Horticulture Gardening Institute Offers New Online Programs Developed with Allan Armitage and the American Horticultural Society

Horticulture Gardening Institute Offers New Online Programs Developed with Allan Armitage and the American Horticultural Society EAST LANSING, Mich., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- While gardeners around the country have hung up their tools for the season, the Horticulture Gardening Institute is launching three new online programs that make it fun to learn new practices and create innovative gardening plans anytime, anywhere and in any season. Two "Herbaceous Perennials: Identification, Culture and Garden Attributes" programs are available; one focuses on perennials for sun and the other features perennials for shade. Both programs were developed with Allan Armitage, one of the world's foremost gardening experts on plants for all growing zones - especially perennials. The programs feature in-depth information on more than 100 outstanding herbaceous perennials that can be found in local garden centers and nurseries. The sun program focuses on 24 species that prefer more that six hours of sunlight a day, while the shade program features 20 species that can tolerate or require partial shade to thrive and produce beautiful plants and flowers. Gardeners can learn how to identify the plant family, genus, species, variety and cultivar. They also will learn about growing conditions, propagation types and interesting facts about each plant and its history. "Allan Armitage is an outstanding teacher and brings a wealth of knowledge to our online learning environment," said Christine Geith, co-executive director of the Horticulture Gardening Institute and director of MSU Global Ventures. "Allan's pre-recorded discussions inspire participants to complete self-assessments using his indispensable book Herbaceous Perennial Plants: A Treatise on Their Identification, Culture and Garden Attributes -- a must for all gardeners' library." The Art and Science of the SmartGarden(R) is the third new program offered by the Gardening Institute. It was developed with the American Horticultural Society (AHS) and it is based on the AHS SmartGarden(R) Regional Guides. This is a highly interactive program that teaches gardeners in all growing zones how to evaluate their gardening practices and make environmentally responsible gardening decisions. Topics include plant selection, conservation, site assessment and more. "The SmartGarden(R) program is another great addition to our curriculum because we recognize that Master Gardeners and gardening enthusiasts at all levels have a variety of interests," Geith added. "This program challenges participants in a different way than our other programs and teaches them to explore the 10 Tenets of the SmartGarden(R) as thoroughly as they wish to meet their level of interest." To sign up for these three offerings, gardeners can attend a locally hosted face-to-face event that is paired with an online program or can sign up for an online program independently. In both instances gardeners become part of a virtual gardening group with access to a discussion board that keeps them connected with their peers and national gardening experts from start to finish. In addition to these new programs, the Gardening Institute continues to offer its other popular program, The Art and Science of Container Gardening. For more information or to find an event in your area, visit the Web site at http://www.gardeninginstitute.com/ Background Horticulture Gardening Institute Programs and Sponsors The Horticulture Gardening Institute offers three online programs with the support of its Gold Sponsors, including: * Proven Winners(R), an international marketing cooperative that includes some of the world's best propagators, is a Gold Sponsor of The Art and Science of Container Gardening program. * DK Publishing, a visionary book publisher renowned for pioneering a distinctive, highly visual style in its books for adults and children, is a Gold Sponsor of The Art and Science of the SmartGarden(R) program. * Osmocote(R), a popular brand of slow-release plant food for serious gardeners, is a Gold Sponsor of the two Herbaceous Perennials: Identification, Culture and Garden Attributes programs - sun and shade. About the Horticulture Gardening Institute The Horticulture Gardening Institute is a national program for gardeners located on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing. MSU Global Ventures, the MSU Department of Horticulture and the MSU Extension Master Gardener Program founded the Gardening Institute in 2002. Source: Horticulture Gardening Institute CONTACT: Jill Sherman of Horticulture Gardening Institute, +1-314-434-2939 or jillsherman@earthlink.net Web site: http://www.gardeninginstitute.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment