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Health & Fitness

What is the Master Gardener Program?

Do you love to garden and would like to take it to the next level? Why not become a Master Gardener!

If you’re a gardener, you probably know about the Master Gardener program.  If you’re not a gardener, or perhaps you’re someone just getting into gardening and are curious about the program, let me give you a little information about it.

The Master Gardener program was founded in 1972 in Seattle, Washington.  All states in the United States offer Master Gardener programs.  In St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden offers the Master Gardener program in conjunction with the University of Missouri Extension.  It is also offered in St. Charles at the County MU Extension office.  The St. Louis Master Gardener program began in 1983 as a partnership between the Missouri Botanical Garden and the University of Missouri Extension.

Master Gardeners volunteer all over the St. Louis area.  You’ll find them at Forest Park, The Butterfly House, Gateway Greening, Operation Brightside and . 

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Master Gardeners are obligated to volunteer at least 50 hours of service into the community.  In 2009, the organization as a whole volunteered a total of 35,700 hours. In 2010 the group’s hours totaled 33,684.  Last year the Master Gardeners logged 543 hours at Longview Farm Park.  I find that very impressive!

Perhaps you are an experienced gardener and you’re wondering, “What will I learn and how will I benefit by becoming a Master Gardener?”  The answer is simple: you’ll learn more than you ever thought possible. 

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Speaking from experience, I considered myself an accomplished gardener.  I founded a garden club in 1999 and have gardened most of my life.  In reality, I was stupefied by the amount of information I didn’t know.  It took the experts in the Master Gardener program to take my gardening to the next level.  And I’m so grateful for it.

The course begins on the first Thursday in January.  It continues for 17 weeks.  Each week the class focuses on a specific aspect of gardening and the most knowledgeable individuals teach each class. 

For example, Cindy Gilberg teaches the class on native plants.  Cindy is one of the most experienced, well known experts on native plants in our area.  Recently, she and her mother, Barbara Perry Lawton, wrote the book commemorating Shaw Nature Reserve’s anniversary. 

Jason Delaney, the gardens “Bulb Boy” teaches the class on bulbs. Ben Chu, the artisan responsible for tending the spectacular trees and shrubs in the Japanese Garden, teaches the class on pruning.  Given the caliber of professionals, each sharing their specific field of expertise, it’s plain to see what you’ll learn.

One aspect of the program I must stress is that you will work hard and study a lot.  Each week there are tests covering the previous weeks class and a test on plant material.  You will need to memorize (and correctly spell) the botanical name of a certain plant and it’s characteristics.  Did you know that the tropical plant “Elephant Ear” has the botanical name Xanthosoma?  And that its tubers are edible?  And that it’s related to the Alocasia and Calocasia?  Well, you’ll learn all about it in the class on tropicals. 

By the end of class in May, you will have memorized 230 botanical names and characteristics of each plant.  The class is hard, or at least it was for me.  It’s been decades since I had to memorize anything and I don’t mind telling you that I got only one perfect score the entire five months.  That test was proudly displayed on my refrigerator until I graduated in May.  Just like when the kids’ were little and got a 100% on a test.  I worked hard for that perfect score!

When the class was finally over, I was thrilled to get my life back.  I learned more that I thought possible and made some great friends along the way. 

Each year Mark and I challenge each other to see who can rack up the most volunteer hours.  Alan and Peggy volunteer with me in the Tappmeyer gardens.  Meg, Linda, and Jessie volunteer with me in the Longview gardens.  You’ll make some great friends and won’t stop learning just because you’ve closed your books. 

Each location where you volunteer will broaden your horticultural knowledge and be an opportunity to make new friends.

The class meets each Thursday and is offered once a year, beginning in January.  It ends in early May.  Applications for the 2012 class are accepted beginning in early September.  To find out more information about the program, and how to sign up, visit www.stlmg.com and click on the link “Becoming a Master Gardener.” 

Additionally, you can email Nathan Brandt, Master Gardener coordinator, at brandtn@missouri.edu  with any questions or concerns you might have.  If you love to garden, and want to broaden your knowledge in a short period of time, I can’t stress how much you’ll learn in the program.  Quite simply, it will be the best five months of your life!

 

 

 

 

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