The cacti have been blooming abundantly and beautifully this year, but they do every year. Although the cold winter temperatures limit the number of cactus types that grow in our region, the ones that do always delight the senses this time of year.

We have done our research and testing and have found several cold hardy cacti that will do just fine with the long and cold winters of our region. The list includes the Prickly Pear (Opuntia acicularis and O. engelmannii), Santa Rita (Opuntia violaceae), Cholla (Opuntia bigelovii), Silver Cholla (Opuntia echinocarpa), Beavertail (Opuntia basilaris), and several types of Hedge Hog.

All our cacti are grown outdoors, hardened for the harsh conditions of the northern Nevada bioregion. We have several types in easy to transplant four inch pots, as well as several more mature specimens in gallon and five gallon sizes. Cactus plants are great for rock gardens and fulfill many of your xeric needs. Come into our shop and see our selection.

This Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) -- one of a pair -- was photographed this week sitting on a backyard fence in the Old Southwest section of Reno. The same week a pair was also sighted on the John Cooke Trail during one of the windy, rainy days of late.

This beautiful finch-like song bird feeds mostly on insects and can be seen fly catching. So far the Tanager isn't threatened, perhaps because the bird is almost always on the move, commanding a range that extends from Southern Alaska and Canada's Northwest Territories, through the entire Western United States, all the way to Southern Mexico and Costa Rica. The bird likes to nest in the open, extended branches of pine and other conifers. They are somewhat rarely seen because they tend to move from branch to branch and tree to tree very high off the ground. Sometimes, though, they flit through the forest's understory, especially to drink and to nibble on fruit and berries. If you get to see one up close, consider yourself lucky!

Source: Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, Fourth Edition

This past week, just before the snow storm came roaring through town, the Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus) started blooming. This is usually the first hardy cactus to bloom in our area. If it likes its location, a single plant will develop five or so stems between five and ten inches high and will produce a large bouquet of deep orange or red blooms in May. The flowers are long lasting as cactus flowers go, staying firm and beautiful for several days, and unlike most cactus flowers, the Claret Cup flower stays open at night.

The cactus in this photograph has been in its present location for six years. In the wild, this particular hedgehog prefers higher desert locations, so at 4500 feet, this one feels right at home. All hedgehog cacti enjoy intense heat from a south sloping perch. A perfect choice for xeric landscaping, the Claret Cup prefers sandy, well drained soil, morning to evening sun, but especially a good dose of the afternoon rays, and less than an inch of water per month. It is beloved by honey bees and hummingbirds.

On the warmer nights of late, count yourself lucky if you can hear the magical, mating song of the Western Toad. What a sound! The Western Toad (Bufo boreas) is a common amphibian for our area, but its population has been declining because of the accumulated impact of unintelligent human development, widespread use of synthetic fertilizers and other types of chemical pollution and environmental degradation. A big concern is development that's not environmentally conscious, the result of which destroys wetlands and isolates toad populations from one another. And then there's the growing danger of temperature changes due to global warming.

If you don't use chemicals in your garden and pond, you might have the good fortune to accommodate Western Toads. Not surprisingly, they enjoy hanging out where there's water or moist soil, although when they aren't interested in sex, they will wander far from standing or running water. They usually like to spend the daytime hours in the dark, underground, or under logs or rocks or patio decks. They are much more active during the daytime in higher elevations where it's not so hot during the day. They either dig their own burrows or use those of small rodents, hibernating during the cold, freezing months of winter.

Great for garden pest protection, after the tadpole stage, the Western Toad dines mainly on insects, including misquotes, ants, beetles, sow bugs, spiders, centipedes and slugs.

Toads have what is called their paratoid glands, located close behind each eye. These highly developed glands are used for defense against potential predators. When threatened or attacked, the glands secrete an irritating poison that is quite distasteful. If the predator is smart, they will release the toad rather than eat it since ingesting the poison can and probably will make the predator quite sick. Nausea, a racing heart and in some cases, even death can be the result. This doesn't mean that the Western Toad is immune to predation. The tadpoles are a tasty treat for birds and fish, and after the tadpole stage, they must keep watch against snakes, birds, and mammals that aren't smart enough to leave them alone. Since the Western Toad doesn't quite trust human affection, it's not a good idea to handle them too much. Don't kiss them! And wash your hands before you get the poison in your mouth or your eyes.

Hopefully, the increase in organic, chemical free gardening will help give the Western Toad and other local amphibians a chance for survival. Give your toads a safe environment and your toads could be helping your gardens for decades, as they have been known to live for 35 years or more!

It was an incredibly beautiful day yesterday in Washoe Valley, a perfect, sun and fun filled Spring day at our Washoe City nursery location. We celebrated Earth Day, the wind and Dry Creek's new wind turbine with a a pro-environment information fair. Lots of students and gardeners stopped by with questions and to hear the amazing music by Tim Snider.

In this photo, John is explaining the energy saving philosophy behind roof top gardening to a group of students.

There was one thing unusual, though, about yesterday's wind energy and wind turbine celebration: there was not a hint of wind! Usually residents of Washoe City would count a windless day a blessing, but everyone wanted to see the new turbine turning.

A good time was had by all.

Pictured in the lower forefront of the photograph is the Cut-leaf Daisy (Erigeron compositus) which opens to a beautiful, showy pale lavender flower that's pleasing to the eye and attractive to butterflies and honey bees. The plant grows from montane to alpine elevations throughout the American West. It requires an average soil and an average amount of water for our area, less being better than more, but regular watering is best. For a perennial ground cover plan, the Cut-leaf Daisy is low growing and will reseed itself from year to year, becoming dependable as a soft texture for rock gardens and other sunny spaces.

The upper flower in the photograph is the Phlox douglasii, a dependable perennial groundcover found in the same northwestern zones as the Cut-leaf Daisy. The Phlox grows in mats and, once established, takes little to no maintenance. Drought-tolerant and a good choice for xeric landscaping, this Phlox, like the Cut-leaf Daisy, adds color to rock gardens and open sunny places this time of year.

Both flowers are in bloom right now, and we have both in stock. For your gardening pleasure, we are offering a 20% discount on the Cut-leaf Daisy while supplies last.

Don't forget to come celebrate the Wind and Earth Day at the Washoe City nursery TODAY, April 23, between noon and 2 pm. Find out more.

Some quotes for Earth Day:

It seems that where ever humans live, it is rare for there not to exist a tension between the land, the wild and the people. It is as if an essential aspect of being human is to be always in transition, a more or less disrupting force perpetually transforming the animal and plant communities within which we hope to coexist. We must be careful! -- Anonymous

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. -- Chief Seattle

Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.Ã? -- Cree Indian Proverb

The earth is a generous mother; she will provide in plentiful abundance food for all her children if they will but cultivate her soil in justice and in peace. -- Bourke Coekran

When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world. - John Muir

When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.Ã? -- David Orr

The old Lakota was wise.Ã? He knew that man's heart away from nature becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to lack of respect for humans too.Ã? -- Chief Luther Standing Bear

When the soil disappears, the soul disappears.Ã? -- Ymber Delecto

The earth is what we all have in common. To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival. -- Wendell Berry

The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe, the less taste we shall have for destruction. -- Rachel Carson

The West of which I speak is but another name for the Wild, and what I have been preparing to say is, that in Wildness is the preservation of the World. Every tree sends its fibers forth in search of the Wild. The cities import it at any price. Men plow and sail for it. From the forest and wilderness come the tonics and barks which brace mankind. . . . -- Henry David Thoreau

Happy Earth Day! And don't forget to come celebrate the Wind and Earth Day at the Washoe City nursery tomorrow between noon and 2 pm. Find out more.

In 1969, the American underground comics artist, Ron Cobb, designed the Ecology Symbol. It was first published in The Los Angeles Free Press ("The Freep"), historically one of the 1960s first underground newspapers in the United States. It seems Cobb had better intentions than simply making money off the symbol and thus promptly released it into the public domain.

The philosophic symbolism behind Cobb's image, reminiscent of the mid-twienth century move towards enlightenment that was the anti-Vietnam war, pro-environmental, pro-civil rights, peace and justice movement, is illustrated on a poster by Cobb. On the poster, the symbol is surround by definitions and concepts that illustrate the hope and idealistic goals of an entire generation.

Much of the intent was to highlight the concept of Ecology in order to incite awareness of the reality of human environmental destructiveness. It would be used as a deterrant to that destructiveness, publically defined so as to remind us of our uncanniness, our lostness, and to help us find a new path toward reintegration with the planet. It would be the rediscovery of a hidden truth, a way to help "get ourselves back to the garden," as Joni Mitchell would sing.

For Cobb, the 'e' was to be lower case "to symbolize the passive yielding or feminine aspect of nature, the 'prima materia' or 'no-thing' out of which all 'things' are made to appear by division." The 'e' was to symbolize the environment, thought of through a list of 'e' words, such as "earth, eden, eternal, evolution, encircle, enrichment, enlightenment, eros, empathy, emotion, ecstasy and existence." The symbol was elliptic to illustrate "the transcendent unity that pervades all dualities..." And so Cobb connected the ends of the 'e' to become a circle to suggest 'o' words, such as "organism, oneness, oasis, OM, omnipresence, origin, open, orgy, orgasm and ontology," thereby creating a mandala, "the universal symbol of wholeness of harmonious unity -- the centering of psyche with cosmos -- the resolution of all opposites ...sanity, peace..."

The symbol survives, reminding us of very practical needs: clean air, clean soil, clean water, room to grow, health, peace, justice, and finding our way back to the garden...

One of the amazing things about Creeping or Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata) is that it adapts easily to a wide variety of environmental conditions. It likes full sun, but will take partial shade. It enjoys a slightly moist soil with a neutral pH, but will grow quite happily in acidic soils that dry out almost completely in the afternoon sun. With its shallow roots, it will even adapt to sandy, rocky soils and the intense heat of desert summers.

Just as impressive in the cold, this plant is Zone 3 hardy, which means it can survive -40 temperatures! That's as cold as the highest mountains of the Sierra and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In winter, this phlox will cozy down beneath a thick layer of snow to escape the burning effects of searing winds and storms. Then come Spring, it delights us with its beautiful carpet of flowers.

Phlox is in bloom right now! Spring is its time of visible presence when its five-petaled flowers cover the entire plant for a good two weeks or more. We carry several varieties in 4" pots in many shades: pink, red, lavender, blue, purple, and white. It's a great miniature, easily controlled semi-evergreen ground cover that grows pretty much where you want it to.

Gardeners and landscapers use this Phlox for its beautiful display of flowers in the Spring. It's often planted in rock gardens, at the edge of rock walls, and as border accents.

Each year we get in a limited supply of Wala Wala sweet onion sets and first or second year old asparagus crowns. We have both in stock this week, but both are very popular, so don't wait if you want some for this year.

Wala Wala onions are now the official state vegetable of Washington. The onion has a long history with growers in the state, with major efforts to produce an outstandingly sweet, delicious tasting onion -- so sweet, in fact, that people claim to enjoy them freshly picked, raw "like an apple." They are truly delicious and the best onion for appetizers, salads, salsas, soups, grilling, etc. The onions enjoy a rich soil, with plenty of humus. We add some organic chicken manure or some organic Dr. Earth fertilizer formulated especially for vegetable gardening. You'll want to plant them about four or five inches apart.

Last year we tried growing first year asparagus crowns in containers, but without much success. Out of a six pack of young crowns, only one is returning this year. Asparagus roots grow to depths of up to ten feet, so it makes sense that growing them in containers wouldn't be very smart, but we thought we'd give it a try anyway just to see. Some gardeners claim success growing asparagus in containers, and our experiment wasn't a complete failure. In the ground, the asparagus crowns will spread, so you can plant them 18 to 24 inches apart in a bed especially prepared for your asparagus crop.

If you've never grown asparagus, you'll need to allow the crowns to grow at least another season before you decide to harvest them for your recipes. Normally, the first year is for crown development, the second year, the crown establishes itself with deeper roots and becomes a fern. The third year is usually considered the first harvest year. The plant will be fully and abundantly productive in its sixth year. If you love asparagus, you'll love asparagus fresh from your vegetable garden.

The crowns we have are second year crowns, so you might be able to harvest them this year!

The National Weather Service recently issued its Hydrologic Outlook for Western Nevada and Eastern California and even though we received a series of welcomed late winter storms in March and early April, the snowfall we received in the mountains was not enough to offset what the Weather Service describes as "a rather bleak situation." Due to years of drought and increasing water use, the forecast warns of "tight water supplies," "below average stream flows," "low reservoir storage values" and "low soil moisture." A series of April showers would make things more hopeful, but the reality of the situation seems to be more of the same: "Stream flows are likely to remain below to far below average for most of Nevada and the Eastern Sierra Nevada for a forth year in a row."

We can hope for a wet spring which would make things less drastic, but reason and the reality of our situation would suggest that we plan our gardens and landscapes according to drought conscious xeric principles. One such plan would be to catch some of the rain that does fall on and around our homes with rain barrels, such as the one pictured here.

When looking into the notion of xeric gardening, we found that Xeros, in Greek, means 'dry.' But, as a gardening logic, xeric means more than simply dry, it implies gardening and landscaping with plants that actually thrive in conditions that match the water and weather habits of the particular region where we live. So, the meaning is more about gardening and landscaping efficiently and in sync with an arid, low water environment.Ã?

Gardeners and landscapers that work with hardy plants that thrive in drought-like conditions don't have to fight against the elements in order to be successful. Not only do the plants thrive without much effort, but added benefits include little maintenance and reduced expense. This is one of the principle reasons why we specialize in drought-tolerant plants.

Read more about Xeric landscaping principles on our Xeric Landscaping page.

The United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database lists 165 different common names for Phlox, 276 different scientific names, with 92 different types to be found in Nevada. Not all are as beautiful as the one pictured here.

If you are fond of local hiking, different types of Phlox are common sights. Spreading Phlox (Phlox diffusa) likes the upper alpine regions of the high Sierra, blooming from March to early August according to elevation and snow cover. In the Great Basin Desert, you'll find the Cushion or Carpet Phlox (Phlox hoodii) usually blooming from March into April, but some years even into June, and the Long-Leafed Phlox (Phlox longifolia), blooming usually in April, but it too can have a late blooming season. From white, to bright pink to soft lavender, the flowers grow in thick mats, pretty much hiding the green foliage while in bloom.

Phlox is a good choice for xeric landscapes as they prefer dry, sandy soil. They do well in hot, sunny, rock gardens and ledges and are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring.

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This is the time of year for the local birds. The Robins are pecking holes looking for new crops of insects. The Mourning Doves are collecting twigs for their nests. The localized California Quail are busy, too, This photo of an ever watchful male was taken yesterday just off Plumb in a backyard between Arlington and Plumus.

The California Quail (Callipepla californica) -- The California Quail's range extends into northwest Nevada. Nowadays, the bird is a common sight along the entire length of the Truckee, in the river's riparian flood lands. Since they build their nests on the ground, the California Quail prefers brush land areas, whether grassland, woodland, or Big Sagebrush desert. This bird will even set up residence in city and suburban backyards -- if there's cover. They are often seen walking fences and running in their small coveys across city and suburban streets.

This beautiful bird eats seeds, small buds, berries and insects. In the city, they seem to prefer bare dirt to grass lawns. Since the new born chicks are unable to escape predators through flight for their first month, both parents are very protective of the chicks.

Other quail in Nevada:

The Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus) -- The Mountain Quail's original range was huge, with year round populations extending north to south from Canada to Baja California, east to west in the mountain ranges of Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington. During the last half of the 20th century, the Mountain Quail declined dramatically and continues to do so, due mainly to loss of habitat in combination with extensive hunting. According to the Audubon Watch List, hunting this beautiful bird is now banned in Idaho and eastern Oregon. The Nevada Department of Wildlife is attempting to reintroduce Mountain Quail to what remains of their original habitat. The Mountain Quail is larger than the California Quail and lives in higher elevations (as high as 10,000 feet). They do migrate downward when the temperatures drop in the autumn, traveling in coveys of up to 20 birds. As their habitat continues to dwindle due to housing and commercial developments in the mountain regions of the west, there have been attempts to protect the species by officially adding it to the Endangered Species List. So far they remain unlisted, although their extermination is all but complete in Idaho. In Nevada, with a permit, hunters can still kill the Mountain Quail, but with a daily bag limit of two.

Gambel's Quail (Lophortyx gambellii) -- The Gambel's Quail is a true desert quail, preferring the warmer climates of the southwestern deserts. In California and Nevada, this bird can be found in the Mojave Desert as far north as Beatty and throughout Death Valley National Park.

Scaled Quail (Callipepla Squamata) -- The Scaled Quail, also called the Blue Quail was introduced into Nevada as a game bird and remains a favored bird for shooting even though populations are declining range wide. This quail is also a popular aviary bird.

The Iowa State University Extension published an article entitled, "Rabbit Damage to Tree Plantings." The article concentrates specifically on the potential damage done by cottontails and jackrabbits to trees. Both can "severely damage trees by girdling the trunks or major branches or by completely severing the growing points of terminal leaders on small trees." The article also claims a correlation between big snow years and heavy tree damage, apparently because the rabbits can reach more tender stems from atop the snow. Trees that are most vulnerable to rabbit nibbling are ones with thin bark. This would include young willow saplings, poplars, cottonwoods, various fruit trees saplings, including apple, pear, peach and nectarine. For the evergreens, rabbits apparently enjoy pine tree saplings over other conifers.

There are some flowers and vegetables in your garden that might be safe from rabbit nibbling, but it depends upon what else is close by to eat and how many rabbits you have hopping around. If your rabbits have access to an abundance of carrots, tender lettuces, cabbage, green beans, lima beans, beets, peas, radishes, spinach, collard greens, kale, strawberries, then your tomatoes, squash, eggplant, potatoes, garlic, cucumbers and asparagus might get by without much nibbling. But remember, rabbits, if left to themselves without natural predators about, will multiply rapidly, and the more rabbits, the more vulnerable your plants become.

To protect your plants from rabbits, fencing is very effective. For a wire mesh fence you will want to bury the fence about a foot beneath the surface while maintaining an above ground height of around two feet. A rabbit proof fence will help keep other critters away, too, such as deer, squirrels, skunks, chipmunks and raccoons. If you want to guard against voles and moles, be sure to bury the fence about two feet deep.

If a surrounding fence isn't a solution, individual trees can be wrapped with wire mesh. If the mesh isn't fine enough to keep the rabbits from chewing between the wire, be sure to brace the wire wrapping so that it stands away from the branches and trunks of your plants by a couple inches, and be sure to wrap your trunks and branches high enough that the rabbits can't reach above the mesh when there's snow on the ground in winter. You'll also want to keep close watch so that the wire mesh doesn't begin to grow into the tree or otherwise hinder its growth.

Another good way to control rabbits and squirrels is to catch them with Havahart Live Traps. We've used the two-door cage trap for catching ground squirrels. This design allows the rabbit or squirrel to enter from either end. There's a handle guard, too, which protects your hand while carrying the trapped bunny. It's basically a trap and release strategy. Simply bait the trap with some yummy fresh vegetables like carrots and lettuce, place the trap close to where the rabbit likes to munch. Once the rabbit has been trapped, promptly take it to a park or rural piece of open land and release it.

Some gardeners use Fox Urine Granules that are spread around the yard using a shaker. The rabbits smell the dried urine which triggers their fear and defense mechanisms thereby scaring the rabbits away. You can also buy Granulated Coyote Urine to repel visiting deer and it's supposed to work on neighborhood cats that like to use your yard and garden soil as their own private cat box.

People also try putting large glass jars of water in the yard; the reflections can scare the rabbits. Others set up a fake owls, a rubber snake or a garden hose placed in the grass like a snake.

This spring, the Havahart Live Trap will be our first strategy to rid the yard of our Lagomorphic visitor.

It seems that the Easter Bunny has taken up residence. We're seeing him more and more nibbling the grass usually at twilight. We're pretty sure this one is a type of Cottontail, but we're not yet certain. Come to find out, rabbits are not actually rodents, although closely related, but of another order, called Lagomorpha. Logomorpha includes rabbits, hares and the pika. Still, they seem to think all the vegetables in the garden are there for the nibbling, so now we have to decide what to do...

There are several different rabbit types that live nearby:

Pika -- In the Sierra's high, subalpine belt, between 7500 and 12000 ft, higher elevations lives the Pika (Ochotona princeps), also called the Rock Rabbit. The Pika isn't actually a true rabbit, but they are genetically related.

Pygmy Rabbit -- Another indigenous rabbit is the Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis). Its range includes the Big Sagebrush regions of Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Washington. According to the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, the Pygmy Rabbit is endangered mainly due to the loss and fragmentation of its native habitat ("conversion of sagebrush rangeland to agriculture; development, including oil and gas production; and wildfire frequency in some areas). Since this rabbit feeds mainly on sagebrush, the widespread destruction of old growth Big Sagebrush country greatly effects the rabbit's ability to survive. The little rabbit must also endure the local predators like coyotes, foxes, weasels, bobcats, badgers, owls, hawks, eagles, and humans who use the rabbits for target practice.

The Cottontail -- There's at least two species of Cottontail in the Sierra. The one that lives in our area is the Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), who likes the Big Sagebrush forests of the eastern side of the range. The Cottontail is very common, and also a favorite for hunters.

The Snowshoe Hare -- The Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) turns white in the winter for camouflage in the snow, then brown as the snow melts. It's found in the conifer forests where there's plenty of water loving vegetation along year round streams.

The Jackrabbit -- The Black-Tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) is a fun sight to see in the desert. They live on both sides of the Sierra ridge, and can be seen amongst the Big Sagebrush forests of the Great Basin.

Source: Sierra Nevada Natural History (California Natural History Guides)

Since our local growing season is relatively short -- especially for the alpine regions, but also for the high desert valleys -- April is a very important month for gardeners. So get busy!

When planning for seasonal color, the Arabis Snowcap is a perfect plant for early spring. This medium growing, spreading perennial has fragrant clusters of pure white flowers that appear in March and April. It loves the desert sun and blooms for four to six weeks. It's easy to grow and perfect for well-drained rock gardens, garden walls, containers and borders. Plant it now, enjoy the blooms, and watch it reappear again next year just to make you happy.

This year you might like to try growing annual poppies, like the Shirley Poppy and the California Poppy. Poppies are easy to grow from seed and this is a good time to plant them. Since the seeds are so small, an easy way to spread them more evenly and to protect them from being tossed about by strong April winds, is to mix the seeds with some fine potting soil or composted humus in a small container, then scatter the mixture in prepared flower boxes, borders, and other empty spots in your garden.

If you grow Chrysanthemums, April is a good time to divide your larger plants and replant the divisions. The same holds true with other spreading perennials that benefit from division (including cacti).

Since the local insect-eating song birds are getting frisky this time of year, early April is a good time to place a birdhouse in your yard. (We have some nice birdhouses presently in stock, but supplies are limited.)

Don't forget that Arbor Day is the last Friday in April. As you make plans to celebrate, be sure to choose the spot carefully; you'll want a spot that fits the growing habits of the tree to be planted. You'll want to dig a large hole for the root ball. As part of the Arbor Day celebration, before you plant the tree, you can fill the hole with water and take a mud bath with your friends. Be sure to choose a tree that will work well in your landscaping design. We invite you to come visit our nursery. If you need help choosing a proper tree, we can show you an amazing selection of both deciduous and evergreen trees, from miniature ornamentals to mighty Sequoias.

Here's a checklist of projects and plans from our April Gardening Tips page:

• Plan for springtime flowers
• Plan your water garden
• Plan your herb garden
• Design your vegetable garden
• Plan your balcony garden
• Design or redesign your landscape
• Choose your starter seeds
• Divide and repot indoor plants

Of course, since the April sun provides some mid-day warmth, there are outdoor projects we can tackle as well:

• Turn and prepare the garden soil
• Clear the last remaining leaves
• Plan and build or repair your arbors
• Fertilize perennials, shrubs and trees
• Prune your trees and shrubs if needed
• Stake your tall perennials and vines
• Set up a birdhouse or two or three

"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.

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!