AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University is offering a horticulture class online this fall semester.

Workshop in Horticulture: Perennial Garden Flowers (Hort 493B) will begin Aug. 22 and end Oct. 3. Students will learn basic principles of plant selection and uses, design and maintenance fundamentals, propagation techniques and general culture of hardy herbaceous perennial plants.

This class is appropriate for anyone who would like to expand their gardening knowledge, including homeowners, master gardeners and current ISU students.

Students should expect to spend between two and three hours each week studying lessons and completing assignments. The class is divided into several units with a quiz following each unit. Those completing the course for credit must submit a final project.

Yvonne Nilles, Iowa State lecturer, will teach the course. She received a Master of Science in horticulture from Iowa State in 2002. Nilles is the ISU Extension horticulturist for Hamilton, Humboldt, Webster and Wright Counties. She currently is the first vice president of the Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa and is a National Garden Club, Inc. flower show judge.

There is no prerequisite and the course may be taken for noncredit, one undergraduate credit or one nonmajor graduate credit. Tuition and fees for one undergraduate credit are $295, for graduate credit $398.50. The noncredit course fee is $69. The registration deadline is Aug. 22.

For more information on this course see www.lifelearner.iastate.edu/courses/Fall05/mag.htm#493 or call (515) 294-7201.

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