CONVENTION TO DRAW UP TO 200 MASTER GARDENERS

Failure of a proposed expansion of Public Water Supply District 1 doesn't mean the initiative is dead.

"Come next April I expect this will be on the ballot again," said Harold Landgraf Jr. of the water district.

Residents of the district voted Aug. 4 to reject a proposal to add about seven to 10 miles of water line to the system in the east central part of Cape Girardeau County. The measure needed a two-thirds majority of those voting to pass.

Of the 341 people who voted, 220 voted for it and 121 against it. The measure failed by five votes.

If the proposal passed, the line would have started in Oriole and gone to Route V to Highway 177. People could have tied into the water line on both sides of the roads. The entire project had a price tag of $850,000 to $1 million.

Landgraf said the project failed because voters did not have a good idea of what the project was about.

"I think for the most part it failed because people did not get the word out," Landgraf said. "We had phone calls in our office the day of the election asking 'Hey, what is this thing all about?'"

He said because of the heat there were problems in some communities with water pressure, and people thought an extension of the line would cause problems. But Landgraf said the district is in the midst of expanding the capacity of water production regardless of the proposed extension.

"We are growing like a weed," Landgraf said. "It is going to stay that way as long as the economy keeps going well."

Landgraf said the district does not necessarily take an active role in trying to attract new customers, but there is a willingness to cooperate.

"We have a geographic area assigned to us by the circuit court, and within that area we will serve water to people who will pay the cost of getting the water to them," Landgraf said.

The district does not levy property taxes even though it has the power to do so. Instead, customers pay for the service of hooking up to the line by paying a debt-service charge on their regular water bills. The per-capita cost for the project is unknown because there is no head count yet of how many people would want to tie into the water line.

The people interested in the extension live in places such as near Trail of Tears, where the well water is sound but tastes funny.

"The water is sanitary, but it has a lousy taste," said Martha Vandivort, Cape Girardeau County executive assistant for 911.

Vandivort said other communities in the east-central part of the county have broken limestone in their soil, and anything poured onto the soil goes into the drinking supply. Other parts of the area occasionally have orange-colored water.

"Which is more important: paying a little bit more money or having high-quality water?" Vandivort said. "There are some areas that really need this."

CONVENTION TO DRAW UP TO 200 MASTER GARDENERS

Master Gardeners Convention Schedule

Buses will depart from Drury Lodge.

Sept. 18

-- 7:30-noon, Pickle Spring Nature Area.

-- 8:30-noon, greenhouse and azaleas walk.

-- 9-noon, university campus tour.

-- 1-3 p.m., city tour.

-- 1-4 p.m., Ceramo Pottery and Lorberg farm.

-- 1 p.m., wreath-making workshop.

-- 2 p.m., bent twig trellis seminar.

-- 6 p.m., buses depart Drury Lodge for dinner at Dempster Hall.

Sept. 19

Classes conducted at four sites simultaneously.

-- 8:30 a.m., plant nomenclature, hybridizing iris, bonsai and soils.

-- 9:30 a.m., composting, hybridizing iris, bonsai and Soils.

-- 10:40 a.m., plant nomenclature, hydroponics, native annuals and perennials, gardening with roses.

-- 11;40 a.m., composting, hydroponics, native annuals and perennials, gardening with rose.

-- 12:30, lunch and auctions.

Summary:

The fifth annual state meeting will be held in Cape Girardeau Sept. 18 and 19.

Cayenne pepper spray and banana peels can be useful items in a garden operation.

Banana peels, two to four of them placed around tomato or rose bushes when they start blooming, can provide needed potash and phosphorous for the plants.

Cayenne pepper? That can be used to keep varmints such as squirrels and raccoons away from corn.

These are among little gardening facts that may emerge when gardeners get together, and master gardeners from throughout the state will come together in Cape Girardeau for the fifth annual Master Gardener State Convention Sept. 18 and 19.

As many as 150 to 200 master gardeners will attend the session. Last year's convention was held at Springfield.

"The general public is invited to attend the second-day sessions, which will be held at the Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau," said Don Koehler, president of SEMO Master Gardeners.

The Saturday schedule for master gardeners will be a busy one, featuring tours of Pickle Springs Nature Area, Penzel's Azalea and Rhododendron Farm, Southeast Missouri State University greenhouse and garden, Ceramo Pottery, Lorberg Farm and Cape Girardeau gardens.

On the first-day schedule is a wreath-making workshop presented by Kristy Fredrick and a bent twig trellis workshop presented by Koehler. Koehler and his wife, Carol, raise herbs.

Dr. Charles H. Korns, retired professor of horticulture at Southeast Missouri State University who now lives in Arkansas, will return to present a Sunday class on plant nomenclature.

Other second-day speakers include Kevin Godsey, who will discuss soil; Dave Niswonger, who has been hybridizing irises for more than 45 years and will discuss the hybridization; and Pat Steinborn, who will discuss bonsai trees.

Rounding out the list of speakers are Jeff Oberhaus, who will discus rose gardening; William Edelman, who will talk about the collecting, processing and storage of seed for local native plants; Mel Zielinsk, who will discuss composting; and Chris Shimp, who will discuss hydroponics, pest control and plant management.

Sunday visitors to the conference can learn about the master gardener program.

Cost of the one-day program is $25, and advance registration is required. Regular cost of the two-day event for master gardeners is $75. Additional information and registration are available by calling 243-3581.

"Anyone interested in gardening, lawns, trees, shrubs, and environment can become a master gardener," said Koehler.

To become a master gardener, gardeners must have 30 hours of classroom instruction and serve a one-year internship.

The SEMO Master Gardeners has about 75 members in four chapters in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Perry and Scott counties. They hold area workshops each year.

Master gardeners are part of the University of Missouri Outreach and Extension. Classes are conducted by extension each year.

Additional information is available by calling Koehler at 334-3118.