Re: Re: Help with H. americana!

For me, the classes told me how much I didn't know...this was reinforced by
those who had their MG from other areas and had to start all over to learn
how to garden here.  

The MG classes were a good starter...I've added to that by the education
requirement, working in the Trial Gardens with those who have more of a
speciality in certain plants or types of planting, and resources like this
list and subscriptions.  

I might be good if the classes stressed that these are just a
beginning...however, it might be like writing...everyone thinks they can do
it.


> [Original Message]
> From: Marge Talt <mtalt@hort.net>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Date: 5/1/2006 1:48:44 AM
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] Re: Help with H. americana!
>
> Well, Kitty, I'm all for anybody learning about gardening and I'm
> sure that the MG programs encourage that, I just still have a bit of
> an internal problem with the title one gets at the end of the program
> because of its limited duration when considered against 30-40 years
> of hands on experience, which is what I consider necessary to begin
> to master even a bit of the vast world of hort.
>
> I totally agree, Jerry Baker is a complete snake oil salesmen;
> charlatan first class.  I understand many have protested his use of
> MG, but I am sure he cares...right...all the way to the bank.
>
> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> mtalt@hort.net
> Shadyside Garden Designs
>
> ----------
> > From: Kitty <kmrsy@comcast.net>
> > > I think I have a built in problem with someone calling themselves
> a
> > > Master Gardener when they really are not....takes years of
> experience
> > 
> > I agree Marge, but you have to look at the program as it was laid
> out in the 
> > 70s.  A Master Gardener is a volunteer who has taken a broad
> overview 
> > horticulture course from the extension agent in order to help the
> agent with 
> > ph calls from residents about home horticulture issues.  That's
> all.  Though 
> > the program varies from state to state, basically an MG takes 40-50
> hours of 
> > classes (not credit hours, buta actual hours) in a few months' time
> and then 
> > takes a test.  If they pass they are an intern; if they complete
> their 
> > volunteer time, the next year they are called an MG.  And if they
> contribute 
> > a dozen hours and listen to a few seminars within the 2nd year,
> they are 
> > given the name Advanced Master Gardener.
> > 
> > When I became interested in gardening I couldn't get into the MG
> classes so 
> > I took the 4yrs of hort classes from Guelph instead.  I am so glad
> I did as 
> > it gave me a much deeper understanding of the subject matter
> (though, of 
> > course, not nearly as extensive as I might have gotten if I could
> have 
> > pursued a BS).  I have no immediate family, sig other, or any other
> equally 
> > important interests, so I am more dedicated to my hort experience
> than most 
> > of the other MGs.  But according to the organization, we are all
> Master 
> > Gardeners, whether or not we've mastered anything.
> > 
> > Hey, look at Jery Baker.  He calls himself a MG and I think he's a
> quack.
> > 
> > Kitty
> > neIN, Zone 5
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt@hort.net>
> > To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 2:27 AM
> > Subject: Re: [CHAT] Re: Help with H. americana!
> > 
> > 
> > > Well, one does have to make allowances for volunteers tho' I'd
> have a
> > > bit of trouble being nice about doing so in the face of idiocy:-)
> > >
> > > I think I have a built in problem with someone calling themselves
> a
> > > Master Gardener when they really are not....takes years of
> experience
> > > and some fanatical devotion to become a real 'Master' at
> anything; a
> > > crash course does not do the trick.
> > >
> > > Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> > > mtalt@hort.net
> > > Shadyside Garden Designs
> > >
> > > ----------
> > >> From: Kitty <kmrsy@comcast.net>
> > >>
> > >> Marge,
> > >> I do rather agree with you re our MGs, but then they are
> volunteers
> > > and have
> > >> families and live long distance from the gardens. I guess they
> > > don't like to
> > >> start too early in the season.
> > >>
> > >> They do shred the leaves somewhat, but they pile them too high
> imo.
> > >>
> > >> > have nothing against Impatiens - more appropriate for a
> woodland
> > >> > garden than coleus IMO
> > >> Chuckle...they love Coleus.  Now they don't use Impatiens, but
> they
> > > love
> > >> scattering coleus everywhere. Sigh.
> > >>
> > >> > does not sound like that group are really interested
> > >> > in gardening as I understand the term.
> > >> A lot of MGs are just dabblers.  They take the crash MG course
> and
> > > then they
> > >> decorate rather than garden imo.  But as I said, these are
> people
> > > with all
> > >> sorts of interests and this is just a small portion of their
> lives.
> > > Don't
> > >> get me wrong, some have a lot of expertise, but more of them are
> > > just having
> > >> some fun.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Kitty
> > >> neIN, Zone 5
> > >> ----- Original Message ----- 
> > >> From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt@hort.net>
> > >> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> > >> Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 1:01 AM
> > >> Subject: Re: [CHAT] Re: Help with H. americana!
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > Another oldie.....
> > >> >
> > >> > Nah....hederafiolia is a fall bloomer - can start mid-late
> summer
> > > if
> > >> > it gets enough water to wake it up.
> > >> >
> > >> > Your MGs make me wonder if they're actually "Master"
> gardeners.
> > >> > Leaves are fine, but they have to start coming off early March
> > > or, as
> > >> > you rightly point out, they smother the early plants and it's
> > > much
> > >> > better to chop them than leave them whole if time
> permits...and
> > > not
> > >> > put them down a foot thick unless you intend to start a new
> bed.
> > > I
> > >> > have nothing against Impatiens - more appropriate for a
> woodland
> > >> > garden than coleus IMO, but it appears your group is just
> using
> > >> > whatever to extreme and neglecting all the lovely things they
> > > could
> > >> > be growing if they had sense enough.  Pity.
> > >> >
> > >> > Think, considering, you're right to just get them what they
> ask
> > > for
> > >> > and forget it; does not sound like that group are really
> > > interested
> > >> > in gardening as I understand the term.
> > >> >
> > >> > Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> > >> > mtalt@hort.net
> > >> > Shadyside Garden Designs
> > >> >
> > >> > ----------
> > >> >> From: Kitty <kmrsy@comcast.net>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Mine were Cyclamen coum, purchased in 2003.  I guess I
> thought
> > > C.
> > >> >> hederafolia would also bloom in February.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> As to these MGs...they tend a garden called the Woodland Fen.
> > > They
> > >> > have the
> > >> >> standard fare of Hostas, ferns, Hellebores, some Astilbes,
> > >> > Heucheras, a
> > >> >> couple of Toadlilies.  Beyond that, they used to cover the
> whole
> > >> > thing in a
> > >> >> layer of Impatiens, which made me cringe. Fortunately, they
> > > stopped
> > >> > that
> > >> >> practice. Now they fill in everywhere with coleus. oh well.
> > > Since
> > >> > the
> > >> >> current group took this garden over several years ago,
> they've
> > > lost
> > >> > all
> > >> >> their Trilliums, most of their Barrenworts, and almost all
> new
> > >> > ephemerals I
> > >> >> got for them.  Why?  Their method of putting the garden to
> bed
> > > is
> > >> > to heap
> > >> >> leaves over everything until you can't see anything at all.
> > > That
> > >> > in itself
> > >> >> might not be too bad as the winter winds do remove some of
> that.
> > >> > However,
> > >> >> they don't uncover the garden until latest April, maybe May. 
> So
> > >> > what's the
> > >> >> point of Cyclamen? or Trillium?  I think they've just
> smothered
> > > or
> > >> > neglected
> > >> >> the early stuff becuase it doesn't perform when they are
> paying
> > >> > attention.
> > >> >> Anyway, I've stopped suggesting lovely woodland plants and
> just
> > > get
> > >> > them
> > >> >> what they want.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >
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