Horticulture

Hort 102 Introduction To Horticulture

Introduction

For those of you who don' t yet know it, horticulture is at the center of the Universe -- a green Universe! Once you are drawn into it little else seems to matter. Sure, other aspects of your life will persist but only as peripheral matters of occasionally nagging and superficial importance. So, here you are! Probably you' re very first horticulture class. Consider this syllabus your passport to the realm of the green Universe -- you make it what you grow!

Seriously, as horticulturists we cultivate plants that bring rewards often sufficient to cause us to expend great effort. These rewards are manifest in many forms from monetary and theraputic to simple personal pleasure. The term "horticulture" is derived from the Latin hortus, garden, and colere, to cultivate. The art of horticulture, an ancient tradition, entails judicious timing and the application of diverse skills. Horticulture of the day is also a science that involves the integration of many natural phenomena with synthetic effects for the successful growth of plants. An understanding of the science of horticulture will give meaning and scope to the art and makes it possible for us to improve upon traditional practices.

Horticulture will never become wholly a science, nor is this particularly desirable. Its curious mixture of science, technology, and esthetics makes horticulture a refreshing discipline that has continually absorbed people' s interest and challenged their ingenuity.

This class will provide an introduction to the structure, function and horticultural physiology of flowering plants including their classification, adaptations and distribution -- a "botany for gardeners." This will be a collaborative class in which both the instructor and the students are active participants in the educational process, including hands-on activities. Collaboration is centered on the exchangeof information, participationin learning activities, and the assessmentof abilities in groups or as individuals. Students are expected to be self-motivated, active learners who take responsibility for their achievement.

Course Outcomes:

students will be able to.

define and describe the major subject areas which comprise the science and art of horticulture, with particular emphasis on ornamental horticulture;
recognize, name and describe the general morphology of vascular plants (Tracheophyta), with an emphasis on flowering plants;
define and describe the basic tenets of plant classification as well as being able to use a key to classify plants;
define and describe in general terms the concepts associated with the horticultural physiology and cultivated ecology of ornamental plants and their application in horticultural practice;
demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate in writing (College-wide ability);
function as part of a group (College-wide ability).

Course Resources

Required Textbooks (available in the EdCC Bookstore):

Capon, Botany for Gardeners.

Recommended Textbooks:

Baumgardt, How to Identify Flowering Plant Families.
Young, The Botany Coloring Book.

Other Resources:

Library: there a number of useful reference books among the collections in the stacks and the reference section.
Lots of online stuff.
Elizabeth Miller Horticultural Library, Center for Urban Horticulture, UW.
Additional horticulture texts in the EdCC Bookstore.
Tutors are available at no charge through the Tutoring Office in MLT 142.

Meeting & Subject Schedule:

Horticulture: Introduction and Definitions.
Read pgs. 11-13.

The Plant Body: Cells, Seeds, Roots & Stems
Read pgs. 18-32, 35-44, 51-67.

The Plant Body: Foliage & Flowers.
Read pgs. 45-50, 67-71, 162-174.

The Plant Body: Flowers, Fruits.
Journal drafts due.
Read pgs. 175-182. Quiz

Plant Classification.
Read pgs. 182-184.

Fueling Growth: Water, Minerals, Light & Air.
Read pgs. 137-156. Quiz

Controlling Growth: Hormones & the Environment.
Read pgs. 120-133.

Genetics.
Read pgs. 185-187, 193 (meiosis)-202. Quiz

Adaptation & Distribution.
Capon, pgs. 75-97, 99-115. Journals due.

Final Exam

Course Requirements

Attendance at all classes is required. If you must miss a class, call and leave a message for the instructor. Students will be responsible for information covered in missed classes. Students will be dropped from the class after three (3) absences.
Preparation for and participation in class is required.
All assignments -- in class and homework -- must be completed and handed in on time. If you find that you can not complete an assignment on time you must contact the instructor before the due date to make special arrangements. Late assignments will be down graded.
Students will complete a set of study questions to accompany the reading assignments.
Students will complete a journal to document the information provided in a video series.

Study Questions

Students will be given take-home study questions to accompany reading assignments. These are to be completed at home to help reinforce the concepts presented in the reading material. Study questions often require some synthesis and/or analysis of the reading material to be answered in full. The process of seeking the answer is as important as the answer itself! The answers to these questions will then be used as a basis for subject review and discussion in the following class. Students will be asked to share their findings with the class. Be prepared to submit these questions to the instructor at the conclusion of class.

Journal

Students will document the information they obtain from the video series The Secret Life of Plantsin a short journal. The journal will be a synopsis, or abstract, of the concepts presented in each episode of the series. The journal shall not exceed six (6) pages in length, meaning that the entries should be thorough but concise providing a useful summary of each episode. In addition, the journals should conform to the following additional specifications:

submit a draft on week 4;
type or computer process the document;
order your entries in viewing order;
use paragraph format;
include a separate title page with your name;
no spelling or gross grammatical errors (the campus writing center will help you with composition at no charge if necessary).

Assessment

Students are assessed according to their ability and effort in meeting the requirements of the class and successfully answering questions posed on quizzes. The highest assessment will be awarded to those students who complete their assignments and quizzes with the greatest degree of thoroughness, accuracy, and comprehension. A final number grade will be ascertained by weighting class elements as follows:

Quizzes 50%
Study Questions 20%
Journal 20%
Class Participation 10%

Class participation includes group work, attendance, and the student' s overall level of attention and engagement in the class.

Final grades are based on a standard grading scale.

100-90% 3.5-4.0 A
89-80% 2.5-3.4 B
79-70% 1.5-2.4 C
69-60% 0.7-1.4 D
> 60% > 0.7