Welcome!
Welcome to the website of the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners! This site is intended to provide up-to-date information on our organization including educational and gardening activities, volunteer opportunities in and around town, and the latest news of NWLAMG.
Our Mission
The mission of the Louisiana Master Gardener volunteer program is to support the LSU AgCenter’s Cooperative Extension Service by using research-based information to help educate the public on best management practices in consumer horticulture and environmental stewardship. We hope you will find our site provides you with resources, inspiration, and encouragement for your gardening projects. Gardening Questions?? Call the Master Gardener Hotline at 318-408-0984. How do I become a Master Gardener? For more information about Louisiana Master Gardeners and statewide programs you can go to https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/lawn_garden/master%20gardener Congratulations to our Top 15 LMG volunteers for 2023!
Lafayette Parish Master Gardeners Association Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners Northeast Louisiana Master Gardeners East Baton Rouge Master Gardener Association St. Tammany Master Gardener Association Also included are individuals from the Southwest Master Gardener Program and Livingston Parish Master Gardener Program. Have you thought about becoming a Louisiana Master Gardener?
Class applications for 2024 are now closed. Now is the time to make your plans and apply for the next class of the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners held here in the Shreveport area. Deadline to return your application is November 20th, 2024 for the spring 2025 class. Click on this link for the application. HOw can i become a master gardener?
CALL (318) 408-0984 TO REQUEST AN APPLICATION OR DOWNLOAD A LETTER AND APPLICATION. (FORM MAY BE FILLED OUT ONLINE) INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAILING ARE ON THE APPLICATION. APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 18TH FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE NEXT CLASS.
Is there a fee to take the master gardener class?
The registration fee for the Master Gardeners class is $175. The fee covers the cost of training manuals, publications and supplies for the class. The fee is payable upon acceptance into the class.
Scholarships/Financial Aid Available: This year, NWLA Master Gardeners will award two (2) scholarships for applicants who exhibit a strong interest in the program but who are in need of financial assistance. Look for an announcement and financial aid application information in late summer. Red River Research Station is the home of the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners
![]() 210 Research Station Drive Bossier City, LA 71112 318-408-0984 Do You Know Where Master Gardeners Volunteer?NWLAMG Volunteering in the Community Congratulations on your many hours and miles! From Mark Wilson, Regional Horticulturist, NW Region and NWLA master gardener coordinator:
I am pleased to acknowledge the remarkable dedication and effort displayed by everyone in the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners community over the past year. Your collective commitment resulted in an outstanding 11,911.90 hours of valued volunteering, estimated at $378,798.42 based on the 2023 IRS volunteer rate of $31.80 per hour. Additionally, our team traveled 41,723.90 miles, valued at $5,841.35 according to the 2023 IRS mileage rate of $0.14 per mile. Moreover, 1,457.15 hours of continuing education were diligently recorded, alongside an impressive total of 191,433 contacts made, engaging with 67,690 individuals. Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners have sponsored two of the beautiful planters downtown on Texas Street, helping to beautify the city!
Weaving Worries:
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LSU AgCenter Northwest Region
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Upcoming Activities
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Calendar of Events in the Ark-La-Tex
Every Saturday morning: April-November: Bossier City Farmers Market is home to farmers, growers with fresh foods, food trucks, honey, soap, makers, salsa, jams and jellies, baked goods, hobbyists, entrepreneurs, artists, craftsmen/craftswomen, artists, food trucks, and more. Location: Pierre Bossier Mall parking lot. 9:00am-noon.
Every Saturday morning: June 1-August 24, 2024: Shreveport Farmers Market provides bountiful weekly, USDA approved markets every Saturday with over 75 vendors who sell fruits, vegetables, jams, pastries, candies, pickles, cheese, canned goods, seasonings, sauces, soaps, dog treats and more! Location: Festival Plaza, 101 Crocket Street, Downtown Shreveport. 7:30am-12:30pm.
August 2, 2024: The 2024 Preservation Garden Field Day will be held Friday, August 2nd at the Northeast Research Station in St. Joseph, LA. We will have a demonstration booth session, self-guided garden tours, followed by our indoor presentations, taste testing session, door prizes and giveaways. We hope you can join us to learn more about the North Louisiana Seed Preservation Program and the work being done to preserve heirlooms and food culture.
Contact Marcie Wilson at 318-766-3769 or [email protected] for more information.
August 2-9, 2024: Briarwood Bio Bash: The Briarwood Bio Bash is going to be a very unique event to Briarwood--a “naturalists dream”! Spend hours at Briarwood with some of the greatest Naturalists! You will learn a lot. You will see a lot. You will leave with a lot of education, experience, and peace. To purchase tickets, visit www.briarwoodnp.org or contact Bayli Brossette to mail a check to 216 Caroline Dormon Road, Saline, LA 71070.
September 24, 2024: Heritage & Harvest Tour of North Caddo Parish communities & villages. Sample country life on our Heritage and Harvest Day. Enjoy a drive on the Historic Trail along Highway 3049 North and on to Highway 71 North. Visit small towns, libraries and attractions along the way. A picturesque drive through fields of cotton, corn and soybeans. Experience the rich culture, colorful history, and southern hospitality of north Caddo. Self-Driving Tour is free. 9:00am-3:00pm
October 11-12, 2024: Homesteaders Conference: Learn about Homesteading/Food Production in backyards, small acreage, and food preservation. Vendors Welcome! Contact Donna Haynes to reserve your spot: 318.408.0971 or email [email protected]
Year-Round: Norton Botanical Gardens surround the R.W. Norton Art Gallery with 40 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and botanical gardens, where tens of thousands of plants, including several thousand of introduced and native azaleas burst forth in spring. Gardens are set among gentle swells of land, shaded by tall columns of venerable pines and oaks. Beneath them, a stream tumbles down slopes, and splashes into a reflective pond spanned by an arched bridge.Paths wind through the flowers, their meander accented with the outdoor sculptures of wildlife. Here and there, garden benches await - - perfect for resting, reading, watching birds, and listening to the breezes in the high crowns of trees. Free to the public: Location: 4747 Creswell Ave., Shreveport, LA. Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, Sunrise to Sunset.
Year-Round: Gardens of the American Rose Center The spectacular Gardens of the American Rose Center are located on a 118-acre wooded tract near Shreveport, Louisiana. The gardens are home to the national headquarters of the American Rose Society. We are the nation’s largest park dedicated to roses. The gardens were dedicated in 1974, when the American Rose Society headquarters moved to Shreveport, Louisiana from Columbus, Ohio. Today, the American Rose Center features a vast variety of roses across numerous gardens, with a multitude of companion plants, sculptures and fountains, including the beautiful Dudley Watkins Reflection Pool.
You will find a visit to the Gardens to be a peaceful, serene and cathedral-like setting created by the towering pines surrounding the garden areas. The garden does specialize in roses; the roses and rose gardens are at their best from Mid-April to Late-May and from Mid-September to Late-October — with weather always being a factor.
Admission: $5/person or $10/family
Location: 8877 Jefferson Paige Rd, Shreveport, LA 71119
Days/Hours: for Official Rose Season: Open Weekends: April 1-October 31: Wednesday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm, Saturday/Sunday, 9:00am-1:00pm. Beyond Rose Season: Open Year-Round: Wednesday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
Akins Nursery,5901 East Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71105 - 2023 Monthly Education Series: Classes are the last Saturday of the month at 10am
Have a question?
Email Master Gardeners for your answer!
[email protected]
Keep Bossier Beautiful
Keep Bossier Beautiful Contest
The Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners are working in conjunction with Keep Bossier Beautiful and their Beautification Contest
The Keep Bossier Beautiful committee views and judges the nominated business properties quarterly.
The Keep Bossier Beautiful committee views and judges the nominated business properties quarterly.
Spring Beautification Award WinnerMay, 2024Everything is green and colorful which makes it difficult to select just two businesses to recognize. The spring winner of the Business Beautification Contest is Cross Keys Bank in Bossier. They received their photo in the Bossier Press Tribune, a nice yard sign and a $50 gift card from Tubbs Hardware. Runner up is Community Bank of Louisiana on Benton Road. We are happy to promote businesses that not only provide good services but also make our community more beautiful.
Now - we need more NOMINATIONS!
Anyone can submit a business in Bossier that keeps their footprint beautiful - just click here: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSeWCeRNrR0BAn.../viewform
The winner receives a $50 Tubbs Hardware & Cajun Gifts gift card, their photo in the Bossier Press-Tribune, and a nice sign to place on their property for bragging rights!
All nominations are judged by the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners. We appreciate all of our partnerships that make this project possible!
We also appreciate all of the businesses who work hard to keep their properties beautiful, so come on! Give them a shout out and nominate them!
Now - we need more NOMINATIONS!
Anyone can submit a business in Bossier that keeps their footprint beautiful - just click here: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSeWCeRNrR0BAn.../viewform
The winner receives a $50 Tubbs Hardware & Cajun Gifts gift card, their photo in the Bossier Press-Tribune, and a nice sign to place on their property for bragging rights!
All nominations are judged by the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners. We appreciate all of our partnerships that make this project possible!
We also appreciate all of the businesses who work hard to keep their properties beautiful, so come on! Give them a shout out and nominate them!
Rambling Rose Preservation Initiative
Northwest Louisiana Master gardener project in conjunction with the American Rose Center
(Click here for more information)
Northwest Louisiana Master gardener project in conjunction with the American Rose Center
(Click here for more information)
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/5/9/15596972/published/rose-garden-gates-open.png?1647550683)
Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners have an opportunity to work on a project that will bring much publicity to our organization.
The Gardens of the American Rose Society will be the home of Rambling Roses that come to ARS from Anne Belovich's home in Washington state. These climbing roses come by way of Chambersville Tree Farm in Texas where they have been being propagated. Due to the tree farm closing this year, they are being moved to the Gardens of the American Rose Society.
The gates are open and waiting for you to volunteer. We need your help in making sure that over 300 varieties do not become extinct. If you are willing to assist with this project on the third Thursday of the month from about 8:30 - 11:30, please contact Larry Williams. Click here to view what will be done.
The Gardens of the American Rose Society will be the home of Rambling Roses that come to ARS from Anne Belovich's home in Washington state. These climbing roses come by way of Chambersville Tree Farm in Texas where they have been being propagated. Due to the tree farm closing this year, they are being moved to the Gardens of the American Rose Society.
The gates are open and waiting for you to volunteer. We need your help in making sure that over 300 varieties do not become extinct. If you are willing to assist with this project on the third Thursday of the month from about 8:30 - 11:30, please contact Larry Williams. Click here to view what will be done.
For 2024, Master Gardeners must once again earn 6 education hours and 20 volunteer hours.
Mark Wilson, our LSUag Center agent has compiled a great list. Click here to see the list that is on the Educational Opportunities page.
Mark Wilson, our LSUag Center agent has compiled a great list. Click here to see the list that is on the Educational Opportunities page.
Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners can record volunteer hours and education hours online at the LSU AgCenter website here. Click here.
Record Your Hours!Louisiana Master Gardener Program
A look back at our Louisiana Master Gardener volunteer efforts! 2022 #MasterGardener #Volunteer #LouisianaMasterGardener #LMG #LMGVolunteer ***************************![]() Have a question about your garden or plants?
Email the NWLA Master Gardeners your question and pictures for the answer! [email protected] ******************************
Blessed are the gardeners, for they touch the earth with love and understanding. |
Check out these Newsletters from the LSU AgCenter
Get It Growing by Heather Kirk-Ballard of the LSU AgCenter
Heather Kirk-Ballard is the spokesperson for the LSU AgCenter’s Get It Growing project, a statewide educational effort in home horticulture utilizing radio, Internet, TV and newsprint.
Heather Kirk-Ballard is the spokesperson for the LSU AgCenter’s Get It Growing project, a statewide educational effort in home horticulture utilizing radio, Internet, TV and newsprint.
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/5/9/15596972/published/december-2023-coverjpg.jpg?1704386787)
Articles by Dr. Joe White. Check it out in the Master Gardener Knowledge Tree, Gardening Wisdom from Dr. Joe White
Articles from the NWLAMG Seedling. Newest edition can be found at Master Gardeners Knowledge Tree - NWLAMG Publication "Seedlings"
LSU AgCenter Newsletter "Horticulture Hints" Newest edition of the quarterly newsletter highlight, Spring of 2024.
GNO Gardening Magazine from the LSU AgCenter
Latest Edition can be found here
Articles from the NWLAMG Seedling. Newest edition can be found at Master Gardeners Knowledge Tree - NWLAMG Publication "Seedlings"
LSU AgCenter Newsletter "Horticulture Hints" Newest edition of the quarterly newsletter highlight, Spring of 2024.
GNO Gardening Magazine from the LSU AgCenter
Latest Edition can be found here
Wondering What is Wrong With Your Plant?
Check the Leaves.
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/5/9/15596972/editor/plant-nutrient-deficiencies.jpg?1561415323)
Make MONEY for Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners Association,
when you shop AMAZON.COM!
when you shop AMAZON.COM!
Yes, You CAN…and this is how you do it.
Knowing that our local merchants do not have the purchasing power of a giant engine like Amazon, why don’t we shop more often at this gi-normous marketplace, where almost anything is available?
Hold on! We want to shop locally. We want our local merchants to succeed. We have made friends with many shopkeepers and want to be able to find items we need at our favorite stores. For most people, if there is a purchase to be made, the first notion is to run errands and shop close to our homes. After all, the most delightful thing about bargain hunting is that you mingle with people, you are outdoors, you are touching, smelling and viewing the products you need, and want to purchase. But, even a shopkeeper may tell you “ just go to our online catalog… you’ll find it there!”
And, sometimes, the items we need are not locally available.
What is our next move? Start internet shopping and fire up Amazon.com. But, listen to this: When you shop at Amazon.com, and buy a product from them, your order will make money for the NORTHWEST LOUISIANA MASTER GARDENERS! We can earn 5% cash back for the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners every time that you purchase anything from Amazon.com. And, this money will be immediately deposited in our bank account. It’s true! AMAZING.
Of course, it doesn’t just happen by magic! You must sign up for us to be eligible for the 5% refund. Here is how you register to send money to NWLAMG’s. Go to amazon.com as usual.. On the black bar below the white search bar are several departments. Choose the “Prime” button. In order to participate, you should be a Prime Member (This membership provides free shipping for all purchases, and many other benefits as well.) There will be a section in the registration asking which non-profit you want to support. Choose NWLAMG’s. That’s it. You’re in. We’re in. Everyone benefits. The next time you enter ‘[email protected]’, you will see that all of your purchases generate money for the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners Association. Pat yourself on the back for helping our organization find some free money!
Knowing that our local merchants do not have the purchasing power of a giant engine like Amazon, why don’t we shop more often at this gi-normous marketplace, where almost anything is available?
Hold on! We want to shop locally. We want our local merchants to succeed. We have made friends with many shopkeepers and want to be able to find items we need at our favorite stores. For most people, if there is a purchase to be made, the first notion is to run errands and shop close to our homes. After all, the most delightful thing about bargain hunting is that you mingle with people, you are outdoors, you are touching, smelling and viewing the products you need, and want to purchase. But, even a shopkeeper may tell you “ just go to our online catalog… you’ll find it there!”
And, sometimes, the items we need are not locally available.
What is our next move? Start internet shopping and fire up Amazon.com. But, listen to this: When you shop at Amazon.com, and buy a product from them, your order will make money for the NORTHWEST LOUISIANA MASTER GARDENERS! We can earn 5% cash back for the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners every time that you purchase anything from Amazon.com. And, this money will be immediately deposited in our bank account. It’s true! AMAZING.
Of course, it doesn’t just happen by magic! You must sign up for us to be eligible for the 5% refund. Here is how you register to send money to NWLAMG’s. Go to amazon.com as usual.. On the black bar below the white search bar are several departments. Choose the “Prime” button. In order to participate, you should be a Prime Member (This membership provides free shipping for all purchases, and many other benefits as well.) There will be a section in the registration asking which non-profit you want to support. Choose NWLAMG’s. That’s it. You’re in. We’re in. Everyone benefits. The next time you enter ‘[email protected]’, you will see that all of your purchases generate money for the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners Association. Pat yourself on the back for helping our organization find some free money!
The Garden Gym
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/5/9/15596972/published/the-garden-gym.jpg?1566694919)