Monroe County Master Gardener Association

Monroe County Master Gardener Association Welcome to the Monroe County Master Gardener Association page! The Monroe County Master Gardener Association, Inc.

Members of the Monroe County Master Gardener Association have completed the Purdue Extension Master Gardener course and are volunteers of the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program. We're located in Monroe County, Indiana and have a strong and active membership who serve as Purdue Extension Master Gardeners. There are Master Gardener programs, in 49 states that are accredited through each state'

s land grant university (more info: https://mastergardener.extension.org/). In Indiana, Purdue University, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture in West Lafayette, Indiana is the home of the Purdue Extension Master Gardener program, check out their website at https://www.hort.purdue.edu/mg. Opinions expressed on this site may not represent the official views of Purdue University. was organized in 1989 as a 501(c)(3) corporation in the state of Indiana, after the Master Gardener program was reestablished in the county. The goals of the association are to provide public education as outlined in the state guidelines, and to assist in the certification of those who have successfully completed training by offering organized activities. Membership is open to anyone who has completed training in Indiana, or is currently enrolled in the program. Those who have trained out of state may also apply for membership. The Master Gardener Program is "helping others grow" by providing intensive education in horticultural principles. Through the Master Gardener training sessions you will become knowledgeable about a wide array of gardening subjects. This knowledge will increase your skills as well as enable you to provide volunteer leadership and service to the community in gardening activities. In Indiana, the Master Gardener Program is conducted by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service through participating county offices. The instruction is provided without charge by local, county, and state specialists in horticulture. There is a fee for supplies which become your personal reference collection. Persons who are interested in some aspect of gardening may apply for acceptance to the Master Gardener Program. At the completion of training, those who contribute one hour of volunteer community service for each hour of training received will be certified as Master Gardeners.

04/09/2026

Join us for our annual Garden Fair at Switchyard Pavilion! Vendors, food, gardening related activities, garden info, and our very own plant booth are all there for you to enjoy! Free Chokeberry bush to the 1st 400 guests! Join us from 9am-4pm Sat., April 11. Free admission

03/12/2026

๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ Bee City USA: Bloomington is now a Bee City USA!
To protect overwintering bumble bee queens, avoid early raking or mowing. Raking is best done in April and May. Spring - Early Summer: The overwintered queen emerges, begins searching for a nest site, and forages for pollen and nectar. Once a nest site is established, she begins laying eggs.

Thinking globally and acting locally, Bee City USA provides a framework for communities to work together to conserve native pollinators by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides.

This is a City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation and Environmental Commission initiative. You can learn more about the resolution and action steps here https://bloomington.in.gov/parks/parks/bee-city

Photo of JJ in a bumble bee costume pretending to be a queen bumble bee emerging from overwintering.

Want more information? Seek out the Bumble Bee Conservation brochure here: fil:///Users/gillianfield/Downloads/12-020_03_BumbleBeeConservation_web-UA.pdf

Do you have a community or school based garden project that needs a little extra funding? We've got you ๐Ÿซ‘๐Ÿ…๐ŸŒถ๏ธ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿฅ€๐Ÿชด๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฑExpert ...
02/19/2026

Do you have a community or school based garden project that needs a little extra funding? We've got you ๐Ÿซ‘๐Ÿ…๐ŸŒถ๏ธ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿฅ€๐Ÿชด๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฑ

Expert master gardeners will review and rate your proposal as you compete for anywhere from $100 - $750. Check out previous award winners at mcmga.net/grant-program to help guide your application. The application is straightforward and simple.

Application deadline is February 28!

02/12/2026

๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ Bee City USA: Bloomington is now a Bee City USA! It's something to celebrate!! Thinking globally and acting locally, Bee City USA provides a framework for communities to work together to conserve native pollinators by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides.

This is a City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation and Environmental Commission initiative. You can learn more about the resolution and action steps here https://bloomington.in.gov/parks/parks/bee-city

Photo of Echinacea flowers supporting native bees at Park Ridge East Park.

10/07/2025

Extend your harvest and preserve your garden's bounty! ๐Ÿฅ• Drying is one of the oldest and easiest ways to preserve food, and it's a fantastic method for extending your garden season.

By simply removing the moisture from your produce, you can prevent decay and enjoy your favorite fruits and vegetables long after the season ends. The best part? When dried properly, your food retains most of its nutritional value!

Happy drying! Find out more at https://ngb.org/enjoy-preserve-share-garden-bounty/

Fall Fling Success!
10/06/2025

Fall Fling Success!

We had approximatly 107 attendees at our second annual conference Fall Fling. We were excited to educate fellow community gardeners (63% of attendees) as well as Master Gardeners on a variety of topics. We anticipated an increased enrollment from last year and planned ahead by reserving a larger spa

Congratulations to Bloomington's Urban Foresters and City of Bloomington, IN - Parks and Recreation!
09/17/2025

Congratulations to Bloomington's Urban Foresters and City of Bloomington, IN - Parks and Recreation!

Bryan Park has over 60 trees species and 400 trees on site.

Linda Heath Receives Golden Hoosier Award
09/15/2025

Linda Heath Receives Golden Hoosier Award

Monroe County Indiana Master Gardener Linda Heath (center) receives the Golden Hoosier Award from Indiana Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith.

A book discussion about Soil: The Story of a Black Motherโ€™s Garden by Camille T. Dungy
09/10/2025

A book discussion about Soil: The Story of a Black Motherโ€™s Garden by Camille T. Dungy

A book discussion about Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A year of Food Life,  by Barbara Kingsolver
09/10/2025

A book discussion about Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A year of Food Life, by Barbara Kingsolver

A book discussion about Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A year of Food Life, by Barbara Kingsolver

Congratulations to our very own Radovan Hajek working with Andrew Marrs Garden Design for a Class 1 award for Landscape ...
08/11/2025

Congratulations to our very own Radovan Hajek working with Andrew Marrs Garden Design for a Class 1 award for Landscape Design! Weโ€™re proud to have him as a Master Gardener!

Address

Bloomington, IN

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Monroe County Master Gardener Association posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share