Garden Detective

Yesterday in class, Dr. Gary Brown from Farmingdale State College lectured the class on the nature of the different parts of plants.

Who knew roots, leaves and stems could be so compelling? Photosynthesis and transpiration weren't nearly as interesting when I last learned about them in the 9th grade. But then again, my 9th-grade teacher wasn't anywhere near as engaging as Dr. Brown, who not only impressed me with his vast, seemingly bottomless collection of knowledge, but had me on the edge of my seat, as well. And he's funny -- always a plus, in my book.

After a half-hour lunch break, spent in the Hicks Cafe eating the peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich my husband packed for me, Dr. Brown entertained the class with a nearly 3 hour slide lecture on entomology, the study of insects. That's right. He entertained us. Insects.

To me, the best part of the master gardener program is the ability to learn from the masters -- real experts on the top rung of their respective specialty ladders. Experts to which one ordinarily wouldn't have access.

Dr. Brown is a highly regarded professor of botany at SUNY Farmingdale. As if that weren't enough, he also chairs the horticulture department at the school. A truly gifted lecturer, he can make any topic captivating. Yes, even insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts.

Last week, the class took a field trip to Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay, where the venerable Vincent Simeone, a horticulturist and director of the arboretum, gave us a guided tour. Simeone is another expert who has achieved top ranking in his field. He's also a successful author. Not coincidently, his love of trees and shrubs began when he was a student at SUNY Farmingdale in the 1980s.

Neither instructor carried any notes, and both spoke passionately for hours about their specialties. I'm in absolute awe.

Did I absorb every last detail? I'm sure I didn't. But I learned more from them than I could have from any textbook.

Next week: Soil testing. I can hardly wait.