Each year, we try to list educational opportunities that can be utilized over the winter. Following are some that may be useful to you. (Phil Nixon)

February 18, 2003, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022

This class will discuss how to maintain healthy plants in greenhouse production and related systems. Topics include managing macro- and micronutrients; the influence of water quality, pH, and alkalinity on plant growth; how to properly select fertilizers; and ways to avoid nutrient deficiencies and toxicities. The instructor is Raymond A. Cloyd, assistant professor, Extension specialist in ornamental entomology/Integrated Pest Management, University of Illinois.

For information, contact the Chicago Botanic Garden at (847)835-8261 or access the Web site at www.chicagobotanic.org/continuinged.

Spanish Grounds Maintenance Workshop

April 1 and 2, 2003, tentatively in DuPage County, Illinois

Topics include diseases of needle evergreens, diseases of deciduous trees, planting and care of roses, pruning of shrubs and hedges, needle evergreen insects, and deciduous tree and shrub insects.

The cost is $40 per person per day, or $75 for both dates. The fee includes Hispanic lunch, coffee/pop at morning break, and all handouts (in Spanish when available). Contact Jim Schuster at (708)352-0109.

2002 North Central Turfgrass Exposition (NCTE)

December 3 to 5, 2002, Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois

This annual event, hosted by the Illinois Turfgrass Foundation, features turf and landscape educational sessions and workshops taught by university experts from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Georgia, as well as by professional turf and landscape managers. Forty thousand square feet of trade show is open to registrants on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Pheasant Run MegaCenter.

For registration information, contact Jack Lagershausen, executive director, Illinois Turfgrass Foundation, Suite 102, 1000 E. Woodfield Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173-5921; telephone, (847)706-6750; fax, (847)706-6751; e-mail, jlagers@aol.com.

Southern Illinois Grounds Maintenance School and Trade Show

February 25 and 26, 2003, Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville, Illinois

A comprehensive program covering turf and other landscape maintenance, including plant selection, pest management, and landscape design. It features sessions taught in Spanish on February 25 and a trade show.

Admission is $55 for both days and $40 for one day in advance; the admission charge at the door is higher. Advance registration is due by February 11 and includes lunch, breaks, proceedings, trade show, and education program. Lunch is not included in late or walk-in registration. For registration, contact Madison-St. Clair Extension Unit, P.O. Box 427, 900 Hillsboro Ave., Edwardsville, IL 62025; telephone, (618)692-7700. For program questions, call Ron Cornwell, (618)692-9434.

Fruit and Vegetable Programs

7th Illinois-Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference

November 7, 2002, 1 to 5 p.m., Davenport River Center, 136 E. 3rd Street, Davenport, IA (563-326-8500)

Topics include raspberry varieties, nonchemical controls for apple pests, disease-resistant apples, maintenance of fruit quality, grape cultivars, new fruit insecticides, squash vine borer control, maintenance of vegetable quality, training systems for tomatoes, sweet corn hybrids, tomato weed control, and fruit rot control in pumpkins.

Registration is $25.00 for the first person from a family or company, $20.00 for the second person, and $15.00 each for any additional persons. To receive a brochure, call the Johnson County Extension Office, Iowa City, IA, (319)337-2145; or Martha Smith at the University of Illinois Macomb Extension Center, (309)836-2363.

Additional Schools

Horseradish Growers School, January 29 and 30, 2003, Collinsville Holiday Inn

Tree Fruit School, specific times and locations to be announced: February 4, 2003, Centralia, IL; February 5, 2003, Cobden, IL,; February 6, 2003, Hardin, IL.

2003 Southern Illinois Vegetable School, February 12, 2003, Mt. Vernon Holiday Inn, Mt. Vernon, IL.

Small Fruit and Strawberry School, March 4 and 5, 2003, Mt. Vernon Holiday Inn, Mt. Vernon, IL.

For information on these schools, call Richard Wienzierl, (217)333-6651.