for all the work he has done on the Garden Tour this year.  Karen Long reminded everyone to take a picture with the frog for the scrap book.

Coordinators Report: Marysville Library has classes on searching horticultural topics on the web. Dates: June 8, 15, 22, 29.  No mention of charge.
 
A request was made to donate money to the Marysville HS Awards Program. Request was denied.

Jill Ricker made a request for monies for purchasing puppets for horticultural education for the grade schools.  Although this is a nice program the treasury is low and a motion was made to table the request until the fall when the treasury has more money.  The motion was seconded and passed.

Pruning Demo. on crabapples trees will be May 1 from 9-12 at the new Ag. Building on Rt. 4 by George McVey. This will be a hands on project.

Timekeepers Report: ID’s and passwords are available for the new Master Gardeners and they can contact Mary Ann or Amber Haynes for the information.
 
Photo Contest: Claire Loeffleman set forth the following rules for the contest:

        1.    All pictures to be 3x5 or 4x6
        2.    Pictures of Master Gardening anywhere in Union County.
        3.    You may enter as many as 10 entries.
        4.    Photos must be turned in by October 10.
        5.    Winners to be announced at the November Recognition Dinner.

The next Master Gardener meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. May 26, 2004 at the
Dutch Mill Greenhouse, 18443 Route 4, Marysville, Ohio 43040.

No further business to be discussed the meeting was adjourned.

Those in attendance:

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 May, 2004