The Propagation Team gathered on Wednesday, and I am happy to report that the Plant Fest post-sale was a massive success! We dutifully returned our promotional signs, packing them away safely so they can live to advertise another day next year.

Naturally, I couldn’t leave empty-handed. I finally gave in to temptation and snatched up a few plants I’ve been eyeing: rattlesnake master, Joe Pye weed, and fennel. They are currently sitting on my porch, waiting for the rain to stop so they can officially meet their new home in the dirt. Oh, and I also scored a free cardinal flower under the Giving Tree. Score!

However, the high from my plant haul was quickly grounded by this week’s class topic: Soils.

Unsurprisingly, the quiz was by far the hardest one yet. My results aren’t back yet, but let's just say I know for a fact that a few answers missed the mark.

We were also treated to an absolute highlight this week: a Lunch and Learn session all about Louisiana Super Plants with Dan Devenport. It was such a treat! The flowers we learned about featured some truly spectacular pictures. It definitely gave me plenty of ideas for what to plant next.

But there is a light at the end of the compost tunnel: no formal quiz next week! Yippee! Instead, we get a hands-on demonstration and a discussion all about herbs. I am definitely looking forward to a much more relaxing, practical class.
Until next time, keep your hands dirty and your pH balanced!

After a lovely field trip hiatus, it was time to crack open the textbooks again. We tackled two heavy-hitter chapters for our quiz prep: Propagation and Herbaceous Landscape Plants. Thankfully, any brain-scrambling questions were quickly cleared up by our fabulous presenters. Heather Warner-Finley dropped her usual pearls of wisdom and real-life examples, while Dr. Damon Abdi provided the perfect amount of comic relief. His funny anecdotes and nice photos brought the pages to life! As an extra treat, our very own Dr. MaryAnn Armbruster deep-dived into Organic Gardening, leaving us all completely fascinated by her wealth of knowledge.

Meanwhile, the presentation countdown is officially on, and project partners everywhere are buzzing. My partner and I are tackling Honeybees, and wow—who knew there was so much to learn about these little guys? The real challenge isn't finding information; it’s figuring out how to cram a mountain of bee facts into a single, 15-minute segment! Wish us luck.

The Propagation Team also shifted into overdrive to prep for Plant Fest. The crew spent Friday organizing plants and setting up shop, then woke up with the birds on Saturday for the big day. Mother Nature cooperated beautifully, the crowds turned out, and the energy was fantastic—complete with a kids’ booth and hourly presentation tents. Seeing almost our entire class show up to help made for some serious Master Gardener camaraderie.

Finally, the secret might be out! I think a few of my classmates have officially cracked the code on who is writing these diaries. It’s been an absolute blast playing secret agent, and I fully plan to keep recording my thoughts as the weeks roll on.

Until next time!

The buzz around the Propagation Team was palpable this Wednesday. The greenhouse was full of hustle and bustle as everyone finalized plant sale procedures—hunting down tags for the holding station, ensuring the demonstration beds were properly marked, and signing up for setup, event-day, and tear down shifts. Amidst the general cleanup and last-minute pot bumping, we also received our yard signs to start spreading the word around town.

The next day, our field trip to Avery Island was a memorable change of pace from the usual classroom setting. While there weren't many colorful flowers in bloom and we only spotted a single bird, the rich history and stories of the Tabasco plant and Jungle Gardens were truly unforgettable.

Our guide, Garrie Landry, was an absolute delight!  We crossed paths with some impressively large spiders guarding their webs and bravely survived the pungent aroma of fermenting mash waiting in the barrels. A few adventurous souls even dared to taste the concoction, earning themselves a special—and highly memorable—treat for their bravery!  

Beyond the horticulture, it was wonderful to simply enjoy the company of my fellow trainees. We even celebrated Kate's birthday together with a song and a slice of cheesecake. Happy birthday, Kate!

Next week marks the official halfway point of the course! But before we can celebrate, we just have to survive a couple of reading assignments and a bit of quiz prep.

Master Gardener Trainee Diary: Week 6
Studying the Binder Chapters
This week, we dove deep into the heavy-hitting chapters on Entomology and Pesticides. I will admit I was initially intimidated by the prospect of memorizing so many different insect orders, but dedicated rote review made the task far more manageable. It was fascinating to see how seamlessly these two topics connect in the real world. Understanding insect biology and learning the precise methods to manage them truly go hand-in-hand.

Our GroupMe Community
Our class launched a GroupMe discussion thread, which has quickly transformed into a lively, virtual garden tour. Trainees are constantly sharing snapshots of vibrant blooms, visiting hummingbirds, and the inevitable garden pests. While it was heartbreaking to see a classmate's picture of a cantaloupe completely ravaged by a critter, the thread is mostly filled with triumphant before-and-after weeding photos and flowers in peak bloom. It is incredibly reassuring to know we are building a supportive network that will keep us connected long after our official classes wrap up.

Propagation Hours
Greenhouse propagation hours kicked into overdrive this week as our focus shifted entirely toward the upcoming plant sale. The morning was a whirlwind of last-minute bumping up, grooming specimens to look their absolute best, and meticulously checking labels. Our morning meeting offered an eye-opening glimpse into the immense organizational structure required to pull off an event of this scale. Having attended these plant sales as a customer for years, pulling back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes magic was a treat. We even had a discussion regarding the Latin botanical names of a specific plant and whether its common name on the tag matched up perfectly. A bit of extra research by the botanists and seasoned veterans will undoubtedly settle the dilemma by next week.

Class Time & Guest Speakers
We had a wonderful lineup of speakers this week, starting with Advanced Master Gardener Juan Nieto. He spoke to our class about the incredible volunteer work being done at Moncus Park and shared captivating photos of the beds there, which instantly sparked our collective interest in volunteering for future shifts.

Our Entomology lecture featured guest speaker Dr. Aaron Ashbrook, and I must admit, I expected a seasoned entomologist to be much older! Instead, this dynamic young expert gave us a masterclass on everything we read in our binders—and then some. His depth of knowledge was incredible, and his engaging presentation style was a perfect fit for our class. Reflecting on his expertise, I could only imagine the endless nights he must have spent in graduate school studying creepy-crawly insects, likely fighting the phantom urge to scratch his arms, legs, and scalp. I know I certainly would have!

Our midday Lunch and Learn session focused on the modern side of gardening: Plant ID smartphone apps. Master Gardener Courtney Allis walked us through how to download and effectively navigate a few of these digital tools, which will undoubtedly be lifesavers in the field.

Later in the afternoon, Bryan Gueltig took the podium to discuss pesticides. He gave us a highly practical, real-world breakdown of the products available to manage pests safely and effectively in our own yards.

Looking Ahead
The absolute best news of the week? We have zero reading assignments for next week! Instead, we are heading out on a field trip to Avery Island to tour the Tabasco fields and Jungle Gardens. Yippee!

The plant pathology chapter turned out to be a bit dry, but I know it'll be an excellent resource for the future. Thankfully, my AI-generated study quizzes kept me focused, and I entered the week feeling confident.

Shade House Adventure
I was early for Propagation this Wednesday and only saw one Master Gardener there upon arrival.  I completed a few tasks, one being getting the make-shift garbage cans ready and set up.  I also watered the plants in the shade house and those adjacent to it.  Easy enough.  A task mindless yet helpful.  I was totally in my zone.

Then I hit the absolute last row of the shade house.

Suddenly, the large stems on the edge of the table shifted. A slithering creature abandoned its pot and headed for the floor. Now, my ophidiophobia-brain silently yelled KING COBRA! and visualized a thick, three-inch-wide monster. In reality, it was likely just a water snake. It was definitely bigger than a garter snake, but probably not a water moccasin. I didn’t actually see its head or tail on its descent, and I was absolutely not curious enough to peek under the leaves to investigate.

Old childhood habits died hard for a second. There was no one around to eyeball the creature while I ran to get... get what? Help? A shovel?
Instead, I took a deep breath and just let it be. Now that is growth. Look at me, practicing maturity!

Plant Sale Prep
The Propagation crew got first dibs on the upcoming plant sale, so I quickly snatched up a couple of beauties for my personal stash at home. Any plants left over after the sale go down to half price, which is an absolute steal. We were also invited to take a few freebies from under the "Giving Tree." My prize of the day? Shampoo ginger!

Dr. Singh’s Lecture & Medicinal Plants
Our guest speaker, Dr. Raj Singh, brought a fantastic comedic slant to the dry world of plant pathology. He made the topic incredibly memorable and understandable, diagnosing plant samples brought in by classmates and offering solutions. I kicked myself for forgetting to bring my own troubled plant that morning!

In the afternoon, MaryAnn Armbruster spoke to us about Medicinal Plants. It was fascinating information. She also highlighted the ongoing work with Vermilionville and the volunteer opportunities available there. That is definitely option for potential volunteer hours!

Looking Ahead
Next week’s reading involves tackling two full chapters in the binder. I’ll be back to my routine of outlining and creating study quizzes. My goal is to get a head start on Friday so I can completely unplug and enjoy a relaxing Labor Day weekend.

Until next time!

I pause a bit from the weekly journal entry to give adequate background for the true entry for the week, i.e., the Week 5.2 entry.  

I grew up in the country in the early 1970s, literally barefoot and carefree, the youngest of a large family. The only television set in the house was an old black and white Admiral portable on wheels, true to form with the aluminum foil on the rabbit ears and the vertical hold and fine tune buttons in the back of the set.  There were only 2 channels on UHF and VHF combined that we could catch without hitting the back and side of the set.  The other 2 channels took careful fine-tuning.  Saturday morning cartoons and Our Gang shorts with Buckskin Bill Black were the best!  But there was no cable, no all day watching.  We spent our times outdoors with hand-me-down bicycles and active imaginations.

Running around barefoot led to lots of sticker bush injuries and also the occasional “burning grass” episodes.  Luckily, Mama always stood guard at the front door with her ultimate cure-all: a tub of Vick’s Salve.

Our absolute favorite pastime revolved around the massive pine trees in the front yard. We would gather fallen pine needles, measuring them out in handfuls like bundles of spaghetti. Then, we’d use those bundles to outline the "walls" of a giant floor plan right on the grass—delineating the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms. We spent hours playing house, "cooking" and "cleaning" with old tea sets. At the end of the day, we’d rake the needles into a pile by a tree, ready to design a brand-new architectural masterpiece the next morning.

The only problem? If we left those pine needle piles sitting for a few days, they became prime real estate for uninvited guests. More than once, we’d pull back the needles only to find a snake.

I'm not proud to say it, but the old-school adage back then was, “The only good snake is a dead snake.” We had many a close call with both the harmless and the not-so-harmless varieties. Through it all, I learned the golden rule of childhood snake-spotting: If multiple kids are present, one person must freeze and eyeball the snake's exact location, while the others sprint to grab a shovel or scream for Daddy.

I could scare you with even more horrific close calls from adult fishing trips, but I’ll spare you the trauma. Just trust me on this: I have ophidiophobia.

The transition between week two and week three brought a sudden wave of nerves. Opening the textbook to the botany chapter revealed a dense wall of technical terms and complex plant anatomy.

To tackle the material without getting overwhelmed, I built a detailed outline of the chapter. To reinforce the reading, I turned back to the LSU AgCenter YouTube channel to watch their complementary botany videos. Seeing the concepts explained visually made a massive difference in my comprehension.

Based on the multiple-choice pre-test we took on day one, I suspect our weekly quizzes will follow a similar format. Time will tell how my studying pays off, but I feel far more prepared after utilizing the video resources.

On Wednesday, I joined the propagation team again, where I caught up with old friends and met some new ones. A few trainees from last week returned, along with some new faces who decided to join the session. I felt noticeably more confident handling the bumping up process and managing the inventory. Afterward, I headed home to study for Thursday's botany quiz.

Thursday morning arrived, and the classroom was filled with eager—and anxious—students. Some of us were nervous, feeling like we hadn't studied enough. As the lecture got underway, the complex material left us feeling a bit overwhelmed again. The botanical terminology was intense, but the instructor answered every question with complete clarity.

Halfway through the day, we got a special treat: a trip into one of the campus greenhouses. A passion vine had bloomed, and we all rushed to take pictures. It was the perfect break.

Afterward, I attended an optional Lunch and Learn session about growing orchids, which turned out to be incredibly informative. I’ve only tried growing an orchid once before, and it didn't end well. It was a grocery store gift, which—as I learned—isn't the best source for a long-lasting plant.  I took some notes on orchid care. Best of all, I now have the contact info for the Master Gardener presenter, so I can ask for advice if I'm brave enough to try again!

To wrap up the day, we took our first quiz. It wasn't nearly as daunting as I feared, and I left feeling much better about what lies ahead.

Master Gardener Trainee Diary: Week 2 – Propagation, Tools, and Teamwork
The real hands-on work for me began the day before our second official class:  I attended my very first morning of propagation at the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center to start working toward my required volunteer hours.

When I arrived, certified Master Gardeners were already busy working the beds, “bumping up” plants from a meticulous task list to prepare for the upcoming fall plant sale. I was paired with an experienced gardener who walked me through the process of "bumping" plants to larger containers. I learned how to properly tag the varieties, note inventory counts, and navigate their structured system. During the mid-morning break, the group held a meeting to report on upcoming community events. Getting to listen to the seasoned veterans gave me a wonderful glimpse into what life as a certified Master Gardener really looks like.

The next day, our formal class focused on opportunities for committee involvement and a practical session on garden tools and maintenance. I didn't expect an entire presentation dedicated to tool care, but it proved to be highly valuable.

We also watched a presentation by two students from the previous year's class. They repeated their final project so we could see exactly how a model presentation should look and how it fits into the grading rubric. This helped demystify the upcoming project presentation requirement of the course.

By the end of class, we officially turned in our soil samples for testing, received our randomly assigned partners for our own upcoming presentations, and got our next assignment: read the botany chapter, prepare for a quiz, and bring a plant tag to class.

Signing Up: Opening the Door to the Master Gardener Program
For years, my approach to gardening was entirely trial and error. I planted flowers, made mistakes, asked neighbors for tips, and hoped for the best. While that firsthand experience was valuable, I knew I needed a deeper, more scientific understanding to truly do things right. That desire to learn led me to apply for the Master Gardener Training Program through the LSU AgCenter and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

When my acceptance email arrived, I felt a wave of pure excitement. I was eager to learn, build new connections, and eventually share knowledge with my community. I didn't even know what questions to ask yet because I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.

The support began before the first day of class. I received a welcoming email and a follow-up phone call from an assigned mentor. This was an unexpected benefit not explicitly detailed in the course literature. My mentor explained various volunteer opportunities, and I immediately found myself drawn to the propagation hours hosted at the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center.

Master Gardener Trainee Diary: Week 1 – Orientation and the “Well-Oiled Machine”

Orientation day was a vibrant introduction to the program. I met my mentor in person, along with about thirty fellow trainees, several active Master Gardeners, and a host of presenters. The diversity of the group was striking, spanning from college-age students to senior citizens, all united by a shared love for plants.

We received our name tags and an impressive mountain of resource materials. Unpacking it all felt a bit daunting. While some of the technical reading looked a bit dry, I knew building a strong foundation was necessary. Learning about the tight-knit connection between the LSU AgCenter and ULL made it clear that this entire operation is a finely tuned, well-oiled machine.

To round out the week, my mentor met up with me a few days after class to demonstrate how to collect a proper soil sample. Seeing the process done in person was incredibly helpful for a visual learner like me. With a mountain of homework assigned early—including seven hours of video lectures on weed science and lawn care—I spent my first week taking notes, exploring the AgCenter’s YouTube channel, and preparing for the journey ahead.