Taught my first grafting class

10 years ago

I'm not an expert by any means, but I was talking about grafting in class earlier this week and the students were interested, so I brought in some rootstocks and scions and taught twenty college freshmen how to graft today. The kids were overwhelmingly interested and proud of what they did. We grafted Picea abies 'Reflexa,' Picea glauca 'Pendula,' and a few brave souls even grafted Picea abies 'Pusch.' Not the best time of the year to graft, but class ends in a few weeks, so had to do it now. It was great fun. If possible, I'll do it again in the future.

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Comments (8)

Jon 6a SE MA
10 years ago
Great stuff, UP...where's the pics?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
i thought you were a psyche teacher.. lol ...

actually.. refresh my memory ... i was shaking with cold so bad by the time you left from your visit last winter.. lucky i remember anything ....

ken
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gardener365
10 years ago
That's awesome man. Keep it up. There's nothing like bringing something very uncommonly interesting to a classroom setting where it's likely now (1) person will continue in some way/shape/form - this new experience for the remainder of this person's life. You've impacted lives. I'm impressed.

Good for you, Jon.

Dax
unprofessional
Original Author
10 years ago
I brought pics of mature examples to class, and it was interesting to see how people picked what they wanted to graft. Kids that like being independent and goofy loved the blobby nature of 'Reflexa.' People more reserved liked the grace of 'Pendula,' and the really outgoing people were the only ones willing to try their hand at 'Pusch.'

Really wanted to bring my camera, but in the rush to get everything around I forgot. Bunch of the kids took pictures of their works with the cell phones, so I'll see if I can get a few of them to send me pics.
gardener365
10 years ago
Of course Ken would have asked if he could go outside and find his own scion to graft. I don't know why.

Dax
unprofessional
Original Author
10 years ago
lol when I visited him he told me he did that exact thing. Went to a grafting class with his own scions.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
close ...

first time at gee's .. i took what he offered ..

second time.. i called ahead.. and was told.. it was basically the same offerings... so i asked ... and i sent gary my dB ... and asked him what he did NOT have .. unfortunately .. i had bought most from him.. lol...

but i had a few that he didnt so .... i took him some stuff also ...

ahhh... nothing like deep january in MI ... sub zero ... sitting in one of gary's greenhouses with 25 close friends .. well..strangers.. smearing pine tar and conifer sap all over myself.. while mutilating some understock .. ahh.. the good old days .. lol ..

dax is poking me in fun.. because he got some of that stuff .. if i recall ...

ken
gardener365
10 years ago
Golden Ghost, parv. Blue Wave..... got em. Blue Wave is still the same size but it's been in mostly shade in a temp bed. That Golden Ghost is getting large now. Nothing like yours though. I forget what else.

Dax