Garden Guru? …
When we moved to the house in Silver Spring, Maryland I was looking forward to taking classes at the Takoma Park campus of Montgomery College. Specifically I was interested in their Landscape Technology certificate program. However, that plan died when I realized that classes for the program were almost exclusively taught at the Germantown campus, 25 miles away, and not at the campus three blocks away from our home.
I mention this because our recent house-hunting has given me the itch to get out of this flat and back to gardening. I have also been thinking about taking classes again, so I was very pleased when my friend Ann passed on a link to the Vermont Master Gardener program at the University of Vermont extension. The program is a little different than the Landscape Technology certificate, but it is a nice first step for me to get back into being a student. Plus I like that the program is designed to create a network of volunteers to help in their communities.
If I adjust to being a student again, I may look into Vermont Technical College’s Landscape Development and Ornamental Horticulture program. For now I will try my hand learning about turf, weeds, entomology, plant pathology, soils, woody ornamentals, perennials, annuals, applied pest management, invasive plant control, vegetables and landscape design. The last two being of the most interest to me.
I still have to drive 25 miles to get to the classes in Randolph, but 25 miles in Vermont is a pleasure compared to the hell that is DC/Maryland traffic.
Wish me luck.
Good luck, Sweetie! It will be great for us to have a Master Gardener on staff at the new place. I hope you enjoy the class
Good luck, Rick! That sounds like a lot of fun! I totally have a brown thumb, but I always fantasize about being one of those people who gardens.
Maybe I’ll have to have you up to our place in the spring to do some “consulting.” 
Wishing you great success and many hours of enjoyment. I’m sure you’ll do very well.
Good luck Scully! Look forward to hearing more about your class.
I expect to be greeted with ornamental lais upon arrival.
I’m jealous. I’ve wanted to take that class for a long time. Unfortunately, with two little kids and a job that requires a fair amount of travel, I haven’t been able to commit to it.
Besides the great knowledge you’ll learn, you’ll be able to hold the title of “Master Gardener”. That’s a kick-ass title to wield.
Sam, it’s the VERMONT master gardener program. I can maybe weave a lei for you out of sugar maple saplings though.
OK. I’m really late to this post, but a lei doesn’t have to be made of flowers.
“…loosely defined, a lei is any series of objects strung together with the intent to be worn. A lei (na lei is the plural in the Hawaiian language) may be composed of a pattern or series of just about anything, but most commonly consists of fresh natural foliage such as flowers, vines, or fern fronds. Among the flowers used are the plumeria, lehua blossom or the orchid, though maile leaves are extremely popular as well as traditional among hula dancers.”
Men often wear leis of maile leaves so a sugar maple lei sounds good to me
At graduations students often get money leis.
As a kid I loved the candy leis. I had completely forgotten about those until I read this post.