We teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities.
check out the schedule for topics to learn, grow, and have some fun with them. Our programs are open to the public and fee schedule is listed.
process for project approval
form for county use only for submission to the Extension Personnel.
Project List. See where you can find volunteers throughout our county.
You can find volunteers at
- Katie's Garden, Platteville
- Orchard Manor, Lancaster
- Platteville Community Arboretum Trail
- Lancaster County Club, Lancaster
- UW Extension, Lancaster
- Stitzer Park Play Area, Stitzer
- Marsden Park, Fennimore
- Doll and Toy Museum, Fennimore
Under construction - latest ongoing projects.
View photos of our projects that are ongoing and note that some are completed. These projects were lead by Grant County Master Gardener volunteers.
fennimore railroad museum, historical society
Wagon Ho
Heritage Day in Fennimore, WI kicked off last month and GCMGV Cindy Arndt decorated the baggage wagons at the Railroad Museum and Tourist Information Center.
Cindy dressed up the corner with a bit of color this year by decorating with gourds, pumpkins and mums. Tourists enjoy the fall displays while driving through her town or while stopping to collect information at the tourist attractions.
Cindy is hoping to make this a yearly project of hers. She thoroughly enjoys her volunteer work and it shows as you drive through the scenic community of Fennimore.
Heritage Day in Fennimore, WI kicked off last month and GCMGV Cindy Arndt decorated the baggage wagons at the Railroad Museum and Tourist Information Center.
Cindy dressed up the corner with a bit of color this year by decorating with gourds, pumpkins and mums. Tourists enjoy the fall displays while driving through her town or while stopping to collect information at the tourist attractions.
Cindy is hoping to make this a yearly project of hers. She thoroughly enjoys her volunteer work and it shows as you drive through the scenic community of Fennimore.
tour at fennimore to view projects by two volunteers
pollinator garden at the toy and doll museum by Marsha Schneider
hugelkultur garden by Chris Swan.
The slide show gives you a brief cap of what we viewed at our monthly program.
2019 booth at the grant county fair, Lancaster.
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The non-action shot of our booth looks like we were not busy but that is false - On Sunday we had a successful day of answering questions about weeds, tomato and cucumber bitterness. Including talking with some future members!
gardening at the library series - monarch butterfly presentation at the Cassville Library, August 14, 2019
stitzer ballpark area and recreational park
When I asked Joanne Reynolds about her project at Stitzer. here is what she shared:
Mmm, news about my project. I installed a perennial garden in spring of 2018, adding a few annuals for pops of color. I’ve been involved in the Stitzer Park Project Committee since 2001 and this seemed a natural way to go to beautify the park. I added a bench in memory of my parents who spent many summers here.
Nancy Ashmore helped me and between us we planted a Prairiefire Crabapple tree, a dwarf burning bush, 2 Weigelia, a hydrangea, a potentilla, a dwarf lilac, 2 spirea and an unidentified shrub from the MG plant sale! Other perennials include geranium, daylily, coral bells, grasses, brunnera, sedum, and asiatic lilies.
I weed whenever I go up there with my grandchildren and eventually would like to add an area of hostas under the trees by the entrance to the walking trail.
View a few more photos by clicking on any photo for slide show feature below.
katie's garden - 15 year anniversary, July 24, 2019
Platteville regional chamber, business hwy 151
Slide show features activities that took place that evening.
One of the highlights was the Monarch Butterfly Booth which was an attraction for young and old!
another feature at katie's garden - wishing tree
In celebration of the 15-year anniversary of Katie’s Garden a wishing tree element was featured which is an object to record your wishes and offerings. Master Gardener volunteers choose this tree specifically near the water edge and table where one can sit and reflect. This garden area started out 15 years ago as a shade garden and then changed to a unique fairy garden. Since it was flooded out in 2018, we decided to make this area a restful spot for making wishes.Come and create your own wish on a tag and place on the tree where we hope your wishes will be found and wishes are endless. Stop in at the chamber office from M-F, 8-5 p.m. Weekends from 10-2 p.m. to pick up a tag to use for recording your wish and then simply attach it to the tree. Whether your wish is for personal gain, a better life, the safety of a loved one, or improving the world, we all share in the possible hope our wishes might come true. The wishing tree feature will reappear next spring..
Find several volunteers doing a hypertufa plant project on July 20
"A make and take" container and a hens and chicks plants were offered to place in the containers when dried.
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2019 Creative Youth Expo
It was a fun workshop for all of making the Hypertufa container to use as a planter for a succulent plant. We had two sessions with 21 kids registered. The organizers did a super job of setting up times, registrations, advertising, lunch, and everything that goes with putting on an Expo for youth. We just showed up with our supplies and we were set to go with two young boys helping unload and setting up tables. It was a joy working with this group of organizers and want to thank them for inviting our group to participate!
It was a fun workshop for all of making the Hypertufa container to use as a planter for a succulent plant. We had two sessions with 21 kids registered. The organizers did a super job of setting up times, registrations, advertising, lunch, and everything that goes with putting on an Expo for youth. We just showed up with our supplies and we were set to go with two young boys helping unload and setting up tables. It was a joy working with this group of organizers and want to thank them for inviting our group to participate!
Lancaster Golf Course Beautification Project
volunteers began on June 13 - watch for follow up photos that will show awesome results!
Annuals and Perennials were planted in two beds. Lancaster is committed to this beautification project and gives us the go ahead to pick and choose the plants to enhance their beds to show off their visitors.
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Gardening at the Library Series, June 13, 2019.
Pilot program on visiting several libraries in our area inviting guests to learn and talk about gardening.
“Eight Common Flowers that Attract Beneficial Bugs” was Shirley's topic at Bloomington.
Shirley kicked off the pilot project with a small group of people attending the first Gardening at the Library Series at the Bloomington library on June 13. One photo she is showing how geranium and mum plants help deter the Japanese Beetles. She also passed out Beneficial Bug Cards that she received from PJ Liesch of the University of Wisconsin Insect Diagnostic Lab along with handouts, which described more information on how to keep your garden organic and healthier. Everyone attending enjoyed this gardening talk.
Shirley kicked off the pilot project with a small group of people attending the first Gardening at the Library Series at the Bloomington library on June 13. One photo she is showing how geranium and mum plants help deter the Japanese Beetles. She also passed out Beneficial Bug Cards that she received from PJ Liesch of the University of Wisconsin Insect Diagnostic Lab along with handouts, which described more information on how to keep your garden organic and healthier. Everyone attending enjoyed this gardening talk.
Gardening at the library, Lancaster, June 24
A few photos that were sent from the Gardening at the Library Series on June 24 at Lancaster. Nancy and Shirley showed how to take cuttings from one plant to root, plant, and grow more plants. Looks like they tossed in a little fun when demonstrating their talk!
gardening at the library series, platteville, June 27, 2019
The topic was "To Deadhead or Not to Deadhead" Karin showed and told about ways to deadhead including the why and how and when to shear or prune. The ten participants were offered a plant to take home that needed deadheading. Thanks to Rosa Moore, librarian at the Platteville library for arranging the meeting..
Community involvement fair 2019
platteville public library, January 25, 2019
We were among a great group of volunteers! Thirty-five non-profit groups gathered to show their support to our community. Everything was set except the weather decided not to cooperate which was unfortunate because the displays and volunteers were amazing. The library staff treated volunteers to snacks, beverages, and lunch. Our traffic was slim but we had chance to talk one on one with interested visitors to our display.
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The theme for the display was soil testing that was created by our president, Terry Wood. She included a soil probe that can be loaned out to users. We purchased this tool with a grant that we received from WIMGA.
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Our traffic was slim but we had chance to talk one on one with interested visitors to our display. Shown here is one of our volunteers conversing with a visitor about the benefits of soil testing and how to submit a soil sample.
pollinator Garden at Doll and Toy Museum, Fennimore
View the ongoing project. For more information, contact Marsha Schneider, Project Chair.
fARMER'S MARKET, SEPTEMBER 8, 2018, PLATTEVILLE
SHORT SLIDE SHOW CAPTURES A FUN PART DURING THE DAIRY DAY WEEKEND.
garden greens and gadgets, august 1, Vesperman farms
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April 2018 , Container Gardening and other alternative gardening
Presentations held at Mound City Bank and at the Muscoda Library
We are sharing several files that were used as resources and handouts for this topic.
- Resource from Learning Store, Container Gardening, A3382
- Brochure on Successful Container Gardening
- List of web sites for garden related resources.
march 15, 2018, kokedama also called "Moss Balls" by marilyn
Marilyn has a passion for gardening and when she first saw Kokedama, she knew she had to try it.
- Kokedama is a Japanese style of plant displaying also called “Moss Balls”. They can be displayed in your home in many ways such as hanging, setting on a hard surface or tray. One can be creative on how to display these plants.
Presentation on Pollinator Plants by MG volunteers on May 27 at sugar and spice
What better way to learn than to show and tell what plants would be the best for our area to attract beneficial pollinators. Here Doreen is telling and fielding questions about different types of pollinators.
air plants anyone?
Master Gardener Volunteer, Shirley, is showing her presentation on air plants. This took place on April 22 and her audience appreciated her showing how to decorate with these plants in their home.
how to use succulents in a living picture frame.
We've all gone wild for those dramatic "living walls" of succulents. Here, volunteer, Corey shows how you can make your own by making a vertical project or you can buy the kits. Note how he selects the right type of succulents to place in the chicken wire and has ways of watering. He showed a frame that he made four years ago and still is a living art.
Several volunteers design and maintain beds at Katie's Garden near the Regional Chamber Office, Platteville. This spring day, Karin was trying to tend to one of her beds while enjoying the aroma of the Miss Kim Lilacs that were in bloom down the trail from her bed. The incredible sweet floral fragrant filled the whole area. This year the flowering shrubs put on quite a show as noted in photo below.
Show and tell time for the cubs!
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Volunteer is hosting and leading the cubs on an adventurous gardening happening at her home. The Lion Cub Den learned about different kinds of gardens, took a peek into her greenhouse, and planted some seeds. Her style of teaching on their level is well received by these eager Cubs.
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Something new at the Lancaster Country Club
Several volunteers accepted challenge of designing some flower areas at the Lancaster Country Club. Through the hard work and dedication by a committee of Fab Five, the entrance and bed by the club house are getting a new look for 2017. Watch for more photos as project progresses.
School Garden at Highland
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Our association provided a grant to one of our volunteers, Marilyn, to assist the students at Highland grade school with amending the soil of their raised beds and showing them how to plant different kinds vegetables with end product of Salsa. Her recipe of one third compost, one third peat moss,and one third vermiculite worked as shown in the "After" photos.
The last photo shows the group putting the gardens to sleep for the winter. More information about this project can be found by clicking on this link. |
Presentation by one of our volunteers
Early Childhood Conference
March 14, 2015
Cindy Arndt once again represented our group and presented a seminar on March 14 at the Early Childhood Conference. Thirty childcare providers learned from Cindy, "Fuel their interests now and you'll have a gardener for life". Check out her summary for more details.
March 14, 2015
Cindy Arndt once again represented our group and presented a seminar on March 14 at the Early Childhood Conference. Thirty childcare providers learned from Cindy, "Fuel their interests now and you'll have a gardener for life". Check out her summary for more details.
Gardening Presentation for Child Care Providers
Early Childhood Conference
April 25th, 2014
Cindy Arndt, from the Grant County Master Gardeners, presented some great ways to get children interested in gardening at the Wisconsin Family Child Care Association Conference at Wisconsin Dells on April 25th, 2014. To see some picture of the event check out this link.
April 25th, 2014
Cindy Arndt, from the Grant County Master Gardeners, presented some great ways to get children interested in gardening at the Wisconsin Family Child Care Association Conference at Wisconsin Dells on April 25th, 2014. To see some picture of the event check out this link.
Dig into reading
KIds are digging into the children's summer reading program, "Dig Into Reading". On June 26, 40 youngsters divided into two groups for two different sessions, PreK-2nd grade program and 3rd -6th grade enjoyed their workshop by a Master Gardener Volunteer and the Children's' Program Coordinator. The younger group had fun decorating flower pots, selecting, and potting the plants for a take and make. The older group put together fairy or did a miniature garden in a container. Presenter discussed with them the plant needs and how to care for them. The photos will show how much this was a hit.
Platteville Public Library ~ Fairy Gardens!
On June 24, three master gardener volunteers gathered up their supplies along with their spirit to present an informal talk on how to begin making a fairy garden. Due to the inclement weather, this activity was moved inside and changed to a hands on project of making some elements for a fairy home.
Watch for future developments at a garden area at Katie's Garden, Platteville. It is in the construction stage now and it will be a perfect place for adults and children to cultivate interest in nature and fun with fantasies in miniatures that inspire the imagination about a hidden world of precious garden folk.
Watch for future developments at a garden area at Katie's Garden, Platteville. It is in the construction stage now and it will be a perfect place for adults and children to cultivate interest in nature and fun with fantasies in miniatures that inspire the imagination about a hidden world of precious garden folk.
Tour at the Dubuque arboretum and Botanical Gardens - Dubuque, IA
June 20 found members touring the gardens at their peak, enjoying assorted hor d oeuvres, desserts and an assortment of beverages. The sun porch at sunset was awesome!
A special thank you to our tour guide who is a master gardener from Dubuque. She spends a lot of volunteer hours at the garden along with 280 other volunteers. The average age of their volunteers is 72 years young.
A special thank you to our tour guide who is a master gardener from Dubuque. She spends a lot of volunteer hours at the garden along with 280 other volunteers. The average age of their volunteers is 72 years young.
Basic Vegetable Garden Workshop - April 6th, Lancaster WI
Whether you garden on a balcony or have an enormous backyard, this workshop provided an overview of gardening practices for enthusiastic gardeners to grow nutritious vegetables.
The topics included the steps of the process of deciding what kind of garden you wish to start, where to place it, how to be certain that the soil is ready and good for growing and the importance of soil testing. In addition, presenters covered all the tips and tricks you need to grow great vegetables from seed, the importance of the different types of mulch, and steps involved for pest management
The topics included the steps of the process of deciding what kind of garden you wish to start, where to place it, how to be certain that the soil is ready and good for growing and the importance of soil testing. In addition, presenters covered all the tips and tricks you need to grow great vegetables from seed, the importance of the different types of mulch, and steps involved for pest management
Apple Tree Pruning Workshop
Gary shown here giving attendees info on reasons why to prune. Note his Hoop house in the background.
On March 30, Gary Olson, Certified Master Gardener of Platteville, gave a workshop to 35 participants on the basic techniques and knowledge to maintain many common types of fruit trees.
Participants left with a good grasp on foundation skill along with reasons, theories, and things to consider when pruning fruit trees. He emphasized paying close attention to trees and how to work to shape them to their environment and function.
Check out the UW-Wisconsin Extension publication on Training and Pruning Apple Trees.
Participants left with a good grasp on foundation skill along with reasons, theories, and things to consider when pruning fruit trees. He emphasized paying close attention to trees and how to work to shape them to their environment and function.
Check out the UW-Wisconsin Extension publication on Training and Pruning Apple Trees.
Tools in hand and ready to tackle the pruning job.
