drat...I have a wedding in Ohio on the 6th I think...
Any west Michiganders here...
Im from Manistee, MI. I currently live in NC but will be back to garden this summer. Just found this site. Pretty cool. Im an iris collector. Anyone else out there addicted to irises.
i have a few iris here but i have many flower addictions!
welcome to the site and hurry home to Michigan
Dori your flower beds always amaze me!
Gotta come visit sometime.
Hello ALL,
Gotta tell ya SUE the Master gardener Class is a shoe in!
Did you know They never in 20 years ever flunked anyone??
You can answer the questions out of the book. it is NOT about testing YOU but about what you want to get out of it!! It is revealing,
full of science which gave me AH-HA! moments. It tells you the WHYS and HOWS!! My only regret was i did not take it sooner!! You will just love it!
Hello all "Can't wait for spring Michiganders!!"
Vickie just made me add up my co-op buys and I better hire some help!! I have 800 plants coming this spring!. I may chop one or 2 co-ops. But most of it I wanted. I just need more pots!!
Dori your yard is enviable!! I hope mine will look as good when I am done with it. Hey Stacey says you may come help pack? True or NOT?? Let me know. I have to find a dog sitter!!
I will . But that little co-op is going to cost me between gas and dog sitter I figure $100.00. Well looks like nothings really free or cheap in life!! LOL!!
Julie
hmmm may have to rethink the MG classes....but I am SO busy!! LOL
sue if it was me id save the money and buy plants with it!! :)
her is my title:::: uncertified advanced master gardener!
thanks everyone! COME visit!!!
Oh...I like that title...that is me too!!
When my mom enrolled me for the seminaar I just went to, she talked to the head honcho. DM told her I WAS a master gardener LOL...we got a chuckle out of that one!! She thinks I am a master at everything
I was going to take the MG classes but the cost kinda put it on the back burner for me.
never checked into the cost...how much? (a garden worths of plants??)
More than I had to spend at the time. I think it was around $175. - 200.
I will hurry back notmartha! I gotta be there for spring blooms. Besides I have tons of unfinished business to take care of in the garden. And i never miss an iris season.
Hey Dori,
i am also an advanced master gardener. And true it does notMEAN alot. Except to you!
Some people get lots out of it!! I did !
I had a mom who liked to garden but I did not grow up with any SCIENCE about gardening nor any lawn care, fruit tree or insect info!! I never learned it or understood it! If you read and learn the material I believe it is tremendously useful.
I can relate it to baking. I never really baked much and when I did it was hit and miss. Because NO ONE ever instilled in me the SCIENCE of baking. How the leveners, yeasts, butters, temps. all effect HOW well a product baked by 2 different people will have 2 different results ... BASED ON THE SCIENCE!!!
I LOVED it! Now those of you who had family guidance; parents who gardened alot or farmed. You may have known lots of the info. presented. But for me ..OH I was in heaven..It was like an AH-HA! moment!
But I agree with Dori, everybody has differing feelings about the courses and the certification. I think it depends how good the teachers were. As in college the courses are sometimes only as good as the professor!
I have elected to keep my certification for now but I fully understand leting it go. I am sure I will also!
Ok now you have PEAKED my interest how many here are MGS and how many either liked or couldn't care less about the MG course?
Julie
I have a degree and certificate in landscape and nursery through MSU and NMC.
flowrgirl1 - I am so jealous! I'm an accountant wishing I could be in hort. I'm an adv. master gardener and have been for years. It was my gift to myself when I graduated from college. I've kept up my education and volunteer hours for more than 15 years. I love all the people you meet volunteering and all the new opportunities to learn. Helen
In Traverse City they have a certificate program thru MSU that is fun to do. I took courses such as plant id 1 and 2, landscape maintenance, landscape design, plants diseases and pathogens, Insect pests, pruning and training, soils science, env. law, irrigation, and more.
Then I also went for the assoc. in plant science which just slapped on all those courses of english, math etc..
I really enjoyed this program and im so glad i did it. The certificate is set up as night courses so working adults can do it.
michelle
my dream house!
Now that its warmed up a little and the snow melted I finally feel like spring is rapidly approaching! I'm getting really excited about actually seeing growing things! Does anybody have a lot of perennials in their gardens that they would like to show off? I would love to visit a few gardens this summer and take photographs (garden photography is part of my job). If anybody is gracious enough to let me come I would be sure to bring along some free plants!
If I get mine in good shape this spring you are welcome to photograph my irises. My yard isnt that great for actual landscape value. Since I am a hoarder(?) Things arend were they should be and the irises are all in rows. I do have several friend close by who have great gardens for the views. My friend Lyndas yard is a dream. Absolutely breath taking.
This photo is from TC. This is a garden open to the public. It has hundreds of great photo ops.
Ohmigoodness, that garden looks breathtaking! What is the name of that public garden?
Well, I guess I shouldnt call it public. It is a womans private home but her garden is open most days. All you do is ring the garden bell before you enter. It is called Sunny Bank. Its on 6th st. in TC. The home is historical which she restored and taught herself how to garden and created the fabulous garden un under 10 years. She designed and built much of the hardscape as well. She is from england and it is reflected in her garden.
I will see if I can find the site or some links.
heres the house. all the houses on this street are magnifiscint.
Christabelle - I'm north of you in Muskegon and some people think my gardens are worth seeing. I also have lots of friends with gardens they like to show off. We could meet off US31 and hit several places on the way to our house. Helen
Michelle - your dream house is beautiful. Do you think MSU has other locations for those classes? Helen
My dream house is just a few blocks down from the second house photo i posted. One amazing street.
I know that cadillac has a campus as well but thats all I know. Check out their site. http://www.nmc.edu/ucenter/
michelle
FG
I LOVE Traverse City!
Do you know her address?
I would love to visit next time we are up there.
Flowergirl
That is such a charming picture; makes you want to see what's behind the gate. Thanks for the link; I will check it out. Helen
I will look for the info on the garden in TC. Right now all I know is to go down division and make a right on 6th st. Its three or so blocks down on the right. I will see what i can find.
Is the Stuck on Gardening conference an annual event? And is it only open to Master Gardeners or to us wannabes as well? I would like to keep in mind for next year.
Bizzie - it was last weekend and anyone can go!!! I'm not a MG and I've gone for three years.
Bizzie
There's another conference in Grand Haven on the 15th if you are interested. March Garden Day. Helen
There is? Do you have any info on it? I live here and I hadn't heard about it!
Never mind, I found it!
West Michigan gardeners, their spirits sore and frost-bitten, are knee deep in anticipation for the first fistful of spring.
For those who just can't wait, there's March Garden Day — A Celebration of Gardening on Saturday, March 15.
Sponsored by the West Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association, the day-long seminar on gardening, plants and design will be held at Covenant Life Church, 101 Columbus Ave. in downtown Grand Haven.
"It's a great way to reconnect with spring," said organizer Laurel Nease.
Expected to draw as many as 300 participants, March Garden Day will offer a timely break from dreary winter days and a peek at the gardening season to come. Anyone interested in learning more about gardening is welcome to attend.
Registration is $40 in advance and $45 at the door. An on-site lunch by Landyacht Bake House of Grand Haven is included with registration.
Proceeds from the event will help fund the WMNLA Scholarship Program, a fund of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.
March Garden Day participation qualifies for five education credits toward Master Gardener re-certification.
The featured keynote speakers this year are Janet Macunovich, co-founder of both the Practical Gardening Institute and the Michigan School of Gardening; and Art Cameron, a professor of horticulture at Michigan State University, who specializes in exotic herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses. Break-out sessions on a variety of topics will also be offered.
Known as the "Gardener's Personal Trainer," Macunovich is noted for taking the mystery out of successful gardening and appealing garden design. She will present two programs at March Garden Day.
"Hedge Your Bets" takes a hard look at the USDA hardiness zones and how they apply to a particular area. Attendees will learn what makes plants "hardy" and how to coax tender plants beyond their advertised zone. She will also spill the beans on varieties that cannot be trusted to survive in their catalog-claimed zones.
"I'll give ideas and facts about what hardiness means because it misleads a lot of gardeners," Macunovich said. "The idea is to help people understand better how to get a plant to really thrive in their yard and how to better use the hardiness zone guidelines that the catalogues give us."
Macunovich will also help gardeners identify microclimates within their own landscape — pockets where plants marketed for other hardiness zones are likely to thrive.
With "Visualizing Landscape Changes," Macunovich will share her thoughts in visualizing changes in the garden. This method will help gardeners "see into the future of their garden's landscape" before making critical alterations.
"People are hesitant to make changes because they're not sure how it will look," Macunovich said. She encourages gardeners to take a look at their yard now, and allow the snow to edit out the clutter and emphasize the architecture of what remains.
"Whatever looks good in March is a keeper," she said. "The rest are all movable players."
Macunovich said she'll show gardeners how to use a digital camera, scissors, tracing paper and a variety of household objects to cut-and-paste their way to a pleasing garden plan.
"If they can figure what size, shape and color they're looking for, they're far more likely to pick the right plant or landscape feature," said the Advanced Master Gardener.
The Bookman will have Macunovich's books available for purchase, and the author will autograph copies at the seminar.
Pj - are you going? I'm working one of the booths (I was told) selling tools as a fundraiser. I'll be there very early; stop by if you go. Helen
Wow, thanks for all the info! Helen, I would love to go garden touring with you! I'm thinking late spring/early summer would be a great. I can't wait until it finally starts to warm up!
Christabelle - just get in touch with me when you're ready to rock and roll. We're north of you so later is better. Helen
HI MICHElle flowergirl
nice to meet you!
we have 30+acres that I can garden. I am starting with about
one and a half so far. Just getting the grass to grow is a
challange here. Its so darn dry! or has been. i hope this
summer will continue the seasonable winter we have had.
I love Rhodies and Azaleas, Jap Maples, Weepers of any
kind, white pine strobus in my front yard, hinoki's, weeping
cercis's, etc. I have an English background and love
formal gardens. They remind me of home.
Well, take care!
sheri
Sounds like you have a nice selection. I love all the things you have listed. 30 acres, wow, i would love to have that. Someday!!!!! Ive been in NC for the whole winter so I have missed all that snow. Not really a bad thing though:) I do miss the snow, just not driving it it.
I love enghish gardens, so beautiful. I love delphiniums especially. I love the english style as well as cottage gardens. Blend the two and get a semi formal look with lots of color and lush growth.
Nice to meet you too.
michelle
Thanks for the info. Of course, I missed the Garden Day in Muskegon. That will teach me to check in more often.
WigglyPaw, I am so jealous. 30 acres to garden. Ahhhh! Who needs grass. Everytime I tell my husband I am out of room in my gardens and can't buy anymore he says we still have grass. And out comes the Round Up. Did I tell you he hates to mow?
I wish my boyfriend and i were on the same page about gardening. He couldnt care less what i do in the yard. Of course he will like how it looks but is totally indifferent to lawn or plants.
It took about 2 years for the gardening bug to bite my husband. Once he started, he is just as crazy as I am. We almost compete with each other. And argue about which plants belong to whom when we get home from the nurseries. The thing that saves us is he has mostly shade and I have mostly full sun. But it is a ton of fun being able to garden together.
We had a hard freeze last night, and my outdoor indoor plants all
crumpled and died. I am hoping that the tops are just dead and
not the rootballs.
Then, in the windstorms last week, my bonsai camellia blew
over, pot broke and i think thats dead now.
Cheese O'Pete. I just can't get a break here on this
place. All my azaleas and all my rhoadies died from
the winter this year. Its like death to plants here. If the
weather don't get em, then the moles will.
Or the Japanese beetles. or a tractor will drive over them.
how about the tree grew too fast so we had to cut it down.
Its only April and I am already disgusted. grrrrr.
sheri
Sheri...I feel your pain.
Sounds like my place.
What is it with those people who have perfect gardens?