projects

Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans support educational garden projects in the Greater New Orleans area. Louisiana Master Gardeners manage and volunteer in these projects. Email a Project Leader directly for more information or to volunteer.



Federal City Community Garden,
Algiers

This Westbank project is located at Federal City on the former Naval Support Activity – New Orleans military base in Algiers. Master Gardeners maintain vegetable and herb demonstration beds, provide hands-on gardening activities and assist the Federal City military families and Westbank residents who participate as growers in the community garden. Biannual Garden Clean Up Days are held in the spring and the fall. 

Project Leader:  Charlotte Baham

Location:  Federal City at Guadalcanal Street between Carmick and Savage Streets in Algiers
Volunteer Day/Time:  At your convenience

Galvez Garden

The Galvez Garden is a growing community garden in St. Roch. With an emphasis on native plants and pollinator plants, specific goals of the garden are to be welcoming to the community, safe and inviting for children and the elderly, and to serve as a demonstration and teaching garden for the neighborhood. As awardees of the 2023 Cultivating the Community Garden Grant, the Galvez Garden aims to increase availability of fresh fruits and vegetables within underserved communities. We look forward to growing a productive vegetable garden area that grows food for our community, while offering inclusive opportunities for community members to learn about gardening. Visit Galvez Garden website.  Help Galvez Garden fund the purchase of their leased lot.  Donate on their GoFundMe page.

 

 

Project Leader:  Lissie Stewart

Location:  2317 N. Galvez Street, New Orleans

Volunteer Day/Time:  Flexible

Jazz Museum, New Orleans
French Quarter

Begun in 2023, this project will enhance and expand existing gardens at The New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Avenue, to integrate the Museum’s outdoor space into its overarching celebration of New Orleans’ cultural and historic roots. Our mission is for the Jazz Museum’s gardens to be living resources for educating the public about the rich and varied cultural heritage that nurtured and still sustains the music most associated with New Orleans. By connecting native and introduced plants, both ornamental and edible, to the music the museum celebrates (through interactive signage and occasional presentations), our goal is to deeply enhance visitors’ experience and create new educational and creative opportunities.

 

Project Leader:  Susan Goss
Location:  400 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA
Volunteer Day/Time: Flexible,

 

LaSalle's Landing Butterfly Garden Rivertown, Kenner

Established in the fall of 2022, this public space located in the City of Kenner was transformed into a butterfly garden with the guidance of LSU AgCenter and MGGNO volunteers.  A variety of seasonal pollinator plants were installed and are being maintained by master gardener volunteers.  All of the plants are labeled to help educate visitors about butterfly gardening.

 

Project Leader:  Barbara Siede
Location:  Jefferson Highway at Williams Boulevard, Kenner, LA
Volunteer Day/Time: Flexible

LaSalle Park Garden, Metairie

The LaSalle Park Garden is a productive project where volunteers plant a variety of vegetables year round and provide educational outreach for park visitors.  LaSalle Park is a popular place for residents of Metairie and the surrounding areas. It offers a walking path, urban forest nature trail and sports fields.

 

 

Project Leader:  Greg Maurer
Location:  6600 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA, 70003
Volunteer Day/Time: Wednesdays / 8 am to 10 am

Latter Library Oval Garden

The Latter Library Oval Garden is located on the grounds of Latter Library, at 5120 St. Charles Ave. These grounds are maintained under a contract with the Latter Conservancy, a nonprofit group. One portion is the responsibility of the Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans. It is a pollinator garden, showcasing a variety of annuals and perennials, designed to attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. There are seven varieties of salvias, five types of native plants and a selection of Louisiana Superplants. Passersby frequently stop to make positive comments and ask horticultural questions. Volunteers are welcome. Work is on an as-needed basis and may be tailored to each volunteer’s schedule.  

 

Project Leader:  Kathy McCrocklin

Volunteer Day/Time:  Flexible

Location:  5100 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans

Longue Vue House and Gardens

Have a great time and learn a lot while helping a National Historic Landmark! Join the skilled garden staff in maintaining Longue Vue’s beautiful Ellen Biddle Shipman designed historic gardens.  Longue Vue’s plant collections include over 3,500 Louisiana irises, 130 camellias, a diverse native plant palette, and two vegetable and herb gardens full of edible plants.

Volunteer projects in the gardens include weeding, raking, planting, mulching, pruning, propagation, and other diverse horticultural tasks. All tools are provided. Bring your own gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, water, snacks, and sense of humor.

For more information contact Dave Maher, a fellow Louisiana Master Gardener and Longue Vue’s Lead Garden Volunteer.  Learn more about Longue Vue and  register to volunteer. Registration is required.


Project Leader:  Dave Maher, Longue Vue Volunteer Manager

Volunteer Day/Time:  Thursdays / 8:30 am – 12 pm and second Saturday of the month 9 am – 11 am

Location:  Longue Vue House & Garden, 7 Bamboo Road, New Orleans, 70124

Louisiana Irises - Multi-Site

  • Bestoff Sculpture Garden, New Orleans Museum of Art
  • Longue Vue House & Gardens
  • The Iris Island in City Park: Master Gardeners are welcome to visit and volunteer on Thursday mornings from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.

There will be educational demonstrations on how to divide irises, plant rhizomes, cut seed pods open and plant seeds, and propagate irises to plant in other areas or share with friends. Contact Iris Project Leader for information or to volunteer.


Project Leader:  Lorrie Brown
Volunteer Day/Time:  Varies by location

Location:  See above

Louisiana Super Plants
Demonstration Garden, City Park

The Louisiana Super Plants Project is a raised demonstration garden outside the back gate entrance to the Besthoff Sculpture Garden and directly across the street from the Pavilion of Two Sisters in NOBG.  MGGNO volunteers learn about the Louisiana Super Plants through planting seasonal selections and general garden maintenance. Observers are educated about the many different types of LSP and how they came to receive this designation. 

 

Project Leader:  Judy Duplantis

Location:  New Orleans City Park

Volunteer Day/Time: Fridays / 9 am – 11 am

NOBG Aromatic Garden

The Aromatic Garden is part of many themed gardens created within the New Orleans Botanical Garden. All the plants that are grown there have some fragrance in either blossoms or leaves.  Fragrance is a strategy used by plants to attract pollinators, so these plants are also important in attracting beneficial insects as well as butterflies, moths, and their caterpillars. This garden encourages the appreciation of a scented garden and educates both visitors and Master Gardeners to the value of these plants. There is a mix of  perennial shrubs as well as summer and winter annuals with culinary herbs also having a role. This is a dynamic garden where plants are changed frequently and the hunt for more fragrant varieties is an ongoing passion for the master gardeners who volunteer here.

 

Project Leader:  Carolyn Sanchez

Location:  New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park
Volunteer Day/Time:  Tuesdays/Thursdays 9 am

NOBG Butterfly Garden

This colorful, popular garden is located behind the Lathe House and NOBG Study Center.  It has been maintained by a reliable and knowledgeable group of volunteers for years. Join the Project Leader and her group to learn and to continue this historical garden momentum.  

 

About This Project

Project Leader:  Mary Biundo

Location:  New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park

Volunteer Day/Time: Tuesdays / 9 am to noon

NOBG Cold Frame Beds

Louisiana Master Gardeners manage twelve raised beds in the New Orleans Botanical Garden. These beds were originally built as cold frames. Starting from seeds, the team grows a changing selection of vegetables and herbs with input from team members, the LSU agagents, and the New Orleans Botanical Garden staff. Harvested produce is used to augment the NOBG culinary kitchen and donated to a local food bank. The team is available to visit with park visitors and answer their questions about growing vegetables in Louisiana. This project began in 2017 and has been ongoing.

 

 

Project Leader:  Judy Lewis

Location:  New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park
Volunteer Day/Time:  Thursdays / 9 am (8 am during summer)

NOBG Hummingbird Garden

Tucked away between the Lathe House and the Butterfly  Garden, the new Hummingbird Garden attracts tiny winged visitors with plants and feeders maintained my master gardeners. Join the Project Leader and his team to learn how to participate in this fun project.  

 

Project Leader:  Seth Nehrbass

Location:  New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park

Volunteer Day/Time – Hummingbird:  Tuesdays / Flexible Time

NOBG Train Garden

This project is located in the Historic Train Garden on about an acre of scaled landscape representing New Orleans neighborhoods in the 1930’s when trains were the main means of getting around the City.  The HTG is situated in the rear of the New Orleans Botanical Garden next to the Japanese Garden.  Master gardener volunteers maintain plants on the entire site, which includes the interior garden, surrounding beds along the walkway as well the outside (entrance) garden.  Plant materials are reminiscent of the period such as  boxwood, azaleas, yaupon, and bottle brush.  Regular maintenance includes weeding, pruning and planting.  Interested volunteers should contact the project leader.

 

 

Project Leader:  Peggy Howard

Location:  New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park
Volunteer Day/Time:  Thursdays / Flexible Start Time

 

NOBG Culinary Gardens

This project is comprised of three demonstration gardens inside the New Orleans Botanical Garden:  the herb Kitchen Garden, the Asian Culinary vegetable bed and the Latin American vegetable garden.  Produce grown here is used for cooking demonstrations hosted in the new NOBG outdoor kitchen where educational programs and tastings inspire visitors about New Orleans eclectic cuisine.  Project members meet weekly on Tuesdays to plant, weed and harvest these plants. Please contact project leader for more information:  Volunteers can also contact NOBG garden lead Mark Meunier, for additional times and workday opportunities.

 

Project Leader:  Melissa Luer

Location:  New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park
Volunteer Day/Time:  Tuesdays /8:30 am (7:30 am during summer)

Pelican Greenhouse in City Park

Master Gardeners propagate plants in the Pelican Greenhouse and also staff plant sales.
This is one of our longest running MGGNO volunteer projects.  For more information on volunteering only contact Pelican Greenhouse. 


Project Leader:  Pelican Greenhouse Staff
Location:  Off Henry Thomas (Golf) Drive south of the I-610 underpass in City Park

Currently Not Accepting New Volunteers

LSU AgCenter Annual Events

AgMagic on the River

AgMagic on the River is a program of the LSU AgCenter. It introduces students in grades 3-6 to agriculture in Louisiana. Students experience exhibits featuring entomology, fisheries, forestry, horticulture, and much more.  This week-long, free event is held annually at the Docville Farm and volunteers are needed for a variety of positions.

 

 

Event Leader  Anna Timmerman., LSU AgCenter

Location:  5124 E. St. Bernard Hwy, Violet, LA 70092  

Spring Garden Show and Fall Garden Festival

Spring Garden Show
The LSU AgCenter presents the Spring Garden Show in the New Orleans Botanical Garden in City Park in early April.  Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans coordinate the event and provide the volunteers for staffing it.  Information and requests for volunteers are announced in advance of the event.  

 
Fall Garden Festival
City Park presents the Fall Garden Festival in the New Orleans Botanical Garden in early October.
Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans provide the volunteers for staffing it.  Information and requests for volunteers are announced in advance of the event.
 
Event Leader:  Chris Dunaway 

Location: New Orleans Botanical Garden, 1 Palm Drive, in City Park.

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