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Master Gardener Trainee Diary: Week 5.2 – Plant Pathology, Propagation, and a 70’s Flashback

9/3/2026

 
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!

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