Cottingham: Course on native plants worth the commitment
Earlier this month, I was among a couple dozen people to receive a certificate in native plants during the Native Plant Symposium at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. It's a program requiring 80 hours of commitment to classes, field trips and volunteer projects. The first classes in late 2007 not only filled up, but had waiting lists of 15 to 20 people wanting to attend. That first rush is over, and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a co-sponsor with the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, is offering twice the number of classes this year, including several on Saturdays.
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So why care about native plants?
Well, first, the classes cover many aspects of botany, geology and habitat (even photography) that expanded my understanding of all plants.
Second, many natives are just flat-out pretty, hardy things that I want in my garden, adding fall color, blooms, great structure and an ability to grow well in Georgia.
Third, understanding the native plants and habitats of Georgia makes it evident how changes in the environment affect the balance of nature.
Spending a morning clearing a thicket of privet makes you aware of how one invasive plant can consume an area, killing every other plant. There are some species of plants that are found only in one or maybe a half-dozen sites. If those sites are taken over by an invasive plant or affected by man-made or natural forces, we could lose that plant.
My garden at home has several native plants (responsibly grown for a garden) that are endangered. I consider them my foster plants, in my care, as opposed to the plants easily found in nurseries.
Surprising to most of us in the program was how engaging and interesting each class was, even the four that required all-day core courses.
Interesting instructors, hands-on field and lab work and walks outside kept us all engaged. The remainder of the courses allowed us to follow our interests - grasses, outcrops, butterflies, trees, photography, illustration and more.
The field trips and volunteer projects demonstrated why the classroom knowledge is important. I gained both a better understanding of native plants and an appreciation of the people, programs and organizations working to protect and celebrate not only native plants, but the m
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