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Workshops
May 29, 2008 MG ANNUAL TRAINING DAY WORKSHOPS:
(For complete schedule for the day, see Schedule)
(For registration form, see form); (Home page)
When known, workshop presentation level is indicated: (B=Beginning) (I=Intermediate) (All=All levels) (A=Advanced)
1A The Showiest Native Plants in Maryland
Sara Tangren, Ph.D. President, Chesapeake Natives
We will discuss the 15 showiest natives in Maryland suitable for use in the formal landscape. Sara will share her own experiences using these plants in demonstration gardens across the state and in her own garden. Learn her favorite planting combinations, tips and tricks, and see beautiful photographs of the plants and the birds and butterflies that they attract. (B)
1B Nine Months of Color in the Shade Garden
Randy Best- Horticulturist, Behnke Nurseries,
Learn how to keep your shade garden fresh, colorful, bold and fragrant for 9 months of the year by using season extenders and the right plants.
1C Maryland Geology- From Glaciers to Global Warming
Ned Tillman- President of Growth Adventures; Chairman of the Howard County Conservancy; and member Howard Co. Commission of the Environment and Sustainability.
Learn how geology impacts everything from landforms to water supplies to plants to global warming. After a slide show we plan an interactive and hands-on discussion to address questions and help convey the basic building blocks of geology, plate tectonics and glaciation of the Maryland Area. (B)
1D Dare to be Different in the Fruit World (and Confound and Confuse the Insects that Just don't Recognize This Stuff)
Stanton Gill, Entomologist and MCE Specialist, IPM Nursery and Greenhouse Management.
Why follow the crowd when it comes to fruit for urban Landscapes? Do fruits with lots of Antioxidants that get rid of free-radicals turn you on? Do you recognize any of these fruits: 'Honeyberry from Siberia', 'Aronia berry from Denmark, Goji berry from the Himalayan Mountains? If not, and you want to learn more, then you absolutely must attend. You will increase your appreciation of alternative fruits for the urban landscape.
We will also discuss more familiar but equally good fruit that have the fewest insect and disease problems. We will cover outstanding Asian pears varieties, native Paw Paws, Asian Persimmons, and really great new blueberry selections. If you have a passion for fruit then come hang out with for an hour or so and we might learn from each other
1E Community Greens
Kate Herrod, Director, Community Greens
In an era of diminishing natural resources and burgeoning population, new solutions must be devised to draw people back to abandoned urban cores while simultaneously improving both social and environmental conditions. Community greens do all this and more. In this session learn to design and create these shared spaces that have been called by journalist Neal Peirce,"... a relief from the helter-skelter jumble of backyard spaces, ugly walls and barriers that now divide so many...!" (B)
1F “Songs of the Garden”
Wil Hershberger, photographer, author, and naturalist
From late winter through late fall the garden and woods are alive with the songs of animals. Singing to defend a territory and to attract a mate, the males of many species proclaim their ownership of a little patch of earth. These songs can clue us into the identity of these hidden singers. This not only provides the chance for a more enriching experience, but it also allows us to perhaps know when there might be a problem. We will explore a number of these singers and their songs in an effort to help you appreciate the variety and richness of the songs of the garden.(B)
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1G Digital Photography How To: Focusing on Plants and Insects
Suzanne Klick, MCE Agricultural Technician Lead
Learn about techniques that can help you take better close-up and landscape photos. Find out about a few basic editing steps to get the image from the computer to its final destination.
1H Bay-Wise and Beyond
Wanda MacLachlan, Area Extension Educator, MCE
So you’ve taken the Bay-Wise Advanced Training a while ago and you’re wondering what’s new. Come learn the latest on the environmental landscape management front, including no-phosphate fertilizers and current fertilizer legislation. Then share your thoughts and ideas on replacement plants for turf, rain gardens, rain barrels, how to overcome homeowner problems and anything else you want to discuss. Your participation is crucial to a great session! (I-A)
1J Gardening with Kids
Kimberly Rush Lynch, Holistic Health Counselor & Food Educator
Vinnie Bevivino, Garden Educator , FSNE
Join Vinnie Bevivino, Community Garden Educator at the Master Peace Community Garden in Riverdale, MD, and Kimberly Rush Lynch, former Program Director for the Washington Youth Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum, for an interactive session that will discuss how to keep kids engaged in your garden project. Vinnie and Kim will share their experiences working with children in food gardens and how best to incorporate environmental education, cooperative learning, nutrition, cooking and a variety of academic disciplines. This presentation will include one of Vinnie and Kim's favorite lessons in addition to resources for curricula and gardening. (B-I)
1K Diagnosis of Common Landscape Diseases
Dave Clement Ph.D., MCE Regional Specialist in Plant Pathology
Karen Rane Director, Plant Diagnosic Lab, UMCP
This session will focus on the diagnosis of common landscape diseases. Participants may bring in diseases from their own landscape. You will learn how to decide if plant problems are caused by pathogens, how to differentiate diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses; where to look for diagnostic clues, questions you need to ask and where to go for more help. (I)
1L Diagnostic walk for Landscape problems
Mary Kay Malinoski, MCE Regional Specialist in Entomology
Deborah Ricigliano, Horticultural Consultant, MCE, Home and Garden Information Center.
During this campus walk, will examine and diagnose insect, disease and abiotic landscape problems. (Class Limit: 20) (I-A)
1:00-1:50 PM LUNCH TRADESHOW /MARKETPLACE/ EXHIBITS/ SILENT AUCTION
2:00-3:15 PM SESSION II
2A Evergreens for Screening
Alex Dencker, Store Manager, Behnke Nurseries, Beltsville
Everyone has something they want to hide from view be it their own or their neighbor’s. Many want to define their property lines or reduce winter winds. Find out what conifers and broadleaf evergreens would best serve for screening purposes. (I)
2B My Favorite Ornamentals- (When & Why)
Francis R. Gouin, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland
Ornamentals should be first selected based on soil conditions, purpose, climatic conditions, maintenance needs. Although function is important, it should not have first priority. (I)
2C Increasing Biological Diversity to Prevent Pest Insect Outbreaks
Paula Shrewsbury, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, UMCP.
In highly managed ornamental and turf plant systems the balance between natural enemies and plant feeding insects is disrupted leading to pest outbreaks. Dr. Shrewsbury will discuss recent research that shows increasing plant community diversity promotes beneficial insects and reduces the likelihood of pest outbreaks. (I-A)
2D Improving Your Diagnostic Skills with Annuals and Perennials: Chasing Away Rotten Diseases and Ill-Mannered Insects
Stanton Gill, Entomologist and MCE Specialist, IPM Nursery and Greenhouse Management.
John Speaker IPM Scout; Owner, Speaker’s Garden
Improve your adequacy in diagnosing herbaceous perennials and annual insect, disease and cultural problems by at least 16%. We will provide live and wiggling examples of insect encrusted plant material, virus laden plants and slimy diseases that you can touch and feel. Come learn to use all of your senses in diagnosing perennial and annual plant problems. We will provide you plenty of opportunity to poke, prod and fondle diseased and insect-infested plant materials until your hearts delight. Bring you hand lens so you can see these critters up close. (I) (Also see session 3E.)
2E Ecology of Vegetable Insect Pests
Jon Traunfeld- MCE Regional Specialist in Fruits and Vegetables; Center Director, Home and Garden Information Center; and Coordinator, University of Maryland Master Gardener Program.
Why are there so many cucumber beetles each year and where do they come from? Is there a safe, organic way to control flea beetles? Deepen your knowledge of your garden’s ecology to keep insect pests under control. (I)
2F Solving the Omnivore's Dilemma; Joan Norman, Owner, Own Straw Farm. What should you have for dinner? This is an important question as the cornucopia of the modern American supermarket and fast-food outlet confronts us with a bewildering and treacherous food landscape. Our choices are not only important for own health, but for the health of the environment. Join Joan Norman, co-owner of a large Maryland organic vegetable farm and Community Supported Agriculture project as she offers a few solutions for a better food system and tips on everything from composting, to flea beetles, to your carbon foot print. (B)
2G Harvesting Rainwater for use in the Garden
Paul E. Bassett, President and Principal Engineer
Hydro-Logix Solutions, Inc.
This session will provide the participant a brief overview of how to collect, filter, store, and transport rainwater from the roof to the garden. We will discuss and demonstrate gutter filtration, downspout connection, rain barrels and rain tanks,
small water pumps, irrigation timers and weather sensors, drip and micro-irrigation. The student will leave with an overall understanding of how rainwater harvesting will help contribute to the reduction of storm water pollution into the Chesapeake Bay. (I)
2H New Raspberries for the Home Garden
Joseph A. Fiola, Ph.D., MCE Specialist in Viticulture and Small Fruit
Fall bearing red raspberries have become very popular for home gardeners as they have great flavor, are great for your health, can be mechanically mowed, require minimal or no trellising, and can be grown with little or no pesticides. Dr. Fiola has developed a series of new raspberry varieties. With a seasonal succession of ‘Jaclyn’, ‘Caroline’, and ‘Josephine’, you can now harvest the highest quality berries red raspberries from July thru November in you own backyard! (I)
2J Tree Health: Using your eyes and gears
Brian Clark, Extension Agent, Commercial Horticulture, Prince George’s County
This outdoor, hands-on class will teach the basic techniques of determining tree health. In addition to visual clues, the students will be able to use the Tree Radar Unit (TRU) owned by the University to look inside the tree and roots without any damage to the tree. Short walk required. Limit: 20. (A)
2K Microscopic Techniques for Disease Diagnosis- Dave Clement Ph.D., MCE Regional Specialist in Plant Pathology
Karen Rane Director, Plant Diagnosic Lab, UMCP
This session will focus on the use of microscopes to diagnose plant diseases in the landscape. Techniques covered will include proper sample collation, sample preparation, viewing techniques, digital photography, image manipulation and sample submission. (I)
2L Propagation of Woody Plants
David Smith, Judy Smith and Rose Norseth,- Carroll Co. MG’s.
Learn how to propagate woody plants as you learn about rooting hormones, proper cutting material, tools, supplies, and technique. In this hands-on workshop, participants will prepare and take home their own cuttings. (B) Limit: 15. (Also see session 3L.)
2M Spring Plant ID Walk
Lisa Miranto- Associate Professor, Horticulture and Biology, Prince Georges County Comm. College
Join us for walking tour of campus to learn tips and techniques for identifying spring flowering trees and shrubs. (I) (Limit 20)
Phil Normandy, Plant Collections Manager, Brookside Gardens
This slide lecture will showcase more than 20 species and cultivars of viburnums for the landscape, whether grown for foliage, flowers, fragrance, or fruit. Cultural requirements and landscape use will be included to encourage wider use of this ornamental genus of shrubs. (B)
3B Native Perennials for the Piedmont Garden
Steve Allgeier, MG Coordinator and Horticulture Consultant, MCE, Carroll County
Why look on the “other side of the fence” when there is so much available in your own backyard? Come explore the wide variety of native herbaceous perennials for your piedmont garden. We will examine some of the most beautiful garden-worthy natives that are found in our area while discussing their growing conditions and potential design/application. (B-I)
3C Predicting Pests using Growing Degree Days and Plant Phenology
Deborah Smith-Fiola, President/Sr. Consultant, Landscape IPM Enterprises
Any one landscape has a great diversity of ornamental plants, each with its own complement of insect pests. This creates a logistical challenge for planning and implementing a successful pest management program. Improperly timed applications are expensive and can make problems worse when they decrease populations of natural enemies without impacting the target pest. Many insects are difficult to detect and monitor, further complicating the accurate timing of pesticide applications.
Consequently, pesticide applications are frequently scheduled on a calendar-day basis.
However, because of tremendous variation in the weather from place to place and year to year, calendar-based scheduling is rarely accurate.
This presentation will discuss how to use IPM methods, including Growing Degree Days and Plant Phenological Indicators, to accurately predict pests for better treatment timing. (I-A)
3D Soil Compaction, Stormwater, and Sustainable Landscapes
Stu Schwartz, Senior Research Scientist, UMBC
Soil compaction in urban green-spaces and suburban developments alters the hydrologic function of watersheds and limits the health and productivity of the landscape. This presentation discusses some of the causes of soil compaction, its effects on stormwater runoff, and diagnosis and treatments that can improve the vitality of green spaces, restore hydrologic services in urban and suburban landscapes, and help support the restoration of urban streams and tributaries in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.(B)
3E Improving Your Diagnostic Skills with Annuals and Perennials: Chasing Away Rotten Diseases and Ill-Mannered Insects
Stanton Gill, Entomologist and MCE Specialist, IPM Nursery and Greenhouse Management.
John Speaker IPM Scout; Owner, Speaker’s Garden
Improve your adequacy in diagnosing herbaceous perennials and annual insect, disease and cultural problems by at least 16%. We will provide live and wiggling examples of insect encrusted plant material, virus laden plants and slimy diseases that you can touch and feel. Come learn to use all of your senses in diagnosing perennial and annual plant problems. We will provide you plenty of opportunity to poke, prod and fondle diseased and insect-infested plant materials until your hearts delight. Bring you hand lens so you can see these critters up close. (I) (Also see session 2D.)
3F Rights of Nature
Robert Fireovid, Director, Citizens for a Steady State
Should ecosystems have a right to exist? Join us for a very stimulating DVD presentation and discussion on this radically new idea. The DVD presentation is by two internationally renowned environmental lawyers - Cormac Cullinan and Thomas Linzey - speaking eloquently about conferring legal rights to ecosystems. This topic presents a new environmental jurisprudence that gives natural ecosystems legal rights (or standing). Mr. Cullinan wrote the book, Wild Law about these concepts. Mr. Linzey of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund has helped municipalities in Pennsylvania pass ordinances conferring rights to ecosystems.
3G Native Bees
Sam Droege, Biologist, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Do you realize how many native bees are really living in your gardens? Despite the recent attention that pollinators have received and their importance in the pollination of agricultural and native plants, we known little about the region's native polinators. We will explore general information about pollinators, but emphasize the ones that do almost all of the work: the 400 Native Bee species that exist in the area, where they like to hang out, why they are more abundant than butterflies, and which species sting and which do not.
We will also take some pot shots at the non-native honeybee and demonstrate why most "butterfly gardens" should actually be called bee gardens. We will discuss how to attract non-stinging bees to our garden and yard (quick answer: cut down your trees and plant native forbs and blooming shrubs) and present evidence about why we can't really say that pollinators are declining or increasing. We will have lots of pictures of native species, a collection of pinned specimens, and plenty of stories about our adventures with this, the world's most interesting group of insects. (All)
3H A Look at Trees Inside and Out.
Bob Stewart, MCE Commercial Horticulture (retired)
Join Bob for a look at his favorite trees including the good, the interesting, and the magnificent. Then, examine the inner workings of trees and how they deal with injuries through a process known as CODIT (Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees). (B)
3J Know Your Weeds
Scott Glenn- Associate Professor, University of Maryland
Learn the secrets and importance of weed identification as you practice weed ID on live samples. (All)
3K Tree Health: Using your eyes and gears
Brian Clark, Extension Agent, Commercial Horticulture, Prince George’s County
This outdoor, hands-on class will teach the basic techniques of determining tree health. In addition to visual clues, the students will be able to use the Tree Radar Unit (TRU) owned by the University to look inside the tree and roots without any damage to the tree. Short walk required. Limit: 20. (A)
3L Propagation of Woody Plants
David Smith, Judy Smith and Rose Norseth,- Carroll Co. MG’s.
Learn how to propagate woody plants as you learn about rooting hormones, proper cutting material, tools, supplies, and technique. In this hands-on workshop, participants will prepare and take home their own cuttings. (B) Limit: 15. (Also see session 2L.)
3M Tour of Native Shade Garden
Sara Tangren, Ph.D., President, Chesapeake Natives
Native plants are now being showcased in a couple of gardens on campus. Join us for a tour of the lovely new shade garden (B-I)
For more information, contact Robin Hessey
Last updated: 04/15/2008