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Master Gardeners

Master Gardener Volunteer Training in Marinette, Oconto and Florence Counties, Wisconsin

  • The Master Gardener program is all about volunteering in the local community. As a member of the class you will learn how to find answers to gardening questions through the use of research-based material from the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension. On completion of the classroom sessions (36 hours), there will then be 24 hours of volunteer time put in at one or more of the approved projects in the area. To complete an annual re-certification, 24 hours of volunteer time is needed. For more information on the Master Gardener program, go to the state website below.
  • For information about becoming an associate member of the Northern Lights Master Gardeners Association, email linda.warren@ces.uwex.edu.
Wisconsin State Master Gardener Program

Local Master Gardener Association

Northern Lights Master Gardeners Association logo The Northern Lights Master Gardeners Association (NLMGA) is affiliated with the Wisconsin State Master Gardeners Association. Monthly meetings are held and the general public is invited to attend. Associate membership is available for those who have not completed the Master Gardener training, and “Friend of Harmony Arboretum” designation is for those gardeners who would like to help at Harmony but are not planning to take the Master Gardener training (contact Linda Warren for more information).
A view of the pavilion at Harmony Gardens If you are in the Marinette area, visit our display garden which is part of The Harmony Arboretum. It is located 7 miles west of Marinette on Hwy 64, then 1/2 mile south on County Road E. The Harmony Arboretum covers over 400 acres. The Master Gardeners’ display and demonstration garden is a 3-acre area protected by a wildlife-excluding fence. It is always open to the public – but please close the gate! The separate gardens include a formal herb garden with well over 100 different herbs; 40 raised beds containing vegetables and small fruits; a perennial garden at the entrance (if you want to know what plants will survive zone 4 winters with no protection, come and check out these perennials!); a shade house, compost area, water garden, butterfly garden, and tree fruits. There are also a number of smaller ‘garden rooms’ showing phenology, lawn establishment and management, and other demonstrations which change each year.
Animal-shaped beds in the sensory garden CHILDREN’S LEARNING GARDEN at Harmony Master Gardener Demonstration Garden

On the left is a picture of the Sensory Garden, which is part of the Children’s Garden at the Harmony Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens at Harmony Arboretum. The purpose of the Children’s Garden is to involve children in gardening and interacting with nature. Most areas have an education element.
Decorating the center slab of the sundial This picture is of decorating the sundial slab with mosaics.  The finished product is the next picture. This is an interactive sundial, where the person stands on the center line opposite the month and their shadow tells the time.
A look at the finished sundial The sundial mosaic number stones were decorated by students at Marinette Middle School
Visitors check out the 36 ft mural Here visitors are looking at the 36 foot mural that depicts 50 animals and plants native to the area.  It is the front of a triangular structure which will house the “Chipmunk’s Tunnel” exhibit.  Children are asked to imagine that they are only a few inches high, and what they see on the inside of the above-ground “tunnel” are other animals that a chipmunk might see while in his underground home.The bottom picture is detail of the mural by Master Gardener Barbara Kane Anderson.
Mural detail This new garden is being constructed just to the east of the pavilion. There are many parts to this project and volunteers from the general public are most welcome to join us. Please call or email Linda or Scott (addresses at top of page) for more information on joining the crew.

In the “pioneer cabin” will be gardening tools for the children to use, together with handout material for families and teachers describing lessons for each area. The idea is that there will be something for everyone to help get the children involved and engaged, whether they are from a local school with their teacher, a family, or a home-school group.

If you are able to contribute financially to the project, there will be an area dedicated to those who donated money and/or time to bring this worthwhile idea to fruition.

If you would like more detailed information on the various areas, contact Linda (see above).