Good Gardeners Short Courses by Master Gardeners

[Edited: Sorry - these classes have been cancelled for now. Please look for more class opportunities in the future. See the Loudoun County Master Gardeners' new web site at: www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org . Thank you!]

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Debbie D. Dillion, Urban Horticulturist Phone: 703-771-583
Loudoun County Cooperative Extension
E-mail: ddillion@vt.edu

Good Gardeners Shortcourse to be Offered by Loudoun Cooperative Extension and Master Gardener Volunteers

A Good Gardeners Shortcourse will be offered in August 2005 by Loudoun Cooperative Extension and Master Gardener Volunteers. Each year requests are received for classes that can be attended by persons who work and are unable to attend classes during the day. This class has been developed in response to those requests.

The Good Gardeners Shortcourse will consist of six, four hour sessions - four in the evenings and two on Saturday mornings. Dates for the sessions are August 9, 11, 23, and 25 from 6 - 10 pm and August 13 and 27 from 8 am - 12 pm. Cost for the entire 6 sessions is $250.00 or you can attend individual sessions for $50.00 per session. Topics to be covered include botany, soils and fertilizers, composting, insects and disease, turf, woody and herbaceous plants, fruits and vegetables, pruning ornamentals, protecting water quality, basic landscape design, and designing an integrated pest management plan for the home landscape. Sessions will be taught by Extension personnel and Master Gardener Volunteers. Registration fees will cover materials, refreshments, and will also be used in support of other Master Gardener community educational activities.

The Good Gardeners Shortcourse will be held at the Extension conference and training room at 30 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, with some outside activities (or may be held at the Broadlands Nature Center - to be determined). The Good Gardeners Shortcourse will be limited to 30 participants, so early registration is encouraged. Registration forms can be picked up at the Master Gardener Helpline Office in the Loudoun Extension Office or you can call the Helpline Office at 703-771-5150 and have one mailed/faxed to you. Registration deadline was July 22, but application forms may still be accepted if there is room in the course or if the course has not been cancelled. Make check payable to LCMGA. You may also contact Debbie Dillion, Urban Horticulturist for Loudoun Extension at 703-771-5838 or 703-777-0373, or the Master Gardener helpline (M-F 9-noon) at 703-771-5150, if you have questions.

List of 6 Courses ($50 each, or $250 for all courses):

August 9 Botany, Soils & Fertilizers, Composting

August 11 Insects & Diseases

August 13 Turf, Woody & Herbaceous Plants

August 23 Fruits & Vegetables

August 25 Protecting Water Quality

August 27 Designing an Integrated Pest Management Plan



###

Debbie Dillion
Urban Horticulturist
Loudoun Cooperative Extension
30 B Catoctin Circle SE
Leesburg VA 20175

703-771-5838