LAKE COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ASSOCIATION INC. "Helping Others Grow"
HELPING OTHERS GROW—ONE PROGRAM AT A TIME
The Lake County Master Gardeners are committed to sharing horticultural knowledge with our community. From hands-on workshops to expert-led webinars, we offer educational opportunities for gardeners of all levels. Explore upcoming events, view past presentations, and discover resources to keep learning and growing—right here!
Educational opportunities
🌿 Growing & Learning with LCMGA
🌍 Understanding Perennials Where It Matters – Underground
🌍 Understanding Perennials Where It Matters – Underground
Our 2025 public education season has wrapped up—thank you to everyone who joined us throughout the year!
We’re excited to kick off a brand-new lineup of workshops and speakers in 2026. Check out our first programs of the new year, and keep an eye on our Events & Activities page and Constant Contact emails for updates on upcoming sessions.
🌍 Understanding Perennials Where It Matters – Underground
🌍 Understanding Perennials Where It Matters – Underground
🌍 Understanding Perennials Where It Matters – Underground
Saturday, February 21 at 10:00 AM (CT)
Discover the hidden lives of perennials in this engaging Zoom presentation with internationally recognized garden writer and researcher Noel Kingsbury. Why do some perennials fade after a season, while others persist or spread aggressively?
Backed by overlooked Polish research from the 1960s and illustrated with both above- and below-ground images, Noel will share practical insights that help gardeners predict how plants will grow over time—using nothing more than a spade and keen observation.
💬 Free & open to the public
🌱 Trends in Horticulture: The Power of Plants & Changing Garden Design with Anna Ball
🌱 Trends in Horticulture: The Power of Plants & Changing Garden Design with Anna Ball
🌱 Trends in Horticulture: The Power of Plants & Changing Garden Design with Anna Ball
📅 Monday, March 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Anna Ball, Chairman and CEO of Ball Horticultural Company and a recognized leader in the horticulture industry. In this presentation, Anna will explore emerging trends in horticulture and how the growing power of plants and evolving design ideas are shaping the future of gardens and landscapes.
Drawing on decades of experience in plant innovation and industry leadership, Anna will share insights into where gardening is headed and what these trends mean for home gardeners. She is a trustee of The Morton Arboretum and is widely respected for her influence on the future of plants and horticulture.
Purdue Extension – Lake County, Crown Point
This free program is open to the public.
🌸 Orchids 101 with Dr. Scott Stewart
🌱 Trends in Horticulture: The Power of Plants & Changing Garden Design with Anna Ball
🌱 Trends in Horticulture: The Power of Plants & Changing Garden Design with Anna Ball
Thursday, January 15 at 6:00 PM (CT)
Explore the beauty and basics of orchid care in this engaging Zoom presentation with Dr. Scott Stewart. Learn how to choose healthy orchids, understand light and watering needs, and keep your plants thriving long-term. Dr. Stewart will also highlight beginner-friendly varieties and introduce a few native Midwest orchids.
Whether you’re new to orchids or looking to improve your success, this session offers practical tips and plenty of inspiration.
This free program is open to the public.
🍂 Fall Master Gardener Training Program
The Purdue Extension Master Gardener Basic Training program is a comprehensive course covering horticulture basics, plant science, sustainable gardening practices, and community outreach. Successful completion of the course is required for new Master Gardener trainees.
The Fall 2025 Master Gardener Training class has been completed, and we are pleased to welcome a new group of Master Gardener Interns to the Lake County Master Gardeners Association.
The next Fall Master Gardener Training session will be held August 10 – December 1, from 5:30–8:30 PM at the Lake County Extension Office.
More details coming soon.
Our newest group of Master Gardener trainees kicking off the Fall 2025 class!
Featured Videos or Highlights
🌿 Intro to Houseplants with Peter Sheardy
🌿 Watch Functional & Fantastic Plants with Wayne Gruber
🌿 Watch Functional & Fantastic Plants with Wayne Gruber
Houseplant enthusiast Peter Sheardy shared an engaging look at the history of houseplants and how our indoor gardening habits have evolved over time. Following his presentation, Peter provided this helpful guide — “What a Houseplant Needs” — outlining the key elements every houseplant requires to stay healthy and thrive.
🌿 Watch Functional & Fantastic Plants with Wayne Gruber
🌿 Watch Functional & Fantastic Plants with Wayne Gruber
🌿 Watch Functional & Fantastic Plants with Wayne Gruber
Presented Tuesday, August 12 at 6:00 PM
Missed the presentation? You can now watch horticulturist and educator Wayne Gruber share his top picks for sustainable, pollinator-friendly plants that can transform your landscape. Learn how to make informed choices and discover exciting new options that blend beauty and function.
🦋 Doug Tallamy: Next Steps for Nature
🌿 Watch Functional & Fantastic Plants with Wayne Gruber
🌿 Sustainable Garden Design with Wayne Gruber
Join renowned entomologist and author Doug Tallamy as he shares powerful insights on the critical role native plants play in supporting insects, birds, and the broader ecosystem. This engaging webinar explores how each of us can help restore biodiversity—starting right in our own backyards. Be inspired to take action for nature.
🌿 Sustainable Garden Design with Wayne Gruber
🌸 What’s New for 2025: The Journey from Selection to Your Garden
🌿 Sustainable Garden Design with Wayne Gruber
Join us for a walk through Niemeyer’s with Wayne Gruber as he shares expert tips on creating eco-friendly, low-maintenance gardens. Learn how to combine natives, nativars, and sustainable plants for beautiful results with less effort.
🥦 The Art of Growing Food with Ellen Ecker Ogden
🌸 What’s New for 2025: The Journey from Selection to Your Garden
🌸 What’s New for 2025: The Journey from Selection to Your Garden
Join kitchen garden designer and author Ellen Ecker Ogden for an inspiring look at how to transform your vegetable garden into a beautiful and productive space. Discover how to combine classic design principles with edible landscaping techniques to create a garden that’s both artistic and abundant.
🌸 What’s New for 2025: The Journey from Selection to Your Garden
🌸 What’s New for 2025: The Journey from Selection to Your Garden
🌸 What’s New for 2025: The Journey from Selection to Your Garden
Explore the latest plant introductions with Josh Miller of Proven Winners in this colorful and informative slideshow. Discover how new plants are selected, trialed, and brought to market—plus get a peek at the season’s standout varieties.
🌟 Master Gardeners Favorite Things Slideshow
🌟 Master Gardeners Favorite Things Slideshow
🌟 Master Gardeners Favorite Things Slideshow
Each December, Lake County Master Gardeners gather to celebrate the season and share our favorite gardening tools, tips, books, and more!
Check out the slideshow from our recent Favorite Things Party to discover what your fellow MGs can’t live without. It’s full of fun ideas and helpful recommendations from gardeners just like you!
🌱 “Permaculture” with Rebecca Koetz
🌟 Master Gardeners Favorite Things Slideshow
🌟 Master Gardeners Favorite Things Slideshow
Learn how to design sustainable, low-impact gardens with Purdue Extension Educator Rebecca Koetz. In this two-part webinar, Becca shares practical tips on water harvesting, food production, and creating resilient landscapes inspired by nature.
Educating others
Gardeners' Corner
Check out recommendations that can help your garden in any season.
🌿 EDUCATION IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO
The Lake County Master Gardeners Association is dedicated to helping the public grow their gardening knowledge through free presentations, in-person talks, and educational outreach. All of our programs reflect our mission: Helping Others Grow.
Our education programs are held in the meeting room at Purdue Extension Lake County [2293 N. Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307, Phone: 219-755-3240.] A wide variety of speakers offer monthly programs. All programs are free to the public and publicized through email bulletins, sent from our Constant Contact database. As word caught on, the database grew, as did our audiences. They included programs on tree identification, roses, bats, lawns, hibiscus, bees and beekeeping, pollinator gardens…a real wealth of topics.
If you would like to receive notification of our free gardening programs, please add your email address here:
🎤 SPEAKERS’ BUREAU
Our Speakers Bureau is available to provide presentations for garden clubs, libraries, community organizations, and civic groups in Lake County.
Popular talk topics include:
• Attracting pollinators to your garden
• Native plants and sustainable landscaping
• Vegetable gardening 101
• Seasonal garden care
• Organic and eco-friendly gardening practices
Interested organizations should contact the listed speakers directly to arrange the programs. Speakers cannot accept honoraria for speaking but can accept donations on behalf of LCMGA that are happily accepted by the Treasurer!
If you would like to receive a copy of the Speaker's Bureau list, please request one from Purdue Extension by calling (219) 755-3240