Special Garden Column for the Salisbury Post

Hilda Prange-Master Gardener Class of 2002

June, 11, 2002

 

    The 2002 Mast Gardeners class was open for enrollment. We decided to try our luck at being accepted into the class. Since most of us are gardeners, we filled out the application and were confident that we would be accepted without delay. Then we waited. Maybe our confidence was a bit premature. Little did we know our journey on this new adventure would be challenging and every now and then a bit painful. Let me explain.

    Our first pain was the days of no response, no word, not even a rumor circulating about who would be selected. Were there too many people trying for the same class? Then the letter of acceptance came; first pain has passed.

    January 23.2002 first day of class. We met our teacher Darrell Blackwelder. At first, Darrell appeared to be a tough teacher who wanted us to learn our 50-pound Training Manual and learn it well.One look and lift of that large manual quickly became pain number two.

    As we quickly learned, Darrell is a wonderful teacher, one who has more wisdom and experience than he could possibly impart to us in the short span of this course. Pain number 2 quickly evaporates.

    As the classes continued we started learning about many new things that we didn?t even know we had to learn, such as soil sampling, Entomology, Plant Diseases, Lawns and Proper Ways to Prune. Our expectations were more like learning about flowers, vegetables and maybe some fruit trees. Where did the flowers go anyway; after all isn?t that what being a Master Gardener means!

    Then pain number 3 shows up, a pop quiz! We are having a test! You mean we really have to study this huge manual and pass the test. Do you know how long it has been since some of us have been in school? Well, the test came; we completed it and turned it in. Darrell then went over the questions and answers.Oh no, you mean there was questions on the back of the test page too! What do you mean a grade? You mean this test will be graded? We thought it was some kind of joke. Boy, we really have to buckle down and start taking this class more seriously. This pain won?t go away for a while; we?re sure more tests are coming.

    Darrell is a good teacher and allows all of us to stay in the class after seeing the test results. He knows we can do better, but his work may be harder than he thought. Darrell is probably thinking, ?Maybe they?ll do better with Hands-on work??

    So off we went to the Intimidators Stadium to learn about various weeds, to see what damage bagworms really do and how to prune Crape Myrtles properly. We quickly learned that we had been doing a great deal of Crape Murder in our yards. Then pain number four hits; Darrell wants us to prune a tree on our own at the stadium! What if we make the wrong cuts? That branch is gone forever! But it wasn?t so bad after all. Darrell was there to guide us through the pruning process; pain number four is gone.

    The classes are going well now. We have learned to read and study our manual and ask as many questions as needed. We?re not worried; we have a patient teacher. He only gives us those looks once in a while now. Then comes pain number five, ?Our Project!

    We have to design a landscape plan for a house. This includes the entire yard starting with grass and going to flowers! Hey, we finally are doing flowers! This is really going to take some work. We paused for a moment to think about those of you who decided not to take this class. Are you smiling while taking a long drink of tea on your decks? Oh well, we really are having fun (aren?t we)? This pain goes on and on. We were placed into groups of 4 or 5 to work on this project. Jim Cowden, watch out. Your house was chosen for our project!

    Classes are completed. The final exam is here. All 18 of us began working on the final examine test questions and the phones start ringing. How will we ever pass? I don?t even know who Jerry Baker is. Where is Mt. Ulla? Who knows about grasses or blueberries? This is the big one; pain number six is upon us.

    Darrell says it should only take us 1-2 hours to complete the exam. Out comes the books; and we do mean all the books, even those on the Rowan Public Library shelves. After 8 -10 -12 hours of work and writing at various times of the day and night (when the little ones are sleeping), we are finished. Sure hope this is what he wanted! Pain number 6 is at least partially complete.

    The waiting game begins, how long will it be before we know the results? We can use this time to keep working on pain number 5, the landscape project. Meetings are scheduled. Ideas are discussed and discussed again; some of us just can not leave the plans alone. I?m sure several people will recognize her. Now the presentation day is here. We are going to have a landscape architect to critique our plans. Everything goes well and we are still mentally stable people. Pain number 5 is over

    The test scores are in. We all passed. Pain number 6 is complete. Now Darrell wants us to go to work and earn the privileges that these pains have taught us. Rowan County, you are now the proud parents of 18 newly born Master Gardeners.