Barron County Master Gardeners

Welcome and thank you for visiting the BCMGA informational page. Our Association was formed in 1997 by a small group of gardeners dedicated to taking their love and knowledge of gardening to help make a difference in their community. We joined the WIMGA in 1999.

There are 40 members in our association. Yearly dues are $15. Benefits to you as a member of the association include state and local association newsletters, monthly meetings featuring guest speakers on a variety of gardening topics, membership in the Wisconsin Master Gardener Association, opportunities for continuing education and volunteer activities, and networking with other Master Gardeners.

In 2006 we volunteered 2128 hours in youth and community education and support services

and participated in 734 hours of continuing education.

Read the latest issues of our newsletters:

Barron Co. MG Newsletter • Barron Co. Extension Connection: Horticulture Update

Newsletter Archives

We invite you to learn, teach and help make a difference in the community. All who have taken the Master Gardener classes are encouraged to join the Barron County Master Gardener Association and come to our meetings. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held on the 1st Thursday of every month at the Barron County Extension Office in the Courthouse, 330 E. LaSalle Ave. in Barron, Room 110, and start at 7:00p.m.

Scheduled Meetings and Activities in 2009:

January	No meeting scheduled
February 12	MG Meeting, Showcase of the bus trip to Rotary Gardens in Janesville, Chicago Botanical Garden and Morton Arboretum 7:00 p.m., Barron Co. Government Center
February 8-10	WPT Garden Expo, Madison
March 12	MG Meeting, Showcase of the bus trip to Rotary Gardens in Janesville, Chicago Botanical Garden and Morton Arboretum 7:00 p.m., Barron Co. Government Center
April 4	Spring Garden Expo – Cameron Middle School – Starts at 8:30 a.m.
April 9	MG Meeting – Kris Henning from Grantsburg will present a PowerPoint presentation on “Ornamental Grasses for Cold Climates” 7:00 p.m., Barron Co. Government Center
May 14	MG Meeting – Marilyn Saffert’s house in Rice Lake, WI Potluck at 6:00 p.m. Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.
May 16	Annual Plant Sale at the Rice Lake Fairgrounds in Rice Lake, WI Starts at 8:30 a.m.
June 11	Bob Germer’s greenhouse of bromeliads in Cumberland, WI 6:00 pm., Potluck 7:00 p.m., MG Meeting
July 9	Tour of Linda Mullikin’s home in Rice Lake, WI 6:00 p.m. - Potluck 7:00 p.m. – MG Meeting
July 12	Barron County Fair Set Up and Judging
July 19	Rice Lake Area Garden Club and MG will tour 3 private gardens in the Cumberland area.
August 13	MG Meeting – Picnic and Garden Tour at Dan McNeil’s house 6:00 p.m. – Potluck 7:00 p.m. – MG Meeting
September 10	MG Meeting – Tony Weber, from Blue Moon Gardens and a Washburn Co. MGV will present a program on “Vegetables” 7:00 p.m., Barron Co. Government Center
October 8	MG Meeting – Jenny Bergmann of Bergmann’s Greenhouse in Clayton will present a program on “Fall Bulbs” 7:00 p.m., Barron Co. Government Center
November 12	MG Meeting – Gourd birdhouse demonstration presented by Judy and Sheri Snowbank. 7:00 p.m. – Barron Co. Government Center Election of Officers
December 10	MG Meeting – Christmas party – Potluck and gift exchange. 7:00 p.m., Barron Co. Government Center

Major Accomplishments or Projects:

We hold two plant sales per year as our only fundraisers. Money earned is used for MG projects and continuing education.
We handle all activities with the 4-H and Open Class exhibitors before and during the Barron County Fair in July. We man a booth at the Fair five days answering horticultural questions as well as the judging of exhibits.
We have participated in projects throughout the county including Display Gardens at the Barron County Courthouse and Fairgrounds, and beautifying other public areas.
In January, we had an educational booth about soil testing at the Spring Home and Garden Show at the Rice Lake, and sent speakers to the Heart of the North Home Builders Show in Barron. In April, we manned a booth at the “50-Plus Challenge to Live Well” in Rice Lake, and in May, we sent a speaker to the Environmental Service Day at Barron High School.
We continue to support the Nature’s Edge Therapy Center in Rice Lake, a place where disabled children receive therapy by interacting with nature.
We host a Spring Expo every year with speakers, demonstrations, displays, and vendors on a variety of horticultural topics.
4-H Discovery Days are held on Saturdays from January to May with our Master Gardeners sharing their knowledge on silk flower arranging, propagating plants with seeds and stem cuttings, soil acidity/ composting, herbs and fair judging with county 4-H members.

We have helped landscape a Habitat for Humanity house in Cumberland this year. We landscape at the University of Wisconsin-Barron County Campus, and will host a pruning workshop there this fall. We sent volunteers to Farm Progress Days in Clark County in 2005.