State Master Gardener
Advanced Training Program
Annual Report 2012
The State Advanced Training Program trained 1314 Master Gardeners in 2012 and was
coordinated by Robin Hessey.
SUMMARY:
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234 took Level II Advanced Training classes in Plant ID/Taxonomy, 200 Common
Landscape Plants of Maryland, Entomology- Ecological IPM, Ask a MG Practicum,
Landscape Design for Water Management, and Master Composter.
287 were trained in a single day continuing education workshops on Plant Diseases,
Youth Education, Native and Easy to Grow Fruit and Community Gardening (Grow It
Eat It).
793 attended Annual Training Day in May 2012 at UMCP.
234 were trained In Advanced Training Level II - classes offered Master Gardeners an
opportunity for in-depth learning about many important subjects. They had opportunities to learn
the basics of plant taxonomy, specifics about 45 Shade Trees, 45 Ornamental Trees and Vines
and 40 Flowering Shrubs, how to diagnose plant problems in "Ask a MG" Practicum, how to
become compost experts in the Master Composter Class, how to control pests in the landscape in
the least toxic manner in Entomology- Ecological IPM, and how to design landscapes that would
best handle and infiltrate stormwater in the Landscape Design for Water Management class.
These courses were designed to give Master Gardeners the in-depth knowledge they need to
better understand their environment and how to advise the public. They are all certificate classes
and are multi-part and multi-day.
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Plant ID/Taxonomy- 16 students received 9 hours of training. Course was taught by
Wanda MacLachlan in Queen Anne’s Co. 100% of students taking these classes rated the
class a 5 (5 being the highest rating). Students now know how to identify woody plants in
the landscape using dichotomous keys.
Landscape Horticulture- 200 Common Landscape Plants of MD. 107 total students
trained in 3 different 9-hr courses taught in 5 different locations.
o Shade Trees- 29 trained by Wanda MacLachlan in Baltimore City and 12 trained
in Anne Arundel
o Flowering Shrubs - 22 taught by Wanda MacLachlan in Baltimore Co.
o Ornamental Trees and Vines – 21 trained by Bob Stewart in St. Mary’s Co. and
23 trained by Steve Dubik in Harford Co.
“Ask an MG” Practicum. 26 trained. One 12-hour class spread out over 3 days. Included
2 fields trip and 6 instructors. 84% rated this course as excellent or very good and 90%
said they’d be more likely to work at a Plant Clinic as a result of taking the course.
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Master Composter Classes- 23 trained. 10 hour course taught in 1 location (Montgomery
Co.). 91% gave this class an excellent or very good rating. 100% passed their final exam.
All are expected to perform 10 hours of volunteer work in the field of composting.
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Entomology – Ecological IPM. 29 trained. 12. course taught by Mike Raupp, Ph.D. in
Howard Co.
Landscaping Design for Water Management. New course for Anne Arundel Co. location.
33 trained. One 17-hr class spread out over 3 days. 92% rated the class good or excellent
and 100% said they would use what they learned in this class.
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287 were trained in a single day continuing education workshops where MGs had the chance
to deepen their knowledge about Youth Education, Plant Diseases, Community Gardens and
Native and Easy to Grow Fruits.
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Youth Education. 115 trained. 3 different locations: Baltimore, Prince Georges and
Washington Counties; Each location had 8-10 speakers and panelists including Jon
Traunfeld, Lisa Gonzales, Erin Braunscheidel as well as teachers, other extension
personnel and MGs.
Plant Diseases. 56 trained. One 6-hr. courses taught by Dave Clement, Ph.D. in two
locations: Queen Anne’s County and Montgomery Co.
Community Gardening – New course. 36 were trained by Jon Traunfeld and master
gardeners.
Native and Easy to Grow Fruit (joint effort with Urban Ag. Program and Elizabeth Hill).
80 trained in one Baltimore County location.
793 were trained at Annual Training Day- MG’s received 6.5 hours of training with keynote
speaker, 30 workshops, a trade show, breakfast and lunch. A wide variety of topics from soils
and landscaping to labs on plant diseases were offered to better educate MGs with current,
relevant information.