MASTER GARDENER TRAINING BEGINS SOON

One day back in 1994 (LAST CENTURY), I decided on a whim to apply for Master Gardening training through the University of Illinois Extension Program. I was recently retired and challenged by the state of our back yard. (No one would have called it a garden then.)

The program was only in its second year in this area and the training took place in Effingham. Five hopeful gardeners from Coles County were accepted that year and I was one. Only two others from Coles County had been trained the year before. The program has grown exponentially in the years since; over a hundred gardeners from our county have participated in the last fifteen years and half of those are still active in the program.

Some of the best things in life seem to happen serendipitously. The Master Gardening program has enriched my life, encouraged new friendships and embellished our small corner of real estate on the west side of Mattoon. And like every other volunteer endeavor I have ever been involved in, I have received far more than I have given.

When I first signed up, agreeing to "pay back" 60 hours of volunteer time in return for the training I received from horticulture experts from the University of Illinois and various Extension Advisers, I imagined sitting in a nice, warm classroom in the middle of the winter and looking at pretty pictures of gardens and plants. There was certainly plenty of that, but also the hard work of trying to master the principles of Botany, plant propagation, soil composition and worst of all, plant diseases.

All this took place over 13 weeks from January to April and I learned two important things: how little I know, and where to find out what I don't know (or can't remember).

We learned about different varieties of vegetables and that there are "good" and "not so good" varieties of trees for growing along city streets. We saw photographs and drawings of more bugs and pests than I ever hope to meet. One day two guys (entomologists) showed up in costume, one dressed as a ladybug and the other some kind of lethal spider, or maybe he was a cockroach. A life-sized ladybug is one thing, but the other insect was straight from Kafka and some of us did not think he was too funny.

Another time, a brilliant instructor named Tony Baatsch took us for a hands-on pruning demonstration. I have always had trouble visualizing how a tree or bush should look after it is successfully pruned and we were shown, one branch at a time, how to direct the growth of a young tree or shrub. There are a few times in learning when the light bulb really does go on, as they say, and this was one.

There was also a legendary teacher (since retired) from the U of I named Floyd Giles, who had the prettiest pictures of all, and who led us on a tour of the Missouri Botanical Garden and showed us what we could aim for.

We once visited a state-of-the–art greenhouse in the middle of a snowstorm, one of those places where those irresistible annuals and Christmas plants are grown. Computers controlled the temperature and sprinklers, raising and lowering trays and baskets of blooming plants, a miraculous sight while snow swirled outside.

My fellow students and those I encountered in subsequent years when I served as a classroom helper and gofer were just people like you and me. A few were retired from the professions and just wanted to improve their own garden skills; some worked or aspired to work in landscape businesses and needed the training. There were people with mud on their boots and under their fingernails and a professor or two who looked as though they didn't know how to mow the grass. All of them said they got something special from the training.

After "graduation" the Coles County students have participated in myriad programs. They have conducted training workshops, built an "Idea Garden" at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital, grown tons of vegetables for the needy and homeless, sold plants at Herb Fest, demonstrated composting and other techniques and started up a program for Junior Master Gardeners. These are just a few of the things that Master Gardeners do to give back to the community and to the program. Along the way, they have fun and share in the fellowship of other gardeners too.

A new training program will begin in January and this year the training will take place in Coles County. The deadline for applications is very soon, November 2lst, so if you are interested in participating call us right away. A limited number of places are available and sometimes people are asked to wait for a future session. Training is also available on-line for those who cannot devote most of a day once a week. Personally, I liked the camaraderie and the informal sharing of information with other gardeners, but some folks don't have the time.

It's a great program and it definitely has enriched my life. My husband points out that it also has enriched the vendors of garden plants in the surrounding six counties.

Well, c'est la vie, that's (plant) life

If you have any horticulture questions, call the local U of I Extension office Monday through Friday at 345-7034. Volunteer Master Gardeners are not in the office this time of year but they will return your call.

This column is based on information and materials at the University of Illinois Extension office, located at 707 Windsor Road, Suite A., Charleston, 61920; phone 345-7034; or web site: www.extension.uiuc.edu/coles/