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 In the news...NWLAMG Awards Non-Profits over $17,000
in Grant Funding for Local Projects ![]() (2024 Grant Recipient representatives from left to right: Willie White, J.S. Clark; Denise Washington, J.S. Clark; Honorable Jim Galambos, Town of Blanchard; Dr. Kenya Roberts, J.S. Clark; Bennie Dottie, MLK Neighborhood; Dottie Bell, Bill Cockerell Park; Eric Anderson, Bill Cockerell Park; Madison Poche, Highland Center; Dianne Clark, Sci-Port; Cassandra Key, St. John Berchman) The Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners are proud to announce the 2024 recipients of NWLAMG community grants. NWLAMG awards grants to organizations and municipalities that support beautification and horticultural education within our community. Of particular interest are projects that make a difference in the community, are sustainable, and involve collaboration among local organizations. The NWLA Master Gardeners awarded a total of $17,323. The winners of the Community Grant Program: Bill Cockerell Park ‘J.D. Hudson Memorial Garden’ - $1370 – The garden at Bill Cockerell Park was created in honor of J.D. Hudson who spent hours at the Community Center volunteering his time and talents supporting local citizens who frequented the center. There has been a garden in place for several years and this grant will help supply upkeep, transplants, seeds and pavers for additional beds. Blanchard Town Hall Beautification Project – $3150 – This project will include removal of existing landscape and will go back with new plants to help beautify the town hall. Cathedral at St. John Berchman’s Catholic School - $3000 – Every year in the spring, the school has a butterfly release. This is the culmination of the lower grades study of the life cycle of the butterfly. The long-term goal is to become an official Monarch butterfly waystation and listed on the national website. This grant will help them fulfill that goal with added garden space and pollinator plants. Chamber of Commerce Foundation of Shreveport - $2000 – The Shreveport Chamber took over the old Memorial Library building in downtown Shreveport and has been working hard to refurbish it. They have repaired the irrigation and with this grant they will be able to redo the landscape in the front of the building. Highland Center - $1500 – This grant will help with phase II of the beautification project by providing a garden area in the Child Development Center and Nonprofit offices entrances. J.S. Clark 4-H Garden Growers - $2163 – J. S. Clark will use the grant to establish a school garden where 4-H students can learn about gardening, and plant fruit trees and vegetables. The garden will serve as an educational resource in grades K-5, providing them with hands-on experience in agriculture, nutrition and environmental sustainability. Martin Luther King, Jr. Neighborhood Association - $2640 – The ‘Root and Sprouts’ Project will install raised beds and purchase native perennials and vegetables to benefit members of the neighborhood, guests and citizens that frequently visit the MLK Neighborhood Association Center. Sci-Port Discovery Center - $1500 – Sci-Port’s goal is to create a bird-friendly native plant garden. This grant will go towards purchasing plants adapted to our local environment and require less water. The NWLA Master Gardeners launched the grants program in 2010 as a way to give back to the community after all the support given each year for the Le Tour des Jardins, Fall Bulb Sale, and Spring Plant Sale. The mission of the Master Gardeners is to educate the public about gardening and engage our community in horticultural pursuits. Giving these grants allows them to multiply their efforts by aiding and funding projects envisioned, implemented and maintained by other groups. To date, we have donated over $175,000 to the gardening community. For more information on the Community Grant Program or each individual grantee, please call the NWLA Master Gardeners at (318)408-0984. Click here to view the Grants Awarded in 2024. Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners present on a variety of topics on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6pm at the Bossier Central Library and the 4th Monday of the month at 5:30pm at the Broadmoor Branch Library.
Do You Know Where Master Gardeners Volunteer?Did you know that members of the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners have a community outreach program?
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. Have you thought about becoming a Louisiana Master Gardener?
Class applications for 2025 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. Nature’s Perfumery:
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Facebook - Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners Instagram - northwestlouisianamg LSU AgCenter Northwest Region
Red River Research Station Director, Dr. Ron Strahan Home of the Northwest Louisiana
Master Gardeners 1998-2025 210 Research Station Drive Bossier City, LA 71112 318-408-0984 NWLAMG
News & Upcoming Events
Calendar of Events in the Ark-La-TexSunday, March 16, 2025 -Greens on the Red at the Highland Community Garden presented by the We Grow Together Coalition.
March 17-19, 2025 Plant sale at Caddo Career and Technology Center
SAVE THE DATE! APRIL 6, 2025
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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.

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.

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
