Learn to Garden with Extension

This fall UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program is offering the online course, Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening. This is a twelve week online  course that runs from  September 11 through December 10, 2022. 

Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening (Foundations in Gardening) teaches participants university research based methods to successfully grow their plants and manage common pests. The course introduces a decision-making framework used by gardeners that focuses on understanding how plants best grow, why pests and problems happen, and how to keep plant problems from happening.

The Foundations in Gardening course is divided into three units. The first set of topics are the basics: general gardening, botany, soils and decision-making strategies for pest management. The next set of topics helps participants understand how to identify and manage pests they might encounter. Finally, the last group focuses on specific types of gardening such as vegetables, fruits, lawn and houseplants. As part of the learning experience, Foundations in Gardening participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of UW-Madison horticulture experts at live webinars. The webinars are scheduled so that each expert will be taking questions about the material currently being covered. The webinars are also an opportunity to ask questions participants may have long had but did not know whom to ask. Q & As with the Experts will be recorded for future viewing in case the live broadcasts are inconvenient with participants’ schedules.  

In addition to the Q & As with the Experts, participants receive a complete electronic (PDF) copy of the Foundations in Gardening training manual.  A bound hardcopy of the manual is available at an additional cost. This is a valuable reference tool to have on the bookshelf.  Participants will receive a certificate of completion and earn up to four continuing education credits (CEU) for certain professional organizations. For participants wanting a deeper dive into the learning experience, there are optional live lab webinars to reinforce the material covered in the course. These give participants the opportunity to work in large and small groups with Extension educators to answer more in-depth gardening scenarios.

 If you are interested in becoming a Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener, this course is considered an approved learning opportunity from the Wisconsin Extension Horticulture Program. Visit https://mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/get-started/ for more information.

Registration is July 18th-August 15th for this fully online, learn-at-your-own pace course. Whether you are a beginner, avid gardener or professional, you and your plants will benefit from this course. For more information and to register for Foundations in Gardening, visit: https://bit.ly/3aBUGBe 

WI Division of Extension Master Gardener Program  Find information on gardening and on Being a Master Gardener.

UW-Madison Extension Bayfield & Ashland Counties will not be scheduling a WI Master Gardener General Training Course. Instead, this fall UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program is offering the online course, Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening. This is a twelve week online  course that runs from  September 11 through December 10, 2022. 

 If you are interested in becoming a Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener, this course is considered an approved learning opportunity from the Wisconsin Extension Horticulture Program. Visit https://mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/get-started/ for more information.

Registration is July 18th-August 15th for this fully online, learn-at-your-own pace course. Whether you are a beginner, avid gardener or professional, you and your plants will benefit from this course. For more information and to register for Foundations in Gardening, visit: https://bit.ly/3aBUGBe 

 

Unusually Hardy Plants with Mike Heim – A virtual presentation on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 6:30 pm

Advance registration is required. https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIld-2srjkiHdEOCzgSLkGi3P0vFNQRHiUX

May 13, 2021 Unusual Hardy Plants

“HAZELNUTS: For Growing and Eating” ~ A virtual presentation via Zoom on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 6:30 pm ~ Presented by Jason Fischbach, Hazelnut Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension.

Advance Registration is Required.  https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUlcu6sqzgvGtyLXNXJvf1uIDH4wqJU0Drp

April 22-Hazelnuts  (PDF, 1 pg, 325KB)

“From Bees to Butterflies: How to Attract Pollinators to your Home Garden with Cyndy Dalzall” via Zoom. Must pre-register.

With declining populations of healthy pollinators for our gardens and crops, we must look at what pollinators we can attract and how to make our local landscapes more appealing. You will learn how to integrate native plants and design your gardens to build natural, healthy habitats. Cyndy will demonstrate projects she has designed in Bayfield and Madeline Island.

Preregistration is required

March 11, 2021-Attracting Pollinators (PDF,1pg,4MB)

2-11-2021 The Unsung Heroes of Nature
We may feel a bit squeamish about bugs, bats, worms, snakes, fungi and bacteria; but these and other misunderstood critters play essential roles in our ecosystems and gardens.

Join naturalist, author and advocate for the underdogs, Emily Stone, to learn about their positive contributions to the web of life. Emily Stone is the Naturalist/Education Director at the Cable Natural History Museum. Her award-winning Natural Connections column has been compiled into two books, the  second of which recently won an Excellence in Craft Award

Preregistration is required:

Feb 11 2021 – Unsung Heroes of Nature (PDF, 1 pg, 784 KB)

Travels through Italy – Gardens & Agriculture with Robin Trinko-Russell ~ A virtual presentation January 14, 2021 at 6:30 pm.

Zoom pre-registration is required: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0kcu2pqDooHNGQwxj759yTVxBLv4vqQ4my

From the Italian Lake District to the Ligurian Coast, Tuscany, the Dolomites, and the Veneto; discover the diverse landscapes, culture, arts and history of Italy’s northern regions. The 2019 trip provided opportunities to relate to local food, agriculture and gardens. Learn all about Italy!
Jan 2021-Italy (PDF,1 pg,1MB)

Zoom pre-registration is required: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0kcu2pqDooHNGQwxj759yTVxBLv4vqQ4my

This Online Reporting System (ORS) is here to help you get registered and to count your hours.

Master Gardener Online Reporting System (ORS)

Master Gardener State Reports from Bayfield County  

    Master Gardener State Reports from Ashland County     

Recommended horticulture links …