Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Horticulture

New course topics have been added! Additional courses will be added yearly!

Longwood’s Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Horticulture is designed for serious gardeners wishing to expand their knowledge of horticulture. Students in this program can earn sequential, multiple Certificates of Merit in Ornamental Horticulture. Each certificate is earned consecutively and is based on meeting the requirements of that certificate. These requirements allow students to create their own focus and develop expertise in areas that are of interest to them. This is accomplished by offering required courses (to ensure a base level of knowledge) along with choices within several categories: plant sciences, plant identification, and horticultural techniques.

To earn the certificate students are required to pass an examination (earning a 70% or above) in each plant science and plant identification course. The horticulture techniques courses do not have an examination but attendance is mandatory for the entire course.

Certificate of Merit in Horticulture - Level I

• Plant Science (2 courses)
• Understanding Plants: Plant Names, the Organization of the Kingdom of Plants, and the Outward Structure of Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit – Required
• Choose 1 additional Plant Science course

• Plant Identification (choose 7 courses)
• 2 Woody Ornamental Plants courses
• 2 Herbaceous Ornamental Plants courses
• 3 Ornamental Plants courses or additional Woody or Herbaceous courses

• Horticultural Techniques (12 class hours)
• Choose the appropriate number of courses to meet the 12 hours of class instruction required in the Horticultural Techniques category. These are topic specific courses. Most courses are 3 hours each, so that typically students will be taking 4 courses to meet this requirement for the certificate.

Class Categories

PLANT SCIENCE COURSES:
Enrollment is not limited to students pursuing a Certificate in Ornamental Horticulture. The listing below is not reflective of actual course names…only concepts for each course. Courses will be added as they are developed.

• 2010 – Understanding Plants: Plant Names, the Organization of the Kingdom of Plants and the Outward Structure of Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
• 2010 – Soils: Understanding Garden Soil, Fertilizers and Organic Matter
• Plant Anatomy and Influencing Environmental Factors
• Sexual Reproduction/Plant Breeding and Genetics
• History/Trends/Plant Ecosystems/Origin and Domestication of Plants
• The Science and Techniques of Plant Propagation
• Emerging Research – Understanding the Science

PLANT IDENTIFICATION COURSES:
Each course covers approximately 70 plants. A combined total of over 490 plants are taught in each level of the Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Horticulture. Enrollment is not limited to students pursuing a Certificate in Ornamental Horticulture. New courses are added each year.

Woody Ornamental Plants Courses
• Deciduous Flowering Shrubs
• Deciduous Flowering Shrubs II
• Small Flowering Trees
• Broad-leaved Evergreens
• Evergreens II
• Deciduous Trees
• Conifers

Herbaceous Ornamental Plants Courses
• Annuals (formerly Annuals I)
• Annuals & Tender Perennials (formerly Annuals II)
• Perennials
• Sun Perennials
• Shade Perennials
• Hardy Spring & Fall Bulbs
• Lawn Alternatives – NEW for 2011

Ornamental Plants Courses
• Groundcovers
• Ornamental Vines
• Edible Plants
• Native Spring Wildflowers – NEW for 2010

HORTICULTURAL TECHNIQUES COURSES:
A variety of courses are offered each year and enrollment is not limited to students pursuing a Certificate in Ornamental Horticulture. Students must take 12 hours of class instruction in Horticultural Techniques. Most courses are 3 hours. Each course has a level of “practical application” relative to the topic. Horticulture technique requirements are written in terms of hours of class instruction vs. number of courses. New courses are added each year.

Horticulture Technique Courses offered in 2010
• Performance Pruning
• Pest Identification
• Plant Disease Identification
• Roses For Beginners
• Beekeeping Basics
• Weed Identification
• Tips For Turf Diagnosis: Insect And Disease Management
• Installing and Maintaining a Native Plant Meadow
• Get the Dirt on Dirt
• Garden Chemicals: Use and Management
• Vermicomposting
• Dividing and Transplanting Herbaceous Perennials

For those students currently pursuing a Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants Series I or II, you must complete course requirements by December 2011. Call the Continuing Education office to check your status.

Plant Science: Soils

DATE: Tuesdays, February 9–March 16, 6 sessions; 7:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

with Sarah Deacle

Understanding and caring for a garden's soil is essential for helping its plants thrive. A plant's nutrition, growth, and ability to endure environmental conditions all depend heavily on the soil it's growing in. Understand how soils differ in texture and structure, physical and chemical properties, and fertility. Learn how a soil's pH and organic matter affect plant growth. And learn how to work with the soil you have in your garden to get the best results you can. Upon completion of this class, students will gain an understanding of soils (structure, composition, and type), plant nutrition and nutrient deficiencies, composting and organic matter, and fertilizers.

Optional exam: March 23

Deciduous Flowering Shrubs II

DATE: Thursdays, March 25–April 29, 6 sessions; 1:00 to 3:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

or

DATE: Thursdays, March 25–April 29, 6 sessions; 7:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

with Richard Bitner

Shrubs provide structure, texture, and year-round interest to the landscape. They can serve multiple purposes, as individual specimens as well as by helping to integrate the garden into the surrounding setting. Plants studied include those less commonly found in the home landscape; those that attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife to the garden; and those that thrive in difficult shady, wet, or dry situations. This course will expand your horticultural palette of deciduous shrubs through identification, cultural requirements, and landscape uses.

Optional exam: May 6

Guided plant walks:
Saturdays: April 10, 9:00 am–Noon, May 1, 9:00 am–Noon
Thursdays: April 15, 9:00 am–Noon, April, 29 9:00 am–Noon

Small Flowering Trees

DATE: Wednesdays, March 31–May 6, 6 sessions; 7:00–9:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

with Kirk Himelick

Flowering trees are among the most eye-catching plants in season. Defined as flowering trees less than 40 feet tall, small flowering trees make spectacular statements, accents, and specimen trees in any landscape. This course will focus on identification, culture, and landscape uses of the favorites such as dogwoods, cherries, and magnolias, in addition to some beautiful, lesser known species like the snowbell (Styrax spp.) and dove tree (Davidia involucrata).

Optional exam: May 12

Guided plant walks: Saturdays, April 17 9:00 am–Noon, May 8 9:00 am–Noon

Native Spring Wildflowers

Co-sponsored by Mt. Cuba Center and Longwood Gardens

DATE: Tuesdays, April 13–May 18, 6 sessions; 1:00 to 3:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

or

DATE: Tuesdays, April 13–May 18, 6 sessions, 7:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

with Jeanne Frett and Rick Lewandowski

Spring wildflowers are thrilling to observe in nature, and gardeners often wish to recapture that enchantment in their home gardens. Plants in this class were selected by the knowledgeable staff at Mt. Cuba Center for their garden adaptability and availability as nursery propagated plants, this course will present information on identification and cultivation of many herbaceous perennials and woody plants, native to our area*. Students will gain valuable tips on purchasing, site selection, planting, maintenance, and companion plants, as well. You will take guided plant walks at Mt. Cuba Center and Longwood Gardens.

*Some plants covered in the class may have been taught in previous certificate classes.

Optional exam: May 25

Guided plant walks:

MT CUBA CENTER: Wednesday, April 28; Friday April 30; Saturday May 1; Friday May 21. Student must pre-register at Mt. Cuba due to access and parking constraints. Information will be provided.

LONGWOOD GARDENS: Tuesday, May 11; Saturday May 15.

All walks are 9:00 am-Noon.

Annuals & Tender Perennials (formerly Annuals II)

DATE: Wednesdays, May 19 – June 23, 6 sessions; 1:00 to 3:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

or

DATE: Wednesdays, May 19 – June 23, 6 sessions; 7:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

with Marilyn Daly

Not commonly seen in most gardens today the plants in this course demonstrate the beauty, advantages and techniques of growing new and unusual annuals and tender perennials. The plants selected for the class are tender perennial plants or even shrubs that are not hardy here, but can be grown as seasonal annuals for their flowers or foliage, some will be annuals that have historical significance or they’re from our “grandmother’s era” and may remind us of our childhood and many plants were chosen because they offer us the opportunity to express who we are through our gardens or simply because they are so wonderful. The class will challenge professional growers and gardeners to improve the diversity, quality, and availability of plants offered for sale by wholesale and local nurseries and garden centers and to encourage you, the gardener, to expand your horticultural palette of plants grown in your containers and gardens.

Optional exam: June 30

Guided plant walks: Saturdays, June 5, 9:00 am-Noon, June 26, 9:00 am-Noon; Wednesdays, June 9, 9:00 am-Noon, June 23, 9:00 am-Noon

Shade Perennials

DATE: Tuesdays, August 10 – September 21, 6 sessions; 1:00 to 3:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

or

DATE: Tuesdays, August 10 – September 21, 6 sessions; 7:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

with David Culp

Woodland and shade gardens create peaceful and dramatic areas in a landscape. Shade perennials allow the gardener to add creativity to the garden with form, texture, and color. This course will concentrate on identification, size and habit, ornamental characteristics, advantages, and potential problems of familiar favorites as well as many of the newest and best cultivars.

No class August 24.

Optional exam: September 28

Guided plant walks:
Tuesday, September 7, 9:00 am-Noon, September 21, 9:00 am-Noon
Saturdays September 11, 9:00 am-Noon, September 25, 9:00 am-Noon

Plant Science: Understanding Plants

DATE: Mondays, September 20 – October 25, 6 sessions; 1:00 to 3:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

or

DATE: Mondays, September 20 – October 25, 6 sessions; 7:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

with Jeff Jabco

Understanding the botanical system of plants names and how the plant kingdom is organized is important “groundwork” for anyone hoping to become a successful gardener. Students will become familiar with living organisms’ two-name system and the often confusing additional plant names used for cultivars and subspecies. The second part of the class will focus on the outward structure, or morphology, of plants during the growing season. We will look in detail at the methods and terminology of plant identification through a diverse study of leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits.

Optional exam: November 1

No plant walks.

Deciduous Trees

DATE: Wednesdays, October 6 – November 10, 6 sessions; 1:00 to 3:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

or

DATE: Wednesdays, October 6 – November 10, 6 sessions; 7:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $162 Garden pass member / $180 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

with Robert Dougan

Deciduous trees are typically the most long-lasting plants in a landscape and when mature can be the most valuable structures on the property. They provide a framework to your garden, and many species provide significant habitats for wildlife. Deciduous trees offer essential shade in the landscape and can even lower your energy bill if placed correctly.

This course will cover the identification and landscape uses of deciduous trees found in this region.

Optional exam: November 17

Guided plant walks:
Wednesdays, October 27 , 9:00 am–Noon November 10, 9:00 am–Noon;
Saturdays, October 23 9:00 am–Noon, November 13, 9:00 am–Noon

Certificate of Merit Recognition

The accomplishment and satisfaction of completing the courses necessary for the awarding of the Certificates of Merit in Ornamental Plants, Ornamental Horticulture, Floral Design, or Landscape Design will be celebrated yearly.

We will host the graduates at a celebration on Friday, August 27, 2010. Eligible candidates will receive detailed information and an invitation in advance. To check on your eligibility for certificate completion, call 610-388-5454.

More than 65 Continuing Education students received a Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants, Ornamental Horticulture or Floral Design at a special graduation ceremony held in the Ballroom.