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Master Gardener Advanced Training in Plant ID/Taxonomy

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• Registration Form Spring 2008

Plant ID/Taxonomy Courses 2008

Times and Locations:

St. Mary's County-
Charlotte Hall Library
Mon. evenings 6-9 pm
June 9, 16 and 23                    
Instructor: Wanda MacLachlan
Registration Fee: $35 plus text
Registration Deadline: May 30

Baltimore-Cylburn Arboretum
Wednesdays evenings 6-9 pm
June 11, 18 and 25
Instructor: Wanda MacLachlan
Registration Fee: $35 plus text
Registration Deadline: June 2

Frederick County Extension Office
Mondays mornings 9am- 12pm
July 14, 21 and 28
Instructor: Wanda MacLachlan
Registration Fee: $35 plus text 
Registration Deadline: July 7

Anne Arundel Co. (site TBA)
Wednesday evenings 6:00pm- 9:00pm
July 16, 23 and 30
Instructor: Wanda MacLachlan
Registration Fee: $35 plus text 
Registration Deadline: July 9

Course Description:
The Plant ID/Taxonomy and Keying course is a very important basic tool for Master Gardeners in that it teaches all of the basics needed to identify woody plants in the landscape. Being able to identify plants is the first step in knowing how to diagnose problems or give growing advice.

We hope this short course will suit everyone's needs- whether you want to learn 200 plants, 20 plants, or just want to learn techniques to identify plants in the field. The course will be made up of approximately 9 hours of class work with lots of hands-on practice and a field walk. You will also receive a booklet of course materials.

You must take this course if you want to earn an MG Advanced Training Level II Certificate in Woody Plants. It is recommended that you take this course first before any of the four Landscape Horticulture: 200 Common Landscape Plants courses that will be offered (you need all 4 plus the Plant ID course for the certificate).

Material to be covered will include the following:

• Morphology- the study of the structure of external plant organs (e.g. leaf shapes). 
• Nomenclature- the systematic naming and classification of plants
• Taxonomy- the general principles of classification
• Keying- Using a dichotomous key to identify plants by specific characteristics.

Required Text: A Field Guide to Trees & Shrubs (Peterson Field Guide) by George A. Petrides ($16)

To Register: Use Registration Form 

For more information, contact Robin Hessey

Last updated: 02/25/2008