Brought to you in cooperation with the Kansas State Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners.   Each week we feature the most popular questions received on their "Hotline".

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Week of 3/3/04

Excitement builds as May arrives. Just as advertised, April showers have brought May flowers! In the case of our own garden, the process began early with PJM Rhododendrons more than a month ago. Now it’s the turn of the Delaware Valley Whites in dense drifts across the east front, punctuated every few feet with perennial and deciduous red Azaleas and the emerging Exburys in their rich golds, oranges, salmons and fiery red-oranges towering above them. Here and there the pointed buds of contrasting Clematis scramble over the structure provided for them by the Azaleas and Rhododendrons. As if by some magic of synchronicity, the 10 foot- tall Gibraltars prepare to host the bright blue blooms of Will Goodwin that will soon adorn them. Only Nature can achieve an effect like that!

Among the rest of the Johnson County Extension Master Gardeners, another kind of excitement is building! On Friday and Saturday, May 21 and 22 from 10am to 6pm, it’s the 2004 Extension Master Gardener Tour. This biennial informational garden tour for gardeners is in a class by itself. Five gardens, planned, planted and maintained by the Extension Master Gardeners themselves, are presented to those purchasing tickets for $10 each from Johnson County Extension Master Gardeners or from any Johnson County Hen House store. Demonstrations and informational packets are available at each garden, while Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Each of the five gardens focuses on a different garden aspect or character that will be of particular interest to you. Included are a cottage casual Prairie Village garden; a south Overland Park garden with 75 varieties of roses, an herb garden and meditation garden with a water feature, and a charming birdhouse collection; a Mission Hills garden certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, ideal for bird and animal lovers; a Shady Success located in Prairie Village that presents ferns and hostas in a lush verdant setting; and a case study in every day elegance that integrates shrubs, trees and perennials to create a flowing landscape.

Please plan now to attend the 2004 Garden Tour. Call (913) 764-6300 if you need further information on the tour or on tickets.

Articles submitted by Bill Latimer, Johnson County Extension Horticulture Assistant and Dennis Patton, Johnson County Extension Horticulture Agent.

Previous Weeks' Hotline Tips

* The "Hotline" is an information service of the Kansas State Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners.  Research-based responses are provided by Extension Master Gardener volunteers weekdays from March 1 through October 31, from 9:00 am to 4:30pm .  To telephone, call (913) 764-6306 or visit the Extension Office at 13480 South Arapaho Drive, Olathe, Kansas.  Visit their website at www.oznet.ksu.edu/Johnson 

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