Re: Master Gardeners

**"* <d*@comcast.net>**

When I first qualified as  Master Gardener about 20 years ago, I was 
appalled at the lack of knowledge of some MGs.  How could they not know this 
or that?  I was really smug about it. After all, I had a radio show and a 
weekly column. Surely I knew more than they.

In subsequent years, when I worked for Extension, I learned how much Master 
Gardener Volunteers knew, and how much they gave back to the community. 
While some MGs don't know a Tomato seed from a Turnip seed, they were quick 
to look things up and give the right answer to the person on the other end 
of the phone line.  We always trained them to say, "I don't know, but I'll 
find out and give you a call" and they did. They learned from the process, 
too.

Not everyone is an expert in everything, but we have skilled MGs in 
everything from organic gardening to Rose culture, to certified arborists in 
our group. One of our members is a Daylily specialist, and she can quote 
chapter and verse on anything daylily, though she'll call me about a 
vegetable question, as I call her about daylily parentage.

Another of our MGs is a former chemistry  professor from  MIT and Ga. Tech. 
If someone has a tricky question on temps/humidity/growth rate with 
chemicals or different fertilizers,  he's my go-to person. He also has great 
knowledge about  Organic Gardening, though he might ask a "stupid" question 
about Tulip seeds. (He hasn't, but he leaves the ornamentals to his wife). 
One of my MG students is exceptionally gifted in color theory and flower 
arrangement. If we need a speaker on that topic, I'll call her.

I'm amazed at the number of  folks in our MG group who have PhDs or other 
advanced degrees. I'm also amazed by the organizational and teaching skills 
of some others. I've often been cited as being an "amazing" teacher, but I'm 
generalist. I know a bunch about a lot of things, but some of the MGs have 
passion and knowledge about others.

Let's please allow some leeway for MGs . I agree that the title "Master 
Gardener" was probably not the best choice, but it is what it is.

d

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