Course Description
Students assist in the operation of the internationally-recognized Trial Gardens at UGA. Tasks include assisting with garden design and maintenance, plant propagation and greenhouse production, interaction with volunteers, and educational programming and outreach under the faculty instructor and garden manager's direction. Students receive systematic instruction but often work independently or in small groups.
Athena Title
Trial Garden Internship
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in LACS 3400, HORT 3920
Non-Traditional Format
This course is an internship experience. Students will work a minimum of 10 hours per week in the Trial Garden.
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
In this course, students will: 1) Appreciate the scope of the greenhouse/nursery industry; 2) Demonstrate effective volunteer supervision; 3) Experience the seasonal cycles of a University Trial Garden; 4) Collect data on periods of flowering, pollinators, and beneficial insects; and 5) Develop educational materials for Experience UGA 1st Grade program and online materials to support the Trial Gardens.
Topical Outline
Small equipment safety and use of a wide range of hand tools Appreciate the scope of the greenhouse/nursery industry Volunteer supervision Plant evaluations Preparation and maintain flower beds for season trials Propagation of seedlings/cuttings and production of plug/liners to finished plants Inventory and mapping of perennial collections Data collection Scouting for pests and integrated pest management Preparation and staffing for plant sales Work on an independent research project
Syllabus