Okanagan Master Gardeners (OMG) started in 2003 as a group focused on educating the public about gardening. Originally called the Summerland Master Gardeners, the group worked alongside the Friends of the Summerland Ornamental Gardens. Over time, OMG expanded, training volunteers to share science-based gardening advice. The organization now plays a key role in helping people grow plants successfully while adapting to local conditions.
Our Founding
The Okanagan Master Gardeners (ex-Summerland Master Gardeners) were established in 2003 as an educational outlet for the Friends of the Summerland Ornamental Gardens (FoG). During a Strategic Planning Exercise undertaken by the FoG Board in 2003, it was recognized that informed gardeners could do much to support the purposes and aims of the Gardens. The Board agreed to sponsor a Master Gardener Basic Program, based at the Summerland Ornamental Gardens. In this, they were supported by a Board member who was a Qualified Master Gardener trained at VanDusen (Rita Arnicans) and one Director (Linda Sears) who agreed that the timing was right to provide interested gardeners with the knowledge to provide free, informed gardening advice to the Okanagan gardening public.
To establish the training program, much work was required: block out a schedule; find qualified people to deliver the various teaching modules of the course; find enough students to make the program cost-effective; modify the Basic Program supplement to reflect local growing conditions, and convince various gardening centers and nurseries of the benefits of having volunteer advisors on hand to help people choose the correct plants for their gardens. Never let anyone say that ground-breaking is easy. Throughout, we were fully supported by the FoG Board, the VanDusen Basic Program Training Facilitator (Doreen Godwin) and other members of the provincial Council of the MGABC. Without their support and information, this training never could have been launched in the Interior of the province. A beneficial outcome of this pioneer endeavour was subsequent changes to bylaws and structure of the MGABC that made it truly representative of all MG chapters in the province.
In January of 2004, the first Basic Training Program was held in the old house at theSummerland Ornamental Gardens, with 16 students who were keen to learn as much as possible about local gardening conditions; they came from throughout the Okanagan, from Osoyoos to Kamloops. Some drove as much as 3 hours each way, once a week, to participate! Included in those students were two Master Gardeners, previously trained at VanDusen, whose activities had lapsed and who chose to renew their training. Also included were a Master Gardener (Advanced Training) from Kamloops, who audited all the sessions, and one student whose goal was to establish a Master Gardeners chapter in the Kamloops area. (In 2009, that goal was met when Leslie Welch was instrumental in establishing the Thompson Shuswap chapter of the MGABC.) All the lecturers gave freely of their time and expertise, and two VanDusen-trained MGs resident in the Okanagan (Carol Boan and Barb Jordan) agreed to act as mentors, along with Rita. It was an exciting three months for everyone involved, and in the first year, students provided 1193 hours of advice to the gardening public.
A second training program was held in 2005, again at the Summerland Ornamental Gardens, with 10 students. During that growing season, 1758 advice hours were logged. However, the reduction in number of students was an indicator that a breather was advisable, so no training was held in 2006. In 2007, the Program Coordinator approached the Continuing Studies Coordinator at Okanagan College in Penticton, who agreed to provide the Basic Program training course as part of their curriculum. Although 15 students took the course, only 4 were Qualified MGs as of 2010. We found that a College course did not meld well with the volunteer aspect of Master Gardeners, and future training at that venue was not considered.
In the fall of 2004, and in subsequent years, our MGs have attended a Fall Update in Summerland, an all-day event that has included guest speakers, lunch, door prizes and a Business Meeting. Our broad geographical distribution precludes easily arranged monthly meetings, so this meeting has provided our members with self-education hours and a chance to interact. In addition, we hold a Spring Sign-up, often with a guest speaker and a Business Meeting.
From 2003 to 2008, the Program Coordinator was Linda Sears, who worked to establish Master Gardeners in the Okanagan and Central Interior. In 2007, she was granted a seat on the MGABC Council as a voice for the Interior of the province. This was a tremendous boost to our local efforts, because we now had interactions with other MGs in the province as well as guidance in matters of protocol. However, one person can only wear so many hats, and it was past time to delegate, so in 2007, she drafted Bylaws for the soon-to-be chapter of the then-Summerland Master Gardeners, which were accepted by all members. Since then, we have grown into a more recognizable chapter, and many MGs have stepped forward to take on administrative roles. In 2006, Janis Thompson took on the work of Clinic Planner; since 2007, Joy Campbell has ably handled that responsibility. In 2008, Caroline Hill became the Program Coordinator, and in 2009, members agreed to change our chapter name to Okanagan Master Gardeners, which is more reflective of the area we serve.
In 2008, the Basic Training Coordinators in Kelowna (Lorrie Henderson) and Kamloops (Leslie Welch) ran programs for 20 and 24 students, respectively. For the Kelowna training, Lorrie approached many gardening centers and other grant-givers to support our costs, as by this time, lecturers were expecting to be reimbursed for their efforts. Lorrie raised an impressive amount of donations to support the training costs.
In the life of our chapter, attrition does occur. Sadly, we lost one enthusiastic Master Gardener to death in 2005, and several who withdrew because other priorities arose in their lives. A few have moved away, and we hope they will continue their activities in their new homes.
In 2009, a new Board of the Friends of the Gardens cancelled the Affiliation Agreement with the Master Gardeners because their priorities did not include us. Fortunately, the Okanagan Master Gardeners have established a presence in our area, and continued to provide advice at gardening centers, be involved with community renewal projects, and provide our expertise.
History of the Okanagan Master Gardeners from 2003 to 2010 was prepared by Linda Sears in 2010 (MGABC Council Representative, Okanagan Master Gardeners)
Our Current Chapter
In the fall of 2024, at our AGM, the Okanagan Master Gardeners awarded the first twenty year pin. The recipient, Darlene Rogers was a student in the first Basic Training Program put on by the newly minted chapter. Although she is the only member of her class still active, we have recognized five others from those early days with Lifetime Memberships. Those who started the chapter off so well and have given so much to us and our community, are Judy Bell 2004, Barbara Bowmar 2004, Ginny Dournova 2004, Linda Sears 2005 and Wilma Schellenberger 2004. Linda Sears was a force in getting the chapter started, coordinated the first BTP and took the course herself a year later. Since then, we have added one more person, Melba Reid, 2012.
In our twenty years, we have put on ten Basic Training Programs. The course has been modified each time to make it more relevant to our own growing conditions. To this end, we have compiled a local supplement to the Manual, and over the years gathered an impressive list of speakers with local expert knowledge. All of our members were invited to BTP lectures as a way of continuing their education and introducing the new students.
The next Basic Training Program is set to start in early 2026. For the first time, it will be presented in a hybrid form: in person lectures and online presentations. And another first, it will be a cooperative effort with the Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners. They are our closest neighbour geographically and share similar growing conditions and concerns.
During our twenty years of activity, our service to the community has widened considerably and the public’s understanding of what Master Gardeners offer has grown. One member tells the story of turning up to a garden centre in the early days, ready for a day of giving advice, and being asked to water the plants. Our clinics continue to be held at these settings, but we can also be found giving talks at places like libraries, working with children in schools, writing articles, answering questions online, putting on Seedy Sunday and supporting other organizations, including Benvoulin Heritage Church, Guisachan Garden, Summerland Ornamental Gardens, Peachland Wellness Centre, Summerland Recreation Park, Naramata Community Church Rose Garden, and Armstrong Elementary School Garden. Hands on volunteer service is now included in our repertoire. We can be found getting our hands dirty in the places listed above.
Gardening interests and issues change, and we have changed with them. No longer are we advising people on their lawns or water features. Now we are more likely to help them choose drought tolerant plantings and work towards fire smart gardens. Climate resilience is a new mantra.
Like other volunteer groups, we have had our tough times. During the pandemic, many volunteer activities were either cancelled or severely curtailed. Our numbers dwindled. Right now we are forty-three active members; once we numbered in the eighties.
This past year has seen reorganization and clarification of roles. We have a full and enthusiastic executive and a rejuvenation of spirit.
We’re all grown up (21 this year) and we continue to grow. If we were plants, we would be hardy perennials!
History of the Okanagan Master Gardeners from 2011 to 2025 was prepared by Pat Zander in 2025 (MGABC Council Representative, Okanagan Master Gardeners)