I can't make recommendations on specific books but I suggest looking at classes that are interesting to you at various schools, find out what their required textbooks are, and start from there. With the convenience of the internet you can check out the requirements for a lot of different schools, and maybe even see if the same book is recommended by different schools. Then buy the books online for often a lot less than the school bookstore. I'm doing a combination of this and actual classes for landscape design and maintenance in general, not horticulture specifically. My local community college now has a book rental program, and does the typical buy-back after semesters are over. You may be able to get one less expensively at a local school near you that way, too. Also check out horticultural societies near you or in Michigan in general. The societies may have recommended book lists, or even a library. You may be able to get a lot of information from local seminars, or be able to meet a horticulturalist near you that you can befriend and get advice from. Don't forget your local extension as a source of help and information. bestbookbuys.com is a search engine that allows you to compare the price of a book through various online vendors to find the best online price. There's a lot out there to learn, and a self-motivated person can accomplish a lot on their own. I hope some of this helps you-Good luck! Beatrice

It depends on where you're looking for a job and exactly what kind of work you want. Do you want to work at local garden centers/nurseries, or did you have other thoughts, like working for a university or botanical garden in a greenhouse? The former (garden centers) can probably be accomplished through work, the latter (non-commerical settings)likely will require more education. For the latter, a 2-year degree from an accredited college will help boost your chances of a more interesting job -- especially combined with work experience (internships, etc). There are things you only learn by working in the field, and insights you gain best through a structured education. If you really want to do university- or private research-type horticulture technician work, a degree (preferably 4-year) might be required. Talk to the people at the university -- not just the counselors, but the professors who specialize in the areas you're interested in. Tell them what you want to do and ask what they recommend. Of course, a good prof will generally promote education :) but they will be able to give you some guidance. And like Josh suggested, talk to the people at places you're interested in working. Whether it's a nursery or botanical garden or whatever, they'll be able to tell you what they look for in an employee. Good luck, and have fun! A new direction in life is always exciting!

Summer Programs offered by the Monmouth County Park System at Deep Cut Gardens, 352 Red Hill Rd., Middletown, NJ. Register by phone at 732-842-4000 ext. 1 or online at www.monmouthcountyparks.com. Questions? Call Deep Cut at 732-671-6050 or e-mail dallen@monmouthcountyparks.com. Vegetable Gardening 101 (adults) It isnt too late to start a vegetable garden, and there are many reasons to do so! This series of classes takes the beginner through the growing season, from starting a no-dig garden through plant selection, controlling pests & diseases, extending the harvest, to using & preserving the harvest. Emphasis will be on environmentally friendly methods. One 2-Hr Session $10.00 Per Person Sat, Jun 6 10am-12pm H1193A Sat, Jul 11 1pm-3pm H1293A Sat, Aug 8 10am-12pm H1393A Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces (adults) You donÂt need a lot of space to have fresh, home-grown produce. Learn about a variety of small-space gardening techniques like container gardening, incorporating edibles in the ornamental gardens, and plants that do well in less than full sun. One 2-Hr Session $10.00 Per Person Sat, Jun 13 10am-12pm H0293A Stretching for Gardeners (adults) Working in the garden is good for body and soul, but it can put stresses on the body that leave us with aching, sore muscles. Instructor Mare Akana will show you some ways to stretch, relax and massage those hard-working muscles. Please bring a yoga mat or towel to sit on, plus one additional towel. One 1-hr Session $15.00 Per Person Sat, Jun 6 1:00-2:00pm H2893A Growing Roses in Monmouth County (adults) Considered the Queen of Flowers by some, roses may be more hardy than you think. Diane Wilkerson, President of the Jersey Shore Rose Society and ARS Consulting Rosarian, will dispel some of the mystique with advice on selection, planting, pest management, pruning, disease-resistant varieties and tips for organic gardeners. Weather permitting, a tour of the new rose garden with discussion of selected roses will follow. One 2-Hr Session $15.00 Per Person Sat, Jun 13 1pm-3pm H1793A Fairy Houses in the Gardens (all ages, under 18 with adult) Spend an enchanted morning creating tiny fairy houses out of natural materials found at Deep Cut. We will begin with a story for inspiration, learn about fairies favorite plants and review fairy "building codes" before going outdoors to build. Bring your imagination, a blanket for relaxing outdoors, and any natural found objects (bark, pebbles, shells, etc.) you would like to include in your creation. One 2-Hr Session $7.50/Adult $5.00/Child Sat, Jun 20 10am-12pm H0393X Daylily Day at Deep Cut Gardens (all ages) The Monmouth County Park System and the Garden State Daylily Growers present Daylily Day at Deep Cut Gardens, Saturday, June 27, 2009 10am-2pm 352 Red Hill Road, Middletown, NJ. Daylily displays with experts on hand to answer questions. Come enjoy our large selection of daylilies on the grounds. Admission is free. What is Plein Air Painting? (adults) Judy Stach, President and Founder of the Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast will present a talk and demonstration on Plein Air Painting  painting in the open air. After the talk, members of the PAPJC will be painting at various locations in Deep Cut Gardens where you may visit the artists to see them in action. Works will remain on display in the Horticultural Center through July 16. One 1-Hr Session $10.00 Per Person Sat, Jul 11 10am-11am Summer Garden Camp (ages 6-8) A week of garden and nature-related crafts, projects and stories, including a garden safari. Five 3-Hr Sessions $85.00 Per Child Mon-Fri, Jul 20-24 1-4pm H1493A Mon-Fri, Aug3-7 1-4pm H1593A Mon-Fri, Aug 17-21 9am-12pm H1693A Garden Kids (ages 7-10) An introduction to gardening through fun activities! Five one-hour classes include: seeds  dissection & germination, plant anatomy, soil composition and composting, plant propagation, and insects. Five 1-Hr Sessions $50.00 Per Child Mon-Fri, Jul 27-31 10-11am H0493A Plein Air Painting in Watercolor (adults) With the grounds of Deep Cut Gardens as inspiration, the student will learn how to see as an artist and depict the light, color and perspective of the landscape. All experience levels; all materials supplied. For your comfort, bring water, sunscreen and sun hat. Instructor: Lizzie Schippert, NJWCS One 3-Hr Session $30.00 Per Person Wed, Jun 3 9am-12pm H0793A Wed, Jun 10 9am-12pm H0893A Wed, Jun 17 9am-12pm H0993A Wed, Jun 24 9am-12pm H1093A Botanical Art Series for Teens (entering grades 7-12) All art materials supplied. Many classes will be held outdoors; for your comfort, dress appropriately and bring water, sunscreen and sunhat or visor. One 2-Hr Session $22.00 Per Person Botanical Drawing Students will learn about the different plant structures, flowers, leaves and roots. Using pencils and paper, they will be able to explore them through drawing. Tue, Jun 30 9-11am H1993A Drawing Trees with Charcoal Learn how charcoal is made and how to use this ancient medium. Become familiar with art history, make tree rubbings and learn about different kinds of trees. Thu, Jul 2 9-11am H2093A Basics of Watercolor Painting Learn how watercolor paints are made, become familiar with watercolor art history, materials, techniques and different subject matters while creating a painting. Tue, Jul 7 9-11am H2193A Watercolors of Natural Light & Shadows Learn to apply the secrets of painting natural light and shadows by learning how to look at these features on subject matter. Thu, Jul 9 9-11am H2293A Watercolors of Pond Plants & Water Explore examples by noted artists and learn how to see the way light and colors play off water before creating your own painting. Tue, Jul 21 9-11am H2393A Watercolors of Skies & Clouds Explore art that shows the skies at different times of day, learn painting techniques and how to look at the skies and clouds artistically while creating your own painting. Thu, Jul 23 9-11am H2493A Pastel Class Exploring OÂKeefe, Van Gogh & Pissarro Learn how to use simple media to explore landscape in the styles of these artists from different eras and places. Students will get to experiment with their own imagination as well as reflecting on art history. Tue, Aug 4 9-11am H2593A Pastel of Still Life Learn about pastel drawing and how to use this medium to explore colorful subject matter. Learn about different fruits and vegetables and explore them through your drawing. Review pastel art history and still life painting. Thu, Aug 6 9-11am H2693A Sumi Ink Landscapes Learn how to use this different medium through an examination of Asian art depicting nature. Explore the different plants and styles of Asian art and how water, sky and land are portrayed. Tue, Aug 11 9-11am H2793A

Jekyll's comments are right on even for the US. I work for the US Fish & Wildlife out of an office located on an army post working with other departments in the environmental fields assessing noxious weeds, finding and recording threatened, endangered and sensitive plant species locations, t,E & S habitat (plants and animals), rangeland issues, biological control of weeds, and forestry issues. We work with many other agencies/orgs/schools such as the USDA, Forest service, Nature Conservancy, Heritage programs, Native Plant societies, USGS, Space Command and the neighboring Air Force base, Air Force Academy, and MIT on various research projects including forest pests, satillite imagery and watershed issues. Very rewarding work but not gonna get rich by any means. I look at it this way-I get PAID to be outside nearly every day to find, look at, collect plants and assess the environment. Sometimes I get to assess the land from a heliocoptor (the only way to fly)!! You daughter will undoubtedly be better paid than I am-I have a BA in Anthropology with lots of botany and environmental sciences. Also, people on the ground (field workers-such as myself) get paid much less than program managers (which I am not, but do not want to sit in an office all day either). Government pay scales vary widely between agencies but her Masters will help alot. The private sector may may be a better bet but again pay varies widely. The real money seems to be in Environmental Compliance issues whether that be T, E & S species, noxious weeds, or clean water (point source pollution and sedimentation coming off public lands and polluting watersheds). I would recommend that your daughter do as much work with GPS (global positioning systems, GIS (geographic information systems) equiptment/mapping software whenever she can. It's essential these days to be able to accurately record and map your work, and having a working knowledge of the hardware and software that produce these kind of maps will make her much more valuable to any organization.