"Everything comes gradually and at its appointed hour," said Ovid, the great Roman poet. Perhaps he was talking about the soul of the world, but he could just as easily and appropriately been talking about gardening (which is, perhaps, tending the same thing). And across cultures and millennia said the Buddha: "The greatest communion with the world is patience." He too, could have been talking about the all-too-human, godlike pastime of impelling the flowers to bloom.

More recently, a wise old greenskeeper was heard saying: "A good gardener knows the meaning of patience, for gardening itself, if truly learned, teaches us timing, fortitude and the willingness to wait for the arrival of beautiful things." But which comes first? Is it an even-tempered disposition that makes one a good candidate for becoming a skillful gardener? Or is it the act of gardening itself that produces in us, over time, the calm Zen-like persistence and composed diligence necessary for successful horticulture?

Certainly, it takes time and patience to plan a garden, to prepare the soil, to pick the plants and to wait quietly and steadily for that perfect moment for planting. And it takes even more time and patience to wait for the outcome of a season's worth of creative work and care taking.

Emerging from a cold, hard winter, it's easy to long for the luscious days of late summer. But patience is demanded by the garden itself; a certain humility is needed. "Good things come to those who wait..." Is it delayed gratification that, through gardening, we learn to enjoy? Partly. Is it the joy of anticipation? That, too. But it's also learning to tend to what the garden needs right now, today, and the enjoyment of having the freedom -- and the understanding -- to do the work that's needed.

In many ways, our hasty decisions, our impatience and shortsighted mistakes give us a kind of garden wisdom. We begin to see the world through garden time, and as we come to appreciate its gradual emergence, we begin to take things more slowly. Perhaps we begin to see things more clearly. Ccontemplation -- lounging and loitering -- become truly honorable virtues. We will know this simply by watching a cactus flower open on a warm spring day. What better excuse could there be for doing nothing?! And what could be more conducive to thought and learning than to trifle, to dawdle slowly and patiently along the garden path -- to relish each and every day all summer long -- sauntering toward those warm and delicious August evenings with someone you love? How to cultivate that possibility: this is what the garden teaches. This is why the garden grows.

Washoe Valley is famous for its strong winds, and since it's almost always windy there, John and Nancy decided to have a wind turbine installed at their Washoe nursery location. The project is exciting, ambitious, enterprising and ultimately very practical. The 2.6 kw wind turbine is now actually producing clean electricity not only for the nursery, but also for NV Energy's Renewable Generations program.

Gardening and daydreaming are definitely intertwined pastimes. We often imagine living a self-sufficient life, a life of productive labor that brings us ever closer to a green world without pollution, without poisons, with clean air, clean soil, fresh home grown food. In short, we imagine the autonomous life, self-contained, self-determining, self-supporting. With the new turbine, John and Nancy do more than simply dream about such things. (This photo shows the recent installation of the forty-five foot tall turbine.)

Come One Come All -- Come Celebrate the Wind in Washoe Valley!

To celebrate Earth Day, Dry Creek Garden Company will host a Green Energy Conference at their Washoe City location on Friday, April 23, 2010. The celebration will feature organizations and cultural projects that promote alternative energy. Festivities begin at 1 pm. Vendors will include:

• The Clean Energy Center -- Premier wind and solar power specialists for Northern Nevada and Eastern California will provide information and examples of windmills and solar systems.
• Go Green Roof -- Innovators in plantable roof systems will show how homeowners can install fully-integrated, vegetated roofs that are both economically and environmentally beneficial. In conjunction with Go Green Roof, Dry Creek will give away free green roof plants.
• United States Department of Agriculture -- Representatives for the USDA will provide grant information for your green projects, including the USDA's Rural Energy for America Program.

There Will Be Music!

Tim Snyder, formally of 'Soul Jibe' will energize his awesome electric violin for your entertainment.

Clouds are moving fast across the sky today. A storm is coming; so says the National Weather Service. Winds are already beginning to pick up here in Reno.

This morning there are five special weather statements and warnings for our area, including Reno, Sparks, Washoe City, Carson City and Lake Tahoe. One is a high wind warning for the entire region. Another is a blizzard watch for Lake Tahoe. Antother a winter storm watch for Truckee.

Concerning the plants, there's not a whole lot that can be done about fruit trees and ornamentals already in full bloom. The high winds just might blow the blossoms right off the branches. Many trees and shrubs are still in the early budding stage, which is hopeful. The cool weather vegetables already in the ground, they'll get pushed around a bit, but should be okay. Although, if you can, they will probably enjoy some protection from the wind, blowing sand and snow. Watch your newly planted perennials for excessive drying from the high winds. You just might need to give them some extra water. This includes trees and shrubs. In areas where snow will fall, the perennials will most likely benefit from the protection and moisture the snow will provide. If snow does fall in the valley floors, it will most likely melt quickly as it usually does this time of year.

Here's some of what the National Weather Service has to say:

The initial threat is a dangerous down slope wind event this afternoon through Tuesday morning. Ridge winds well over 100 mph will mix to the lower elevations with damaging wind gusts over 70 mph likely to affect the eastern slopes of mountain ranges... By Tuesday morning the cold front will maintain the strong surface winds. Ahead of the front ...sustained winds of 25 to 40 mph with gusts near 60 mph will continue until the cold front passes... Winds of this magnitude will likely create a dust storm with visibility near zero across Pershing, Churchill, Lyon and Mineral counties.

Another weather statement warns of a "blizzard watch" beginning tomorrow morning for the greater Lake Tahoe area. More from the National Weather Service:

Confidence remains high that a strong jet stream in the central pacific and a cold low pressure system in the gulf of Alaska will converge on the Sierra and Western nevada today and tuesday. This combination will produce favorable conditions for strong to damaging down slope winds and a period of heavy snow in the Northern Sierra...Snow accumulations of a foot or more above 7000 feet and up to 10 inches below 7000 feet are possible...

Good luck little gardens!

It seems the Forsythia bush will grow just about anywhere (zones 4 through 8), signaling the arrival of spring from New England to Southern California. Many gardeners love Forsythia because it is such an early bloomer. It blooms even before its leaves appear. It's also easy to grow, needing not much more than a sunny location. The plant will take some partial shade, but seems to bloom more profusely in full sun. Soil prep is minimal, too, as Forsythia will grow in just about any type of well drained garden soil. Good for xeric landscaping, after established, you won't need to worry about watering Forsythia except during the driest parts of the year.

Size, too, is quite manageable. You can shape the plant into a controlled hedge or allow it to shape itself. It's best to prune just after blooming.

In early spring, it's fun to cut some branches just before the flowers bloom and bring them into the house. The bright yellow flowers will open and brighten up any room. And since they are easily propagated by cutting, if there's water in your vase, the stems will probably develop roots which you can plant. Stems that touch the ground on the plant itself, if partially buried, will also develop roots, which is an easy way to help the plant spread if you're planning a hedge row.

All in all, Forsythia is easy to grow. It grows fast, resists pests and disease, is beautiful in early spring with its bright yellow flowers, beautiful as a shrub in the summer with its deep green. The only drawback is that Forsythia can be a deer magnet. Because of this, landscapers will sometimes develop the plant as a hedge row deer detracting fence that keeps the deer away from other parts of the yard.

Recently, a beautiful swan has been hanging out with the other water birds at Virginia Lake in Reno. The swan seems to love having its picture taken, as it stays close to shore and seems to pose for all the interested photographers. So far, no one seems to know where this particular swan came from. This week the Reno Gazette-Journal posted a series of photographs and identified the bird as a 'Mute Swan' and conjectured that it is possibly the offspring of a pair from south Reno.

According to Wikipedia, the Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) was introduced to North America from Europe, and is referred to as "mute" because it's less vocal than other types of swan. On walks around the lake, we've seen this swan three or four times and so far, true to its name, we have not heard a single peep or honk.

There are two native swans to North America: The Trumpeter Swan and the Tundra Swan. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Trumpeter Swan is the largest waterfowl in North America with an eight foot wingspan. They mate for life and the male takes care of the nest building.

By the turn of the twentieth century, the Trumpeter Swan had been hunted almost to extinction -- the lowest count for a worldwide population dwindled to less than 70 birds -- but there were major attempts to save the species. In 1918, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was passed to protect traveling birds from over hunting. The passing of the bill contributed greatly to saving the Trumpeter. Federal controls have allowed a remarkable comback: the Trumpeter's present population stands at over 16,000. Nevertheless, because of their size, all three species remain extremely vulnerable to illegal poaching.

This non-native evergreen Euphorbia loves our climate. It will take the cold, which many Euphorbias will not tolerate. It will lose some of its bright healthy looking luster during the winter, especially if it sits under a heavy blanket of snow, but it will quickly beautify itself come spring. It's in bloom right now, showing off its greenish-yellow flowers, so lovely to see this time of year.

This particular Euphorbia does not require rich soil; even unprepared, rocky, sandy soils will do just fine, but it does demand good drainage. And it does its very best in full sun.

Also called Creeping Spurge, Donkey Tail Spurge, and Myrtle Spurge, it is a popular choice for rock gardens, container gardens and low borders. Because it self-seeds, it works well as a xeric ground cover. It also drapes itself well over rock walls and container rims.

But be cautioned: this plant, like many types of euphorbia, can irratate the skin. Handle with care, and always use gloves. When stems and leaves are broken, they emit a white, milky latex that should not be touched or ingested. Also, this plant is considered an invasive weed in some parts of the west, like Colorado. The only Euphorbia growing in Nevada considered to be invasive is the Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula).

There is a Euphorbia -- Woodland Spurge (Euphorbia palmeri) -- that is native to Nevada and California. For more information, see the Spurge entry in our ongoing Dry Creek Garden Plant Index.

Last night late we heard the wind howling. This morning there's a little bit of snow on the ground, reminding us that we do live in close proximity to the high Sierra. With a 40% chance of snow today in the mountains and a 60% chance tonight, skiers will be happy and hopeful for a few extended days of fun on the slopes. Gardeners, happy about the recent warmth, will be worried about their budding fruit trees and tender garden sprouts. It's that time of year.

This young asparagus crown sits in the snow this morning. The young tips are definitely susceptible to a killing frost, but no such thing took place last night. This little crown is enduring its second spring here in Reno. We look forward to its long life.

Asparagus actually has a life expectancy of 15 or so years. They grow easily in most soils, but they will do better in a phosphorus rich soil, and they need excellent drainage or else their roots will rot.

It's best to buy second year crowns. They can be grown from seed, of course, but planting year old crowns advances the first harvest by at least an entire year. Plant the crowns in furrows about six inches deep about a foot apart. If you plan on having more than one furrow, give plenty of space -- five feet is a good rule -- since asparagus spreads. When you place the crowns into the furrows, you don't need to worry about whether the crowns are right side up. They will right themselves. Once you have the crowns set in the furrows, fill them completely with light soil. You don't want the furrow to compact. Don't over water your asparagus either; the plant is very drought-tolerant. They will send their roots deep, seeking moisture.

We won't harvest this young crown for at least another year, but its fun to watch them grow and they're beautiful as an ornamental when their tips open.

Each year we try to carry six packs of baby asparagus (we have some in stock right now) as well as clusters of second crowns. Supplies are limited.

Last spring our neighbors across the street gave us their black box composter. They had stopped using it years before. We were already composting our kitchen scraps, but were using a small, raised, open air, pit that we had constructed from left over MW grade bricks. Periodically, throughout the year, we would cover the scraps with thin layers of organic potting soil. We had built this pit in the corner of the yard several years ago, setting the whole process in motion with a couple canisters of earthworms we had picked up at a fishing tackle shop on the shore of Lake Tahoe. The process worked well enough, but not nearly as fast as the black box composter. The black walls and top absorb the heat of the sun, transferring its energy into the interior of the box.

The end result of composting your kitchen vegetable scraps is humus, and there are many benefits to adding humus to your backyard garden soil. Through the process of decomposition, your vegetable scraps actually become mineralized food that feeds the micro-organisms that keep the soil alive. Humus is actually the nutritional component that transforms an inert soil into a living biomass. Not only this, but the physiological structure of humus is such that it actually helps prevent the stored nutrients from settling or leaching away by water. Its structure also enhances the soil's ability to retain moisture, something very important in the high desert where arid, drought-like climate conditions are the norm. Plus, its physiological structure helps aerate the soil.

Besides all the actual benefits, simply witnessing the miraculous work of earthworms transforming kitchen garbage into biomass is rewarding in and of itself. We have an entire Web page dedicated to the mighty earthworm.

We recently received a shipment of portable composters. They are compact, efficient, and easy to use.

Many Reno gardeners are talking this spring about various plants, usually hardy for our cold seasons, having been frost bitten this past winter. This Photinia is an example. There's even a phrase used to describe this condition: Photinia Leaf Spot. It's not a disease, but rather a reaction to extremely cold, windy weather.

Last autumn, this beautiful, healthy shrub was its usual deep green, but unlike past years, last winter, during the series of cold snaps we endured, the leaves turned from green to a bright red, then to a brittle gold rust with spots of a drier brown.

As you can see, this plant has new buds, so its survival isn't in question. But if you find that the tips of your Photinia have died, you might need to cut the plant back. This plant is still green towards its base. We'll watch it this spring and decide exactly what to do about pruning.

Gardeners have also mentioned other plants getting burned by the deep freeze, like Rosemary and even Mormon Tea. Rosemary is always somewhat iffy here in the high desert. It's not unusual for Rosemary to die completely even during a normal winter. This is especially true for Rosemary in containers. This past winter we brought a potted Rosemary into the house. It was a good move. Not only did we have fresh Rosemary all winter for cooking, but we didn't have to go outside to pick it. Now the plant is healthy and ready without any winter set back for another year of growth.

Today in downtown Reno the daytime temperature is expected to reach 68 degrees. This is an iffy time for planting non-hardy plants, of course, since the city is actually perched on the edge of the Sierra. We're at an elevation of around 4500 feet, so night temperatures will dip and a cold snap won't come as much of a surprise. Plus, there is still snow on the mythic Peavine. Still, this is a good time to make sure the soil is ready for planting and soil work is a great excuse to get out in the garden with this welcomed daytime warmth.

The soil pictured here in this raised bed has been turned and mixed with last year's compost, which, thanks to the mighty earthworms, was dark, rich, luscious and sweet. In addition, Dry Creek recently received a new shipment of organic chicken manure, so we added a good dose of that as well. After raking and leveling, the box was treated to a nice deep watering.

At this time of year, this box acts as a cold frame for cold hardy vegetables like lettuce, onions, beets, cabbage, kale, spinach, leeks, garlic, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. In the upper right of the photo you can see the clear plastic covers we use to protect from any unexpected hard frosts. The cover intensifies the daytime temperatures, too. And it keeps out any wandering cottontails and the neighbor's sweet kitty that likes to use the freshly turned soil as its own private cat box.

Happy Spring!