LAND 3410 - PLANTS OF THE SOUTH
Professor Maureen C. O’Brien
Contact info: 706 254-8685 cell
Office Hours: T,TH 3:15-5:00 PM
FALL SEMESTER, 2014
Office in Kitchen Building of Founders Memorial Garden (FMG)
mcobrien@uga.edu
Please call or email for an appointment
Class Meeting Times: T, TH 12:30– 3:15 PM and FRI 12:20-1:10 PM
Course Description: The course is a study of plant materials of the southern United States that are
growing on the UGA campus. It will cover both native and introduced species used in landscape
architecture, including trees, shrubs, grasses, vines, herbaceous annual and perennials, and
groundcovers. The ornamental attributes, cultural requirements, climatic tolerances, historical
origins, and ecological characteristics of plants will be emphasized. In addition, the concept of
sustainability and its practice in growing plant materials will be investigated during the outdoor
classroom sessions, in lecture, in outside reading, and in a field trip to local nurseries.
Course Objectives: Plants are one of the most basic materials in the landscape architect’s design
palette. This course will involve the concentrated study of approximately 200 plants. Specific
objectives of the course will be:
(1)
to provide opportunities to observe the seasonal nature of plants in the landscape;
(2)
to provide opportunities to encounter the plants in as many and varied situations as
possible;
(3)
to study the role of plants as major landscape design materials, providing an in-depth
study of plant characteristics as design elements (form, texture, line, color);
(4)
to provide a basic knowledge of the cultural requirements of the plants studied;
(5)
to introduce students to common plant communities/associations in the southeastern US;
(6)
to provide an understanding of how plants are a reflection of a site’s condition and
history; and
(7)
to challenge the students to understand the concept of sustainability and the role it will
have in their decisions on plant choices in their future practice.
Material presented in class may be supplemented by off-campus field trips.
Learning Outcomes and Assessments:
1)
After completion, students should be able to identify on site, by both the common and
botanical names, approximately 200 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Testing will be
done by weekly quizzes, and midterm and final field exams.
2)
Students will assemble a compilation (notebook) of the plants studied during the semester
in a format designated by the professor at the beginning of the semester. The notebook
will include the significant ornamental attributes of each plant, as well as their cultural
requirements and native habitat, and a quick sketch of the individual plants. This
notebook will serve as a resource for the students in subsequent LAND courses and in
their professional career.
3)
Students shall demonstrate an understanding of the ornamental attributes, cultural
requirements, and design potential of the plants presented in class through assessment
on the midterm and final written exams.
4)
Students should show an understanding of the definition of the term “sustainability,” and
how it can be applied in the growing and specifying of the plant materials learned in this
class. Assessment of this will be done on quizzes, and written midterm and final exams.
Required Textbook:
Southern Plants for Landscape Design by Odenwald and Turner, 4th edition
“Land 3420 Supplemental Plants” is available at BelJean’s and should be purchased by 2nd day of
class.
Supplemental Textbooks:
The Southern Living Garden Book, edited by Steve Bender
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael Dirr (available on CD)
Dirr’s Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates: An Illustrated Encyclopedia by Michael Dirr
Armitage’s Garden Perennials: A Color Encyclopedia, by Allan Armitage
Grading System
Grades for this course shall be based upon individual performance on the following items:
ITEM
% OF FINAL GRADE
Pop Quizzes
40%
Midterm Written Exam
10%
Midterm ID Exam
10%
Final Written Exam
15%
Final ID Quiz
15%
Plant Notebook
10%
Pop quizzes will be held at irregular intervals during the semester and will not be announced in
advance.
It is anticipated that nine to eleven quizzes will be held. Class grades will be based upon the eight
highest scores of each student on the quizzes.
Grade Calculations
B+ 87.50 - 89.49
C+ 77.50 - 79.49
D+ 67.50 - 69.49
F less than 59.49
A
B
C
D
90.50 - 100
80.50 - 87.49
70.50 - 77.49
60.50 - 67.49
ABCD-
89.50 - 90.49
79.50 - 80.49
69.50 - 70.49
59.50 - 60.49
IMPORTANT CLASS DATES (Tentative, Subject to Change)
August 18
First day of academic semester
September 1
Labor Day
th
September 30
Field trip to local nurseries
October 1st
Rain date for field trip
October 7
Mid-Term ID Exam (10%) (weather dependent, could be switched with Oct 9th)
October 9
Mid-Term Written Exam (10%) (see above)
October 23
Withdrawal Deadline - Mid-point of semester
October 31
Fall Break
December 2
December 4
December 9
December 10
December 11
Final ID Exam (15%)
Rain date for Final ID Exam
Final Plant Notebook due at 3 pm (10%)
Last day of class for LAND 3410
Last Day of Friday Classes - no class scheduled for LAND 3410
Reading Day
Final Written Exam for Thursday classes– 12:00-3:00 PM (15%)
CLASS POLICY
It is the University's stated policy that students are expected to attend classes regularly, and that
students who incur an excessive number of absences may be withdrawn from the class at the
discretion of the professor. Daily attendance will not be taken for this class, however, experience
indicates that class attendance and participation are directly reflected in quiz and exam scores.
Quizzes will not be repeated. Exams may be made up with prior notification to and consent of
the professor. Students will be allowed to make-up scheduled exams due to acute health
problems or family emergencies with prior notification to and consent of the instructor. The
instructor will not consider any pleas for extra credit or grade changes. If you do not agree with
the grade you earned during the semester, you have the option of filing a grade appeal with the
College of Environment + Design in the main office.
Thank you for your cooperation with the rules of this class. I look forward to a great semester
for both of us.
Students who know or suspect that they have any type of learning disability must inform the
instructor of such disability in writing before the third class meeting. The instructor will work with
the University Counseling and Testing Center to accommodate the needs of such students.
Without such notification, no special accommodations will be considered at any later date.
Students with documented learning disabilities are served by Disabilities Services in Clark Howell
Hall (542-7721).