LN115, Aquatic Gardening Course Outline
Sample syllabus submitted by Professor Bosmans, Spring 2005

This course should be helpful to anyone interested in learning more about creating and maintaining an aquatic garden and about aquatic plants in both the home and commercial landscape.  Pond management techniques will include the management/control of excessive algae and other unwanted plant growth and pests common in small and large scale ponds.  Environmentally sound cultural practices to prevent and solve problems in the management of pond and aquatic gardens will be taught.     (2 semester hours)

Saturday field trip to Longwood Gardens and other sites. 

Course Outcomes  - Students will learn:

ü      To enumerate and explain the building code laws pertaining to pool construction.

ü      To describe the site analysis requirements for proper pool placement into the landscape.

ü      To list the benefits and limitations of pool construction materials.

ü      To state the proper pool installation procedures for construction materials.

ü      To explain the dynamics of the aquatic ecosystem.

ü      To demonstrate appropriate procedures to manage problems

in an aquatic ecosystem.

ü      To describe the culture, maintenance and propagation of aquatic plants, with emphasis on each plant group's niche in the ecosystem.

ü      To identify at least 25 species of aquatic plant materials.

ü      To identify all major aquatic weeds including free floating, submersed, emersed aquatic weeds.

ü      To demonstrate appropriate procedures to mange aquatic weeds including chemical, mechanical, cultural, and biological.

ü      To state the requirements for incorporating fish and other aquatic animals into the pool environment.

Lecture Outline

Date:         Topic Discussed:

June 8           Aquatic Gardening History and Background,

                      Planning and Construction

                                    Pond Liners

                                                Types and Materials

June 10          The Dynamics of the Aquatic Ecosystem.

Creating and Maintaining a Balanced Aquatic Garden.

Managing Problems in an Aquatic Ecosystem - including Adjusting pH and Nutrient Imbalances.

June 15          Water Quality and Filtration Systems

                                                Pumps and Wiring

June 17          Types of Water Lilies and Other Aquatic Plants

June 22          Planting and Culture of Aquatic Plants

                                                Containers, Substrate, and Fertilizers

June 24          Exam I - Special design features: waterfalls, fountains, bog gardens, rain gardens and garden lighting.

Saturday, June 26      Field Trip to Longwood Gardens, Pa.

June 29         Managing Small and Large Scale Ponds

July 1              Identifying Aquatic Weeds  

                                    Types of Aquatic Weeds

                                    Characteristics of Aquatic Weeds

                                    How Aquatic Weeds Are Introduced and Dispersed

                                    Conditions for Aquatic Weed Growth

July 6           Controlling Aquatic Weeds

                                    Chemical Control

                                                Properties of Herbicides

                                                How Environmental Factors Affect Herbicide Activity

                                    Mechanical Control

                                    Cultural Control

                                    Biological Control

                                    Integrated Pest Management for Ponds

July 8              Aquatic Pests                                                                                                                                    Invertebrate Pests

Insects

Mollusks

Vertebrate Pests

Fish

Mammals

Amphibians

Birds and other problems

Saturday, July 10      Alternate date - Field Trip to Longwood Gardens, Pa.

July 13          Aquatic Garden Wildlife

                        Course Review

July 15            Exam II   

Lab Outline

Students will renovate an existing pond and install a new infiltration system.

Lab will be ongoing throughout the course as weather permits.

Students will tour the water gardens at Longwood Gardens, PA. on June 26.

Grading:

The exam format is multiple choice and short essay. They are not cumulative, covering the material presented since the previous exam.  Each exam is 100 points. The final course grade is calculated on a percentage of the total possible points.

Texts:

There is no required text book. However the following list of books has valuable references that you should consider including in your reference collection:

Waterscaping   by Judy Glattstein, Storey Communications, Inc. Pownal, Vermont.

Water Gardens   by Jacqueline Heriteau and Charles Thomas, Houghton Mifflin Co.

Boston, Mass.

Water in the Garden   by James Allison. Bulfinch Press, Boston

Popular Guide to Garden Ponds   by Dick Mills, Tetra Press

Aquatic Pest Control by Patrick J. O’Connor, University of California, Publication 3337

Classroom Policies

MAKEUP TESTS:

Illness:  Arrangements for a makeup of a lecture test must be made within 24 hours of missed exam. A signature of attending physician or nurse is required.  Time for the makeup will be at the mutual convenience of instructor and student.  Tests not taken earn 0 points.

Other:  If absence from a scheduled exam is necessary for religious observance or for participation in Montgomery College activities at the request of Montgomery College authorities, notification must be received by the instructor one week prior to the scheduled exam or the right to a makeup is forfeited.

Attendance:

Attendance is expected for each of the classes and required field trip(s).

Academic honesty:

Students cheating on lecture or lab exams will receive a failing grade for that exam.

Classroom conduct:

The use of cell phones during lectures or exams is not allowed.  Use of portable recording devices is not allowed in class unless students receive approval from the professor.

Support services:

A student who may need an accommodation due to a disability should make an appointment to see me during my office hours. A letter from Disability Support Services (DSS) authorizing your need will be required. The DSS office on the Germantown campus located in room 201, of the SA building. They can be contacted at 240-567-7783. For the hearing impaired the TDD number is 301-294-9672.

Other resources:

Additional student resources can be found at the Science Learning Center (SLC) on the Germantown campus.  The SLC is located in the SA building, room 202. For hours of operation call 240-567-1987.

Cancellation of classes:

Class cancellation due to extreme weather conditions will be announced on local radio stations like WTOP and WMAL.

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