San Diego Master Gardener Training Program

Session Guide

Jan 10 Session 1

Registration and Administration

Jan 17Session 2

Orientation and Introductions

Assignment: Chapter 1
Newsletters: Intro, Wrap-up, Follow-up
Materials: GBB Ladybug
Videos: View Recordings

Jan 24

General Meeting

Jan 31Session 3

Citrus Variety Collection

Assignment: Chapters 17 and 18
Materials: Agenda, Prep Newsletter, Wrap-up Newsletter, GBB White Grubs
Lecturer: Peggy Mauk (View Bio)
Lab: Field Trip to Citrus Station
Field Trip Leader: Dr. Tracy Khan, curator and Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection Endowed Chair at
University of California, Riverside (View Bio)
Videos: View Recording

Feb 07Session 4

Soil and Fertilizer Management

Assignments: Chapter 3, Home Soil Tests
Presenter: Mary Matava (View Bio)
Committee Highlight: Exhibits Committee
Lab: Soil Analysis
Lab Assignment Activities: Pre-session homework, Classroom Soils Lab
Materials: Agenda, Lecture Presentation, Texture Guide, Soil Sampling Techniques, GBB Bagrada Bug
Newsletters: Soils Intro, Soils Wrap-up
Videos: View Recordings

Feb 14Session 5

Intro to Horticulture and Taxonomy

Assignment: Chapter 2
Presenter: Liz Woodward (View Bio)
Lab: Plant Parts and Functions
Committee Highlight: Communications Committee
Materials: Agenda, Lecture Presentation, GBB Aphids
Newsletters: Intro, Wrap-up
Videos: View Recordings
VIPR: Acacia, Plumbago, Palo Verde

Feb 21Session 6

Water Management in the Home Garden Landscape

Assignment: Chapter 4
Presenter: Richard Restuccia, Vice President of Water Management Solutions at Jain Irrigation (View Bio)
Lab: Field Trip – Docent led tour of the Water Conservation Garden
Materials: Agenda, Intro Newsletter, Lecture Presentation, Wrap-up Newsletter, GBB Mexican Fruit Fly
Videos: View Recordings
VIPR: Coral Tree, Pepper Tree, Lemonade Berry, Ceanothus

Feb 28

General Meeting

March 7Session 7

Zoom Session: Weed Management in the Home Garden

Assignment: Chapter 8
Presenter: Dr. Chris McDonald
Lab: Online weed identification
Committee Focus: Financial Development
Materials: Weed Pest ID and Monitoring Cards, Agenda
Videos: View Recording (Passcode: R%fMm1=c)
VIPR: Cactus, Euphorbia

March 14Session 8

Fruit Tree Culture: Grapes and Berries in the Home Garden

Assignment: Chapter 16 required, Chapters 14 and 15 helpful
Presenter: Tom Spellman (View Bio)
Lab: Fruit Tree Culture
Committee Focus: Tool Sharpening
Materials: Agenda, Intro Newsletter, Wrap-up Newsletter, Lecture Presentation
Videos: View Recordings
Handouts:

Antioxidants from your Garden
Tom’s Top Plant Picks
Fruit and Nut Harvest Dates
Backyard Orchard Culture
‘Tree Fruit: Pest ID and Monitoring’ and Trees of San Diego

VIPR: Rose Family, Olive, Laurel, Figs

Mar 21Session 9

Plant Pathology and Diagnosis

Assignment: Chapters 6 and 21
Presenter: Pat Nolan (View Bio)
Lab: Dealing with thorny problems
Committee Highlight: Membership Services
Exhibit: Tomatoes
Materials: Agenda, Intro Newsletter, Plant Sample Handout, Lecture Presentation, Wrap-up Newsletter
Videos: View Recording
VIPR: Poppies, Breath of Heaven, Bauhinia, Cape Chestnut
Good, Bad, Bugly: Asian Citrus Pysllid

March 28

General Meeting

April 4Session 10

Entomology

Assignment: Chapter 7
Presenters: Eric Middleton and Leah Taylor (View Eric’s Bio)
Lab: Weevil Rock You, Bug Pinning
Committee Focus: Mentors
Exhibit: Friends and Foes
Materials: Agenda, Eric’s Presentation, Intro Newsletter, Wrap-Up Newsletter
Videos: View Recordings
VIPR: Callistemon, Coast Live Oak, Eucalyptus, Myrtle
Good, Bad, Bugly: Brown Widow

April 11Session 11

Live Well in the Garden

Assignment: No reading assignment
Presenter: Joni Gabriel (View Bio)
Lab: Horticultural Therapy
Committee Focus: Reminiscence Gardening “Growing Opportunities”, Committee Presentation
Materials: Agenda, Intro Newsletter, Wrap-up Newsletter
Videos: View Recordings
VIPR: Agaves, Aloes, Mints, Verbenas
Good, Bad, Bugly: Lacewing

April 18Session 12

Zoom Session: Managing Pests Safely – Integrated Pest Management

Assignment: Chapter 9
Lab: Pest and Pesticide use in the Community – Tough Times in the Garden
Committee Focus: Hotline
Materials: Agenda, Intro Newsletter, Label Activity, Hotline Guidelines, Wrap-up Newsletter
Lecture Presentation Slides: PowerPoint Version, PDF Version
Good, Bad, Bugly: Shot Hole Borer
Videos: View Recording, Passcode: &r$GJ6Ph

April 25

General Meeting

May 02Session 13

Turf Grass and Landscape Alternatives

Assignment: Chapters 11 &19
Presenter: Claire Ehrlinger (View Bio)
Lab: Garden Design
Committee Focus: Earth Friendly Gardens (PowerPoint Presentation, PDF Version)
Materials: Agenda, UC Guide to Healthy Lawns, Intro Newsletter, Wrap-up Newsletter
Lecture Presentation Slides: Part 1, Part 2
YouTube Links: Subsurface Drip Irrigation, Sheet Mulching
VIPR Presentations: Grasses, Dymondia, Bamboo, Palms
Videos: View Recordings

May 09Session 14

Ornamental Plant Culture: Mediterranean and Succulent Plants

Assignment: Chapter 12
Presenters: Mo Price and Linda Stewart (Mo’s Bio, Linda’s Bio)
Lab: Field Trip – Tour of San Diego Botanical Garden
Materials: Agenda, Intro Newsletter, Wrap-up Newsletter
VIPR: Jacaranda, Tipu Tree, Ginko, African Tulip
Videos: View Recordings

May 16Session 15

Plant Propagation

Assignment: Chapter 5
Presenter: Fausto “Tiger” Palafox (View Bio)
Lab: Let it Grow
Committee Focus: School Gardens
Materials: Agenda, Intro Newsletter, Wrap-up Newsletter
VIPR: Kangaroo Paw, Mallow & Hibicus, Strawberry Tree, Tecoma
Videos: View Recordings

May 23

General Meeting

May 30Session 16

Home Vegetable Gardening

Assignment: Chapter 13
Presenter: Beginning Vegetable Gardening Team (BVG)
Lab: Petal to Pistil (View Lab Presentation)
Committee Focus: Sandford Community Gardens
Materials: Agenda, Speaker Presentation, Intro Newsletter, Wrap-up Newsletter
VIPR: Cabbage, Peas, Carrots, Nightshade
Videos: View Recordings

June 06Session 17

Zoom Session: Vertebrate Pests and Toxic Plants

Assignment: Pest notes: Gophers, Ground Squirrels, House Mouse, Rats
Presenter: Niamh Quinn (View Bio)
Lab: Presentation Skills
Committee Focus: Member Education
Materials: Agenda, Intro Newsletter, Speaker Presentation, Wrap-up Newsletter
VIPR: Pride of Madeira, Gold Medallion Tree, Apocynaceae, Proteaceae
Videos: View Zoom Recording, Passcode: +zs19f02