Why don't members give some indication of their gardening qualificatons.

Of course, one tries to learn in practical terms. One asks questions on forums, such as this, or read up. But do I need a certificate to enjoy my garden? No. Do I need success every time to enjoy my garden? No. The only thing that matters (to me), is that I enjoy my garden.

 

When I speak to a good friend, who has no interest in plants or gardening, and works for a global company Fuji, do I realise how lucky I am, to be working in this industry. I can be on the nursery, pricking out, deadheading, serving customers, then start to feel hungry, look at the time, expecting it to be lunch time, and its 4 or 5 O'clock. I think the points made about really enjoying what you do, makes you want to learn more, I have customers who do a bit of gardening in the spring, to tidy the garden up, and you can tell the difference, between this type of customer, and a proper gardener, just by body language, and becomes evident when you talk with them, what, or how much they enjoy it, or how much they know, and which ones are gardeners world fans, and which ones are really knowledgable.But the customer I always relish, are the ones who like to challenge you, nothing wrong with people asking for a Berberis Darwinii etc, thats great ,as there is no confusion as to what they want, but its the ones that walk around for about 30 mins, then come and ask for something they know you do not have, and its not random, they never really buy anything, as you never have what they want, even if you have got in stock, what they were looking for last time, or they like to test you, by asking, do you have a large leaved Berberis Darwinii, or a blue Echinacea, I am polite in telling them, there are no such varieties (yet), this has turned into a rant hasn't it, my appologys, but the level of enjoyment, is relative to what you learn, and your experience is your certificate.

 

I honestly feel I need to apologise somwhat.

When originally starting this thread. Believe me, there was no thought, idea or whatever of boasting or belitterling others. First and foremost. I am proud to say. The membership of this forum IMO have such a high rate of gardening experience. Experience from which, if we are honest, benefits us all.

AS perhaps I may have said before. To engage in a chat or debate in typed form, is so different than say a group chatting face to face. Basically most of us have never met before. So very little is know about the individual we are now corresponding with. So, for example. A new member starts off. Hi, I'm a newbie. I know nowt about gardening or plants. I now have this huge garden. Advice please. So we have a blank canvas. Then perhaps a member posts and from the wording, it may be a bit difficult to discern. This person is using some botanical names of plants, along with some perhaps confusing additional information. So how do I respond. So do I favour the scientific, botanical slant or enter into a dialogue of perhaps mystic suggestions.

So in an attempt to cut it short. If I go for the more technical approach. Poor newbie is going to get bogged down, using a dictionary or encyclopedia, or thankfully the net, so as to decipher the reply.

Hence my question. Most forums do have a section for personal info. Please don't follow my example once. No joke. I set out basically my life story. Just a few words. I am a professional gardener/horticulturist. I have a degree, I am a doctor of plant sciences etc. or whatever. Of course as time passes. We all get to know each other better, but as a starter, just a few words may help.

Thanks friends for putting up with this old whatsit. I mean well. Enjoy your gardening..

 

I'd never even seen that thread before, so had a look. Thankyou for pointing it out

On the subject of this topic...

On "another channel" a member asked how to do a particular task. Member A, whowas both qualified and experienced in the subject answered and wrote exactly how it should be completed. Member B suggested a mthod that was impossible due to the material was a) not suitable for home use, and b) has been banned on the market for at least 30 years! Member C then came along, and suggested something totally wrong (my opinion) for the task. Memebers D & E then came along and suggested the (again my opinion) a Mickey Mouse method of solving the task in question. This was the method chosen by the OP. Maybe a year or so later, the OP reposted the question, as the method he used failed.

The point I'm making is, no matter how good the qualifications someone has, people are so that in a lot of them just do whatever they want to do anyway, usually the cheapest. Therefore, that makes qualifications somewhat pointless. At least on forums...

Gardeners learn by mistakes. Those mistakes when rectified are called "experience."

After having read through this thread, I would like to thank @Mike Allen for starting it.

 

I'm qualified, but to be honest, experience is, in most cases, better. Where qualification helps, and is specifically designed to help in achieving work in horticulture, whether that be self-employed or under an employer. It doesn't necessarily demonstrate knowledge - besides no one can know *everything* about every style of gardening or every plant.

I say this based on the fact that the RHS don't consider me able to grow Brugmansia sanguinea or Psidium cattleianum outside permanently, but I'm sure some of my friends who have experience and some background info growing certain plants know it's possible.

Gardening is best learnt on the job I think.