A class on perennials, care and use, would, I think, be a class on garden design. Basic principles of garden design are not the same as landscaping, though they certainly do overlap. You might look at books by Anne Lovejoy, or some of the other famous garden designers, rather than landscapers. As for care, Tracy Di Sabato-Aust's book can't be beat, especially for beginners.

I did a search for "Outline for herbaceous plant study". Suggest you do the same. All sorts of references mentioned which you should find helpful.

This is a huge topic as you know. Perhaps it might be best to survey the students at the first meeting to see what would be most helpful to them. Then put together a course plan based on their learning objectives. Do they want the full technical study plan or does interest lie in general gardening? Teaching to student needs, working through the spring to fall plants in your growing area might be the way to proceed. Certainly your background in native plants should be front and center as the emphasis in gardening ecology has shifted to natives, drought resistant and hardy plants.

"I've been asked to teach a Horticulture class on herbaceous plants--mostly identification but also habit, care and use."

You donÂt say whether this is a series of classes or a one-shot deal. If it is only a three hour class, the time will fly and you will easily have way more knowledge to impart than time will allow. Make certain that you allow plenty of time for questions.

ArmitageÂs books are both excellent. However, they are both rather encyclopedic if they are to be used as student textbooks. They are filled with facts and even many of ArmitageÂs opinions. I would consider them more of a reference book than a student textbook.

What I am sensing is that you are beginning to fall prey to a "teacher mindset " that dooms so many novice speakers. In other words, the speaker attempts to teach their class the way that they remember being taught in school. Subconsciously, ÂThis is how you are supposed to do it. takes over.

Teach what you know. Yes, do your home work and bone up on a few things but allow your enthusiasm and passion for your chosen lifeÂs work to be put on display. The combination is infectious and canÂt help but engage your audience.

Adult education is an entirely different beast than K-12. In the first place, people are there because they have chosen to be there. Unlike in school, they are perfectly free to get up and leave. On the flip side, they have probably paid some of their hard-earned money and expect to receive a return of value for it. For the most part, they are there because they enjoy this topic  It behooves you to make their learning experience enjoyable. Trying to simply cram a bunch of facts into their head is NOT enjoyable for anyone.

As Nandina alluded to, there is a groundswell of interest about incorporating natives into the home landscape  and a dearth of people who know anything about it. Instead of pretending that you are a teacher, SHARE your work, knowledge and experience with your students. It is guaranteed to be a winning combination.

IronBelly

Thanks IB! I'm trying to keep the perspective you mention in mind. Your words of encouragement were very much appreciated!
:)
I do think the books were used as a reference. That's what I'm wondering about--is there a better reference book out there? There is a PA Flora database Website run by U Penn., which references all the natives, and also MBOT has a Web database for a lot of commercially used plants. When I'm "out in the field" identifying plants, I tend to use wild plant field guides and I can usually identify a "domesticated" plant because I know its wild cousin. Some of them I just know because I am a plant weenie. Anyway, it's hard to know what book is best since these days I mostly find what I'm looking for online. So many universities have plant databases, and also USDA and the cooperative extension services have put out a lot of material. But nothing beats a good, comprehensive field guide for helping orient a newbie to the ins and outs of plant ID, such as it is. The way things are going with proprietary ways of plant breeding though, who knows what the future will bring! Anyway, I learned plant ID scientifically--by learning descriptive terms and the key characteristics of the families. The instructors taught natural history too. Is this the same approach used in landscaping education? The previous instructor organized the class by what she knew, which was somewhat similar to my knowledge base. I always approach a garden like a mini-ecosystem, at least for starters.

I think I may pay a visit to some friends of mine who run a native plant nursery. They have a good little library and I have often gone to them with questions about plants.

I have taught botany before, but it was "Field Botany for Educators" and I taught a mix of "wildflowers," trees, shrubs, and grasses. I have my favorite field guides for those kinds of plants, but I'm not going to suggest that my students buy all those! Anyway, I'm not familiar with what are the great "domesticated" plant encyclopedias. You know, like for trees, a lot of people swear by Michael Dirr's guides, for Birds folks love Roger Tory Peterson, etc.

I do have to find out what the college's requirements are for the class, since I am trying to figure out how much time to spend on techniques and care vs. learning plants and their natural history and potential uses. I posted here because this forum is also the "Design" forum. Now I see in the old syllabus that annuals are also covered. Although no trees and shrubs, strictly herbaceous plants. The other courses I have taught before had specific objectives, I'm pretty sure this one does too, I have to find out soon. I'm just starting out the planning process. I am so excited to get out teaching in the field again!!

Thanks for all the tips, they will be invaluable! Good to know that I can find some class outlines ONLINE. I always like to survey what other people are doing to get a broad perspective on the subject matter.

I'm sure this will not be a popular point of view, but I think natives are being oversold for the wrong reasons. The movement certainly has value, but when it is presented with reverent overtones it is both a turnoff and frankly misleading. In my area at least, the strict use of native plants does not meet a lot of horticultural objectives, and it devalues what natives CAN do to pretend that they will make all gardening dreams come true.

KarinL

I second Karin's opinion! Natives are valuable in the garden but I don't buy into the native only creed. A balanced approach is better in my opinion.

I'm not in the "natives only" camp. My own garden is a mix and so were the ones I've managed. However, I think a lot of excellent natives get overlooked not because they aren't beautiful or easy care, or perfect for the application, but because there are a limited number of nurseries, etc. out there and they cater to a mass audience. Same with cars, music, movies, etc., the conglomerates often dictate a kind of mass "taste" that is not necessarily a good value for everyone. Also, one of the best indications of how well a plant will perform in a garden is "right plant, right place." I find knowing the natural history of a domestic plant's wild cousin often helps with selection, placement and care. For example, certain domestic plants grow well together because their native cousins are adapted to living together in the wild. I have non-native dwarf japanes white pine and dwarf japanese maple standing in for my beloved native pines and maples in my tiny courtyard garden. I tend to look at plants more as "types" than whether they are native or not.

That's an approach I like and it would be a very good one to teach to balance the strident native message that one often sees.

Do you have a captive book store, either at the arboretum or college? I'd start by asking if they would lend you a stack of books to display before and after the class for the students to look at. Definitely the William Cullina books, Clausen and Eckstrom, and possibly Armitage. I personally don't like his books because they strike me as very oriented towards southern conditions.

What you will really need is slides/digital photographs. Unless this is some sort of advanced class, a fair number of people will have no idea what you are talking about without pictures.

It was not mentioned at first that you will be teaching a college course. Does seem reasonable that you should ask first to see just what is to be taught. This should aid you in locating proper reference books. You might check with the college bookstore to see what former instructors of this course have ask it to keep in stock.

Karen & Woody,

Your points of view may not be very popular with some but they hit the nail on the head. Although I am active in my local native plant societies, I wince whenever the native zealots start giving planting advice. Sadly, their "advice" actually serves to thwart the honorable efforts practiced by so many native plant enthusiasts.

Natives can be a wonderful addition to most any garden  and I recommend that everyone try to insert at least a few into their own landscape. There are many native plants that make wonderful additions to landscape design. There are other natives that have no business in urban residential settings.

This emotionally whacko idea that only native equals good and everything else equals bad is sophomoric at best.

However, even with stating all of the above, there still remains a large, growing public interest in planting natives. What we need is educators with some actual hands-on experience who will state both the pros and the cons objectively.

IronBelly

This emotionally whacko idea that only native equals good and everything else equals bad is sophomoric at best.

And then there is the argument as to what constitutes "native." We sell lots of different echinacea cultivars where I work...but I've been told that many aren't "true natives." OK--I get that, but the hybrids are awesome plants, and several have shown themselves to be as hardy as the "true natives" in my garden. Granted, they may not self-sow, but that can be a plus in a small garden.

melanie