Polk County Master Gardeners

Read the latest issue of What's Coming Up, the newsletter for the Polk Co. MG Associations

There are 24 certified Master Gardeners in our association. Our 2005 membership list includes a total of 43 individuals including certified, intern or lapsed Master Gardeners, and also friends of the MGs group.

The Polk County MGs split off from the St. Croix Valley MGA in late 2001 to become a separate group and then became a part of the WIMGA in October 2004. Monthly meetings are normally held in Balsam Lake, and include both a business portion and at least one hour devoted to educational topics. Topics in the past year have included: Perennial Plantings, Shoreland Restoration, Landscaping for Wildlife, Care and Cultivation of Gladiolus, and Landscaping with Native Plants of Minnesota. We also toured a local vineyard and winery in St. Croix Falls.

Major Accomplishments or Projects:

1. Presence at Polk County Fair (over 120 hours volunteered). We staffed a table at the Polk County Fair for four days in late July. MGs provided answers to frequent questions posed by fair visitors. MGs enhanced the communities weed identification skills by overseeing “the largest weed in Polk County” contest. MGs also focused significant efforts on maintaining and expanding the Willis Erickson Memorial Garden on the fairgrounds (more below).

2. Throughout the growing season MGs were involved in community beautification and outreach efforts in Balsam Lake, St. Croix Falls, Osceola and Milltown (over 125 hours volunteered). This included work on community flower beds in St. Croix Falls with the city Parks and Recreation Commission; rain garden planting in Osceola with city Parks and Recreation Commission, beautification of the entrance of Interstate Park, maintaining flower beds at a local nursing home and teaching residents about gardening, and maintaining flower beds at a women’s shelter in Milltown.

3. MGs staffed a booth at the Polk County Sportsmen’s Show in May (over 23 hours volunteered). This provided our group with a fantastic opportunity to interact with many from Polk County on various gardening issues just when people are getting into that mode. Home grown plants were also sold and the proceeds benefited PCMGA programming.

Highlighted Project: Willis Erickson Memorial Garden

During the summer of 2005, the Polk County MGs expanded the Willis Erickson Memorial Garden at the Polk Co. Fairgrounds in St. Croix Falls (over 38 hours volunteered). Willis, who passed away in 2003, was a treasured resource in the county who many turned to for horticultural and forestry advice; he also was a long-time UW-Extension Agent in Balsam Lake. Many hours were spent by MGs and friends converting an unused, unattractive weed patch adjacent to the Flower Building, into a low-maintenance perennial shade garden that will be enjoyed by all.

Plants Willis was fond of were chosen based on recommendations from friends and family. They include ‘Stella d’Oro’ daylilies, hostas, coralbells, purple coneflower, astilbe, pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), Korean lilac (Syringa palabiniana), and ‘Tauton’ yew. The garden also includes a concrete bench and bird bath.  

Donations of materials, labor and plants for Willis’ garden were provided by many community members, including local lumber stores, greenhouses, Polk Co. Fair Board members, St. Croix Falls High School students, the Polk Co. Lime Quarry and more.

2006 Event and Meeting Schedule

All meetings are at the Polk County Government Center in Balsam Lake.  The Business Meeting starts at 6:45PM followed by an informational/education session.

Minutes of the 2006 Annual Meeting

Contacts:

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