2019 is the year of the Dahlia!
Picking a favorite dahlia is like going through a button box. As well as coming in a rainbow of colors, dahlia flowers can range in size from petite 2-inch lollipop-style pompoms to giant 15-inch “dinner plate” blooms. Most varieties grow 4 to 5 feet tall.  
They are considered a tender perennial in cold regions North America. They are only winter hardy in planting zones 8 to 11. Gardeners in zones 2 to 7 can simply plant dahlia tubers in the spring and either treat them as annuals or dig them up and store for winter.

Planting Dahlias

1. Select a sunny garden spot with freely draining soil and prepare it thoroughly before planting.
2. To plant, dig a hole 4-6 inches deep and place the tuber on its side, horizontally with the growing eye facing up. Once in place, refill the hole with soil. Dahlias get quite large, so allow at least 12-18 inches of space between plants.
3. Dahlias require consistent water throughout the growing season.  Dahlias should not be watered until you see the first green shoots poking through the ground. Overwatering before shoots are visible can lead to tuber rot. After plants reach a foot tall, give them a hard pinch by snipping out 3-4 inches of the growing center to encourage low basal branching, which increases flower production and overall stem length.

Click on the below link for more information on tips and tricks with growing dahlias.
How to Grow Dahlias - Floret Flower Farm
www.floretflowers.com/resources/how-to-grow-dahlias/

The NCMG have a Dahlia garden starting to sprout.. come and visit the 
www.northcountrymgv.org/teaching--display-garden.html

Her presentation included the herb gardens at Old World Wisconsin, the Schulz Farm located at Eagle, WI. The
history began with the European settlers arriving in the mid 1800’s, and the herbs they brought with them. Note the German immigrants migrating to Wisconsin in 1900 was equivalent to 34% of the population. The herbs were for medicinal purposes as well as culinary additives for their sustenance with a well rounded German garden containing 34 herbs.
​
If your organization would be interested in this hour long herb presentation, contact the Spooner Agriculture Research Station.
​
Article/Photos submitted by Katie Childs

During our North Country Master Gardener Membership Meeting on February 28th, Mark Nupren of the Friends of Namekagon Barrens gave a presentation.
Mark shared the beauty of the unique flowers, animals and birds that live in the Barrens.
Taking time to be with nature, looking close for new plants to identify and watching Sharp-tail grouse all can be enjoyed hiking in the Barrens.
www.fnbwa.org/
Click on the above link for more information regarding Northwest Wisconsin Barrens.
Maps, photos and stories about the Barrens can be found on the Friends of the Namekagon Barrens web page.

Thank you Mark for your presentation. We look forward to having the Friends of the Namekagon Barrens at the Annual Twilight Tour in the Teaching and Display Garden, Tuesday, August 13, 4:00 to Twilight, Features guest speakers, demonstrations, displays, vegetable tastings.

Burnett County - Fort Folle Avoine 
MGVs are involved with several garden projects at the Burnett County Historical Society Forts Folle Avoine. This included a plant sale along with education with customers as they tried to pick out plants to buy.   The MGVs planted and maintained raised beds, a perennial bed with mostly native plants, and an "heirloom" flower bed.  In addition we planted containers with flowers for the visitor center.   Some of the vegetables and herbs were available for the Forts special events like their gourmet dinner.  There is no designated funding for the garden projects from the Forts so the MGVs contribute not only their time but the funds for the garden plants and maintenance needs.

This is an other entry for activities in 2018 , this one in Sawyer County

This year six new raised bed gardens were created at the LCO Ojibwe Elders Center.  Along with creating the beds, Master GardenVolunteers worked cooperatively with UW-Extension FoodWise Nutrition Educators on teaching children in a summer LCO Boys and Girls Club program on how to care for the plants in the beds. 

This project provided an educational opportunity for both the elders and the children along with food used in meals at the Elder Center.