Upcoming Events

The events on this page are arranged by location. You can scroll down the list or click on the maps to jump to a specific area. You can also search by date. Note: All external links open into a new browser window.

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Wisconsin - North

Nov 16, 2009
Wreath Workshop
Florence, WI
Join the Glacial Gardeners MGA at 6:00 p.m. in the lower level of the Natural Resource Center in Florence to make either a wreath, a centerpiece or a pine kissing ball. All materials and instruction will be provided to make your own holiday item, including fresh evergreen boughs, decorations and ribbon, as well as forms needed. $15, pre-registration required. For more information or to register contact Kathy Bednarski at the Florence Co. UW-Extension office at (715) 528-4480 Ext 113.

Nov 17, 2009
Wreath Workshop
Florence, WI
Join the Glacial Gardeners MGA at 6:00 p.m. in the lower level of the Natural Resource Center in Florence to make either a wreath or a pine kissing ball. All materials and instruction will be provided to make your own holiday item, including fresh evergreen boughs, decorations and ribbon, as well as forms needed. $15, pre-registration required. For more information or to register contact Kathy Bednarski at the Florence Co. UW-Extension office at (715) 528-4480 Ext 113.

April 24, 2010
North Stars Garden Conference
Florence, WI
Join the Glacial Gardeners MGA at the fourth annual conference to be held at Florence High School. More details will be available in early 2010. For more information or to register contact Kathy Bednarski at the Florence Co. UW-Extension office at (715) 528-4480 Ext 113.

May 24, 2010
Gardening Symposium
Lac du Flambeau, WI
With Glenn Spevacek from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. At Dillman's Bay Resort, 13277 Dillman’s Way, PO Box 98, Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin 54538. For more information contact Sue Robertson at (715) 588-3143.

May 29, 2010
11th Annual Glacial Gardener Plant Sale
Florence, WI
At the Florence Co. Fairgrounds (just south of Florence on Hwy N) from 8:00 a.m. to noon. For more information or to register contact Kathy Bednarski at the Florence Co. UW-Extension office at (715) 528-4480 Ext 113.

Wisconsin - West

Feb 20, 2010
Think Spring
Chippewa Falls, WI
This annual gardening seminar offered by the Chippewa Valley MGA will be held at Chippewa Falls Middle School, 750 Tropicana Blvd. For more information contact Laura Franta.

March 6, 2010
Spring into Gardening 
La Crosse, WI 
Sponsored by the MGAs of La Crosse County, this program features a Keynote speaker in the afternoon and two breakout session in the morning with choice of 3 topics, and lunch. $30 For more information contact Marilyn Rebarchek at bluffcountrymg@yahoo.com.

May 23, 2010
Plant Sale
Chippewa Falls, WI
This annual sale is offered by the Chippewa Valley MGA. For more information contact Laura Franta.

July 20-22, 2010
Wisconsin Farm Technology Days
Pierce Co., Wisconsin
This premier exposition (previously called Farm Progress Days) – the largest agricultural show in Wisconsin – is also one of the largest in the nation. The three-day outdoor event showcases the latest improvements in production agriculture, including many practical applications of recent research findings and technological developments. For more information see the WI Farm Technology Days website.

July 2013
Wisconsin Farm Technology Days
Barron Co., Wisconsin
This premier exposition (previously called Farm Progress Days) – the largest agricultural show in Wisconsin – is also one of the largest in the nation. The three-day outdoor event showcases the latest improvements in production agriculture, including many practical applications of recent research findings and technological developments. For more information see the WI Farm Technology Days website.

Wisconsin - Central

Jan 22-23, 2010
Garden Visions
Stevens Point, WI
This conference for northern climate gardeners is sponsored by the North Central Wisconsin MGA. Keynote speakers are Paul Tukay, HGTV host, author and founder of safelawns.org, who will speak on Safe Lawns: How to Create Beautiful Landscaping Naturally; and, Mike Nowak, Chicago WCPT radio host and founder of Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association presenting, I’m Not Really a Garden Expert, I Just Play One on the Radio. Several breakout sessions, pre-conference workshops on Friday from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., and an optional movie screening of “A Chemical Reaction” on Friday evening. The Garden Visions Photography contest winners will be on exhibit throughout the conference. Registration deadline Jan 13. For more information or to register (beginning Nov 15) see the Garden Visions website or the Marathon Co. MG website, or email gardenvisions@gmail.com.

Aug 3, 2010
Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Twilight Tour
Hancock Ag Research Station, Hancock, WI
Hosted in the Albert Horticultural Garden from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tour the station and research plots, and see more than 600 varieties of perennials, herbs, prairie plants, shade plants, grapes and heirloom varieties. For more information contact the Hancock Ag Research Station, N3909 County Hwy V, Hancock, WI 54943-7547 at (715) 249-5961 or fax (715) 249-5850.

July 12-14, 2011
Wisconsin Farm Technology Days
Marathon Co., Wisconsin
This premier exposition (previously called Farm Progress Days) – the largest agricultural show in Wisconsin – is also one of the largest in the nation. The three-day outdoor event showcases the latest improvements in production agriculture, including many practical applications of recent research findings and technological developments. For more information see the WI Farm Technology Days website.

Wisconsin - East

Nov 27 - Dec 27, 2009
13th Annual WPS Garden of Lights
Green Bay Botanical Garden, Green Bay, WI
A holiday favorite featuring over 200,000 lights crafted in flowers, butterflies, and other botanical themes. Walk the trail or take a horse-drawn wagon ride (subject to availability). Indoor garden railroad also featured. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Walking Admission:  $5 adults, $3 children ages 5-12; Wagon rides: $7 adults, $5 children ages 5-12. For more information, contact the Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larsen Road, P.O. Box 12644, Green Bay, WI 54307-2644 at (920) 490-9457 or by fax at (920) 490-9461.

Dec 2, 2009 
Herbs of Christmas
Gardens of the Fox Cities, Appleton, WI
Learn the legends, lore and history of the Christmas plants rooted in the Yule Season in this class from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.. $16 ($8 member). For more information or to register contact the Gardens of the Fox Cities, 1313 E. Witzke Blvd., Appleton WI 54911 at (920) 993-1900.

Jan 30, 2010
Toward Harmony with Nature
Oshkosh, WI
This day-long seminar on native landscaping sponsored by Fox Valley Area Chapter of Wild Ones will feature keynote speaker, Dr. James A Reinartz, Director, UW Milwaukee Field Station and Adjunct Professor Biological Sciences, UWM on Wisconsin's Green Quilt: Patterns of Native Plant Communities. For more information or a conference brochure contact Karen at (920) 987-5587 or see the Wild Ones website.

Feb 27, 2010
Spring Thaw Symposium: Busting Garden Myths
Green Bay Botanical Garden, Green Bay, WI
Featuring Jeff Gillman, University of Minnesota professor of Horticulture and author of The Truth About Organic Gardening and Lynn Steiner, author and photographer of Landscaping with Native Plants of Wisconsin. $70 ($55 members), includes lunch, refreshments and handouts. For more information, contact the Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larsen Road, P.O. Box 12644, Green Bay, WI 54307-2644 at (920) 490-9457 or by fax at (920) 490-9461 or download the symposium flier.

March 13, 2010
A Day in the Garden
Fond du Lac, WI 
Sponsored by Fond du Lac Co. MGA, the 10th Annual A Day in the Garden will feature Melinda Myers speaking on Create your Own Wildlife Sanctuary; Mark Dwyer on Low Maintenance Perennials; Dave Wanninger on Use of Shrubs in the Landscape - New and Unusual Varieties; and Anita Carpenter with Pictorial of Butterflies and Dragonflies. There will also be a book signing by Melinda Myers.  $35 by Feb 1; $40 after Feb 1 (includes lunch). At UW Campus - Fond du Lac LGI Room.  For more information contact Kathy Schneider at (920) 929-3171.

July 23-24, 2010
WI Annual MG Conference
Sheboygan, WI
Hosted by the Sheboygan Co. Master Gardener Association at the UW-Sheboygan campus. For more information see the 2010 conference website.

July 2012
Wisconsin Farm Technology Days
Outagamie Co., Wisconsin
This premier exposition (previously called Farm Progress Days) – the largest agricultural show in Wisconsin – is also one of the largest in the nation. The three-day outdoor event showcases the latest improvements in production agriculture, including many practical applications of recent research findings and technological developments. For more information see the WI Farm Technology Days website.

Wisconsin - South

Nov 27 - Dec 27, 2009
Olbrich's Holiday Express - Flower and Model Train Show
Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison, WI
Twinkling lights, festive poinsettias, tiny landscapes, and large-scale model trains: all aboard for Olbrich’s Holiday Express! Trains travel through miniature evergreen forests and colorful poinsettias as they make their way through a detailed landscape made of natural materials by Olbrich's horticulture staff. Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for children ages 3 – 12 (OBS members free) and includes admission to the tropical Bolz Conservatory. Admission is free each Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Call 608-246-4550  for more information.  For membership information, call 608-246-4724. For more information contact Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI 53704; phone (608) 246-4550.

Dec 12-31, 2009
Holiday Light Show
Rotary Botanical Gardens, Janesville, WI
From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., daily except Dec 24 and 25. For more information call Rotary Botanical Gardens at (608) 752-3885 or visit the RBG website.

Feb 6-7, 2010
Orchid Quest 2010
Madison, WI
The annual mid-winter show and sale of the Madison Orchid Growers Guild will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily in the Exhibition Hall of the Alliant Energy Center. Educational seminars each day and many vendors. For more information see the Orchid Grower's Guild Orchid Quest webpage.

Feb 12-14, 2010
WPT's Garden Expo
Madison, WI
Sponsored by Wisconsin Public Television, Friends of WHA-TV, and the UW-Extension Horticulture Team, this event draws nearly 16,000 people to view 400 booths, provided by numerous exhibitors over 100,000 square-feet. The Madison Area Master Gardeners will staff their own booth. Numerous educational seminars, demonstrations, and workshops are offered on a variety of horticultural topics. Hours are Fri 4:00-9:00, Sat 8:00-6:00, and Sun 10:00-4:00. In the Exhibition Hall, Alliant Energy Center. An admission fee is charged to this fundraiser to support WI Public TV programming (including The WI Gardener). For more information visit WPT's Garden Expo website.

Aug 5-7, 2011
WI Annual MG Conference
Madison, WI
Hosted by the Madison Area Master Gardener Association at UW-Madison. More details will be available in late 2010.

Wisconsin - Southeast

Dec 5, 2009
Containers for all Seasons, Part 2
Burlington, WI
Nancy Clifton, Chicago Botanic Garden and one of the top container designers in Chicagoland, will discuss winter containers and how to use cut evergreen boughs, colorful branches, berried stems, fruits and other accents along with various design elements, methods of arranging and combinations for success. At 11:00 a.m. At Northwind Perennial Farm, 7047 Hospital Rd, Burlington. For more information call (262) 248-8229 or visit the Northwind Perennial Farm website.

Aug 5-15, 2010
Wisconsin State Fair
West Allis, WI
Cows, cream puffs, amusement park rides, and many horticultural exhibits and programs, including SEW MGA great in-ground gardens and displays. See the State Fair website for details.

North America (Click on a state to jump to one of these midwestern states)

Other US locations Canada

Illinois

Nov 7, 2009
Plant Propagation Made Easy
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
At last, a vegetative plant propagation course for the home gardener! Glenn Grosch will give you both the practical knowledge and the confidence needed to add vegetative propagation to your list of gardening skills. Specific areas to be covered in this class from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. include division, layering, leaf and stem cuttings, bulb division, and hardwood and softwood cuttings. Included in the discussion will be the plants best suited for each method of propagation. $37 ($29 members). For more information or to register, contact the Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe IL 60022 at (847) 835-8261.

Nov 10, 2009
Consilience and Consinity
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
Consilience means "jumping together" and is typified when all the elements of an ecosystem are working in harmony. The health of an ecosystem is directly related to consilience. As ecosystems' elements drop out, the ability for all other elements to jump together is much diminished. Consinity is the beautiful harmony between people and place as humans understand their role in "jumping together." Dr. Gerould Wilhelm will be using the Garden's native prairie, woodland, and riverbank landscapes to illustrate consilience and consinity in this class from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. $37 ($29 members). For more information or to register, contact the Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe IL 60022 at (847) 835-8261.

Nov 14, 2009
End of Season Pruning
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
To cut or not to cut your woody plants? What you cut today affects what the plant will look like and how well it will grow for years to come. After a brief classroom discussion, you will have the opportunity to practice pruning small woody plants in this class from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. $62 ($49 members). For more information or to register, contact the Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe IL 60022 at (847) 835-8261.

Nov 14, 2009
Urban Composting
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
Compost is a valuable soil amendment and a great way to recycle abundant yard and food wastes. Even with limited or no yard space you can produce surprisingly large quantities of your own high quality compost. Join Bill Shores from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. as he explains the composting process, how to choose and handle materials, ways to fit composting into small urban spaces, what containers you can build or purchase and how to use them effectively, harvesting and using compost, and indoor composting options. $62 ($49 members). For more information or to register, contact the Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe IL 60022 at (847) 835-8261.

Nov 15 and 22, 2009
Orchids: Beyond the Basics
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
Are you ready to get past the beginner's level with your orchids? This class, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on two consecutive Sundays, provides an in-depth look at orchid diversity, nomenclature, and botany. Expert Jerry Garner will also discuss building an orchid collection and the finer points of orchid cultivation, as well as orchid breeding and hybridizing (including unusual orchids, particularly species and miniatures). Ample time is reserved for questions and discussion, troubleshooting problems, and dividing and repotting plants. Students are encouraged to bring in their plants from home. This is not a class for beginners, but it would be beneficial for those with even minimal experience growing orchids. $62 ($49 members). For more information or to register, contact the Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe IL 60022 at (847) 835-8261.

Nov 17, 2009
Planting Bulbs
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
Which end is up? Can I plant bulbs in containers? How do I keep the critters away? These and many other bulb questions will be addressed during this class from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. After a brief discussion on site selection, soil preparation and moisture, planting depth, and design tips, you will go outside to prepare a site and practice different planting techniques in this class. $62 ($49 members). For more information or to register, contact the Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe IL 60022 at (847) 835-8261.

Dec 1, 2009
Winter Containers at the Garden
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
Explore the winter containers at the Garden and learn ways to extend your own containers into the winter season. Then prepare a container with fresh-cut evergreen boughs and berried or brightly colored branches in this workshop from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Please bring gloves and pruners. Terra cotta containers used for the workshop are heavy, so assistance may be needed to unload them at home.  $74 ($55 members) with liner only; $112 ($89 members) with terra cotta pot. For more information or to register, contact the Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe IL 60022 at (847) 835-8261.

Dec 5, 2009
Composting with Worms
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
Composting redworms are amazing creatures, able to rapidly convert our food, paper and cardboard "waste" into nutrient-rich compost. Worm composting is highly productive, space efficient and well-suited to the indoor or outdoor urban environment. We will cover all aspects of vermicomposting including worm biology, worm bin options, bin setup, choosing an appropriate site, indoor versus outdoor bins, feeding maintenance, trouble-shooting, and pest management as well as harvesting and using worm compost in this class from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. $37 ($29 members). For more information or to register, contact the Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe IL 60022 at (847) 835-8261.

Dec 5, 2009
Preparing Roses for Winter
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
Now is the time to start putting your roses to bed for the winter. Join horticulturist Molli Rasmussen and learn about the degrees of cold tolerance and the proper way to protect various types of roses. Grandiflora, floribunda, hybrid tea, shrub, miniature and climbing roses will be discussed. A portion of the class from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. will consist of outdoor demonstrations and hands-on practice, so dress for the weather and bring thorn-resistant gloves. $37 ($29 members). For more information or to register, contact the Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe IL 60022 at (847) 835-8261.

Jan 20-22, 2010
Mid-Am Horticultural Trade Show
Chicago, IL
The largest horticultural show in the Midwest, with nearly 600 vendors, numerous educational programs, inspiring landscape displays, and more. At Lakeside Center at McCormick Place. For more information visit Mid-Am's website.

Sept 16-18, 2010
Upper Midwest MG Conference
Rockford, IL
Hosted by the Illinois Master Gardener Program. At the Clock Tower Resort, Rockford. More details will be available in late 2009 or early 2010. For more information contact Monica David, Illinois MG Coordinator, 1007 Plant Sciences Lab, 1201 Dorner Drive, Urbana, IL 61801 at (217) 265-5256 or visit the Illinois MG Program website.

Indiana

Iowa

 March 9-10, 2010
Shade Tree Short Course
Ames, IA
For more information see the Iowa State University Conference Services website.

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri