Re: Master Gardener class/Garden Study

In a message dated 09/09/2004 7:34:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Cersgarden@aol.com writes:
  I am taking the Garden Study classes all day today & tomarrow.  This is a 
federated garden club program which I rate as better than MG classes.  
Auralie can back this up I am sure.  This is to renew which is reqd every (5) 
yrs I 
think.
    Ceres 


This is a very good program, Ceres.  I'm glad to hear you are
taking it.  New York State also has it's own  Horticulture School
program, of which I am the State Chairman.  Our program is
aimed at growers, exhibitors, and horticulture judges.  We give
basic botanical information and the specifics of a number of
popular plant types with emphasis on how to grow exhibition-
quality specimens, and just what those consist of.  The National
program does not address the judging aspects, but we feel that
it helps to know just what is considered most desirable.  We also
include a segment on environmental issues, protected plants, etc.
We always have local specialists who know the area.  My one
objection to the National program is that the speakers come from
all over, and though they may be qualified in one field - the National
requirements are very strict -  they are not always qualified in the 
topic under discussion.  A classic example of this was a symposium
I once took in Denver where the topic was Narcissus.  The speaker
was a Gladiolus specialist, and I'm sure knew everything there was
to know about glads, but didn't know any more about daffs than I
did.  Of course she had the prescribed curriculum to follow, and was
a good speaker.

Unfortunately in this area the Master Gardeners sneer at garden 
club people.  A past District Director was turned down when she
applied to the program because of her garden club connections.
Their speakers boycott our programs.  I have never been able to
understand this attitude - it seems to me we are all on the same
side - why this animosity?  

Enjoy your Garden Study courses!
Auralie

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