Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master Gardener program is an online, independent study course offered by the Faculty of Agriculture, Extended Learning. The program is designed to assist students in becoming familiar with the rules of plant identification and nomenclature, as well as plant morphology.

Course Description

The course, Plant ID and Use- Atlantic, is an introduction to 100 plants grown in Canadian gardens, focusing on their identification and use. It includes a guide to botanical nomenclature, the hierarchy of the plant kingdom, and plant morphology. Students will learn the use of a simple dichotomous key to aid in plant identification.

Topics Include

• Nomenclature
  • Plant Anatomy
  • Plant Identification and Use
  • Dichotomous Keys

Marking Scheme

The marking scheme for the course is as follows:

• Assignment 1 - Invasive Species: 5
• Term Assignment - Written article or leaflet: 25
• Plant Anatomy Test: 10
• Test 1 (After Plant ID Group 3): 15
• Test 2 (After Plant ID Group 6): 15
• Test 3 (After Plant ID Group 9): 15
• Test 4 (includes all 10 groups): 15
• Total: 100

Technical Requirements

• Internet (High Speed preferred)
• Reliable computer/laptop
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word for submitting assignments

Course Dates

• All courses open on October 1st and close July 31st

Number of Courses

Students are to take ONE course at a time, unless otherwise approved by Extended Learning.

Refunds

Course refunds are eligible up to two weeks after registering for the course. The refund amount will be adjusted to include a non-refundable administrative fee of $50.00. After the two-week period, there are no course refunds.

Prerequisites

It is recommended that the Master Gardener Program Courses be taken in the following order:

1. The Science of Gardening
2. Maintaining the Garden
3. Plant ID and Use
4. The Art of Gardening

Recommended For

• Anyone who has a passion or interest in gardening in their backyard or community
• Anyone interested in working towards becoming a Master Gardener within the Atlantic Master Gardener Association
• Anyone looking to expand on their gardening knowledge

Instructors

• Carol Goodwin

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Master Gardener Training Program - Atlantic: Required

Section Details

Section Title

Plant ID and Use- Atlantic

Type

Online - Self-Paced

Dates

Oct 01, 2025 to Jul 31, 2026

Total Learning Hours

65.0

Instruction Delivery Method(s)

Online Self-Paced

Course Fee(s)

• Tuition non-credit: $488.00

Instructor Biography

Carol Goodwin is the faculty advisor for the Master Gardener program and has recently retired as an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture. She taught subjects related to arboriculture, landscape management, garden history, and garden design, as well as plant ID and use. Her research activity was in the area of cultivation practices that affect tree health and longevity, as well as propagation and production of native plant species. Carol has worked as a horticulture professional since 1975 and is currently the past-president of the Atlantic Master Gardeners Association.