Union County Master Gardener’s met at 7 p.m. at the UCSC building in Marysville, Ohio. Claire Loeffelman, Vice President, called the meeting to order in absence of President Karen Long.  Claire introduced John Hixson, who gave a very interesting presentation on the Emerald Ash Borer and how it is affecting the Ash trees of Ohio and what preventive measures are being taken to prevent its spread. Anyone suspecting infestation of their Ash tree should report it to ODA to the EAB hotline 1-888-644-6322.

Minutes: Minutes of the previous month’s meeting were approved as read.

Treasurer’s Report:  Becky Rowe, Treasurer, stated that we began with a balance of $1926.62.  Monies were received from the calendar sale in the amount of $170.40 and expenditures for apparel were $343.90.  Leaving a present balance of $1,753.13.

Old Business:

Mcloud Park: John Jordan stated the time for the work day at McCloud Park would be April 17 from  9-12 rather than 9-4 as stated in the February  minutes.

Garden Tour: Chris Burnard reported that Garden chairs have been chosen and assigned gardens.  The program committee has received the garden histories and will be working on the program. The next Garden Tour committee meeting will be April 20 at 7 p.m. at the Extension office. The garden chairs, the Program and Publicity committees are asked to attend this meeting and anyone else interested in working on these committees is asked to come. This would be a good opportunity for some of the new MG’s to pair up with an experienced MG.

The Program Committee will met on April 7 at Eunice Hornsby’s home at 5:30.

Garden Party:  Cathy Weaver reported the Garden Party Committee met this evening and they decided to hold a White Elephant or Garage sale of garden items such as old garden tools, yard decorations, flower pots and etc. at the Garden Party.

Craft booths will be allowed to set up at a charge of $20 a booth. These booths also will concentrate on gardening items. Exhibitors such as honey farmers, worm composters and dried flower arrangers will be asked to set up booths.

The committee would like to pot the rose bushes being torn out at McCloud Park to sell at the Garden Party. Each Master Gardener is asked to donate 12 plants for the Garden Party or more if they can.

It was suggested a nursery give a demo on container gardening for different seasons.

Educational ideas for adults and children are needed.

The next Garden Party meeting date is April 19 at 6:30 in the Extension Office. Anyone interested can come.

Claire suggested that the Garden Party and Garden Tour Committees come up with a budget to get it pre-approved for spending limits.

Patsy Bushdorf asked if monies from the Garden Party to be held August 21 were earmarked for a specific purpose.  No specific purpose has been designated, but funds may be needed for landscaping at the new agricultural facility on Route 4.

Leaping Frog.  Cathy Weaver gave the  Leaping Frog award to Chris Burnard for all her work on the Garden Tour.

Coordinator’s Report:   George rode out to the new Union County Agricultural facility.  He found crabapple trees in need of pruning.  At our next meeting on April 28.

George will instruct us in pruning crabapple trees. Then on May 1 at the facility, Master Gardeners can come out and on do some hands on pruning of the crabapple trees from 9-12 that day.

Master Gardener apparel needs to be ordered by April 15. Checks to be paid payable to Union County Master Gardeners.

A Master Gardener  OARDC Conference will be held in Wooster  at the Secrest Arboretum on October 22-23rd.

George said the list of speakers is impressive and we should mark our calendars for this event.

The Rugby team from Marysville High School contacted George about doing some volunteer work in the community. George suggested they help in planting a flower bed at the Marysville Library. Patsy Bushdorf made a motion for George to check further into what type of planting are needed at the library and report back to the group and see how the rugby team can help in this project. The motion was seconded and passed.

Richwood Elementary school is looking for someone to assist in planting and designing a low maintenance landscape for the school. The architect for the school has designated monies for the project.

Roberta Gordon made a motion for her to visit the school and speak to the school board about turning the project into a school yard habitat. This could afford the school an educational opportunity for the children. She stated the National Wildlife Federation has many resources for a project such as this.  The motion was seconded and passed.  Roberta will report back next month.

The Lawn and Garden judging in Unionville Center will continue this year. Barb Jackson, along with Jill Ricker and Hazel Lawruk will work on judging the gardens this year.

New Business:

Educational topics for meeting:

April--------George McVey on pruning crabapple trees.
May-------- Meet at Hank Berbee's Dutch Mill nursery on Route 4
June--------Speaker on Water Gardens for the back yard

Photo Contest:

Anyone interested in taking garden photos may do so. You can turn them in and they will be judged and prizes awarded at the November Recognition Dinner.  They will then be enlarged and hung in the new Union County Agricultural Building to adorn the walls.

Claire will e-mail the rules for entries into the contest.

At the April meeting refreshments will be served to celebrate our new Master Gardener members passing their exams.

At future Master Gardener meetings, members can bring in plants to talk about or an insect or diseased plant. This will make members more familiar with plants diseases and insects.

Members were asked to remember the plant swap next meeting.  Bring bags or boxes to hold plants.

With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned until April 28.

Those in attendance:

Becky Rowe                            Johanna Keiser
Eunice Hornsby                        Patsy Bushdorf                        
Roberta Gordon                       Barb Matteson
Mary Ann Haynes                    Linda Reamsnyder
Amber Haynes                         Kim Main                                            
Susan Kinzer                            Kristine Kinzer
John Jordan                              Chris Burnard
Angie Hatfield                           Sue Hess
Dean Shipley                            Jez Linscott
Susan Lasley                            Barb Jackson
Hazel Lawruk                           Jill Ricker
Joan Griffin                               Sandra Lepard
Maria Huber                             Cathy Weaver
Barbara Ramm                         Claire Loeffelman
Andrew Pine                            Ian Pasco
Susan Pasco                             John Walkup
Cindy J. Shuster                       Audrey Hall     

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 April, 2004