Even with the very dry winter we've had, our Hellebore paid no attention. This one pictured was planted last year in full shade. Frost and freeze-resistant, this beautiful plant did not die back, nor did its exposed, leathery leaves suffer from cold or lack of water. The blooms began about a month ago and are continuing.

Flowers come in many colors and shapes, including green, deep purple, white, pink, lavender and multicolored. Some flowers resemble wild roses. The flower's sepals stay intact, holding the flower's shape for long periods, sometimes for months on end. Plants with cup-like flowers often hold water; wild song birds can often be seen taking a sip just after rain or watering.

Geraniums are very popular plants, but here in the high desert most types you find in local nurseries and garden centers are grown as annuals or indoor plants. Not so with this hardy Blue Geranium. This interesting low to medium high growing ground cover is cold hardy, will grow outside even in bright sun and come back to make you happy with its interesting foliage and true blue flowers that bloom all summer. Deadhead for an extended bloom.

This plant works well as a medium high border plant in sun or dappled shade. You can also grow them in containers, or as pictured here, in full sun in a xeric rock garden setting. They are drought tolerant, enjoy average, well-drained soil.

The Blue Geranium is a Drycreek favorite, but the nursery also sometimes carries hardy geraniums in other colors, too, like pink, purple, magenta and white.

As late spring turns to warmer days, the Pin Cushion (Scabiosa) begins its prolific display of beautiful long stemmed flowers. When exactly depends upon the particular microclimate within which they grow, but this plant (pictured) loves its full morning sun and mid-afternoon shade. Just this week the blooms have begun to open. The blooms will keep coming for weeks and will respond well to deadheading, especially if the the long spent flower stems are cut away. You can also let some of the flower stems mature to collect the seeds, and as years go by, you can divide the root ball for propagation.

Give your Pin Cushion average well-drained soil and regular watering. It can handle semi-arid stretches, but it's best not to allow the soil to completely dry out between waterings.

Honeybees and butterflies love this plant. It works well for medium high borders and as a container plant. The cut flowers are great for floral arranging.

Aphids are tiny, soft bodied insects that suck plant juices from leaves, stems and flowers. They quickly form colonies and if left unchecked, can do quite a bit of damage to your plants. You might be tempted to buy pesticide poisons to fight your fights, but such chemicals are almost always completely nondiscriminatory when it comes to what types of insects they kill. Who wants to kill honeybees? Who wants to kill Lady Beetles (pictured)? Who wants to kill Praying Mantids? Who wants to risk such chemicals leaching into the ground water to kill earthworms and ultimately to contaminate the water supply?

If you find aphids collecting on your flower plant stems, rub them off with your fingers or spray your plants with a strong enough jet of water to knock the aphids from your plants. And encourage beneficial predator insects into your garden (by not using insecticides) such as Lady Beetles. A single Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens) will eat thousands of aphids during its life time!

Considerate gardeners also use home made sprays made with garlic and a tiny bit of Castile soap. Some make tea from other plants known to thwart aphids, such as yarrow, stinging nettle and tomato leaves. There are many solutions that don't involve deadly chemicals. Try this link for more organic suggestions.

It seems that after the biggest rain day in June in over ninety years, the penstemon are reacting in mass with abundant flowers.

There are almost three hundred species of penstemon (Plantaginaceae and/or Scrophulariaceae family). Also called beardtongue, penstemon vary greatly, with many shapes and sizes with flowers in a wide range of colors: blue, magenta, orange, pink, purple, red, white and even yellow. Foliage is varied, too, some with broad bright green leaves, others with delicate gray green, still others with almost blue leaves. Some types are tall, up to almost two feet; others are quite small, reaching only six or eight inches in height. Honeybees and hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers.

Nevada is a penstemon paradise. Several types are native to the area and thrive on dry air and dry soil. They are perfect for xeric landscaping plans as well as sun drenched rock and container gardens. Many types, including European hybrids flourish here with little care and little watering. Give them full sun and well drained average soil and they'll be on their way to making June a bright and colorful month year after year.

Traditionally, Native American cultures used penstemon as a medicinal plant. The plant is beloved by many. There is even a Penstemon Society for true penstemon enthusiasts.

Penstemon is one of Drycreek's favorite and most popular perennials. Each year you can find many different types available.

These last few days of perfect springtime weather has the Hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus) excited for blooms. This little gem (pictured) lives in a very sandy, well-drained south facing rock garden in downtown Reno. It's been living here for almost a decade. It usually blooms each year around the first of June, but this year it's a about a week and a half late. You can guess why.

Drycreek has a great selection of cold hardy cacti this year. These little hedgehogs usually go very quickly. They require no maintenance after becoming established and each spring the flowers are definitely something to look forward to. Hedgehog cactus plants are great for displaying in containers, and because they are slow growers, you can start out with a small sized pot. Just make sure they get full sun and a well-draining sandy soil. Most hedgehog cactus plants tend to stay very compact with their stems growing no more than a foot high. If you're lucky enough to live a long life with this cactus as your companion, you will get to see your little cactus develop into a fully mature mound consisting of many stems and many amazing flowers from year to year.

For potting cacti, it's easy to create a good soil match without having to purchase expensive mixes from the big box stores. All you need is some regular potting soil and some pumice. Mix the two with a ratio of about one third pumice to two thirds potting soil. Doing it yourself can save a lot of money, especially if growing cacti becomes a hobby.

To say the least, the Hedgehog cactus is a spectacular addition to any xeric landscaping plan.

Speedwells are great plants for borders, rock gardens, planters and other areas with sun or partial shade where small ground covers are needed. Both of the plants pictured have similar growth patterns and texture, so if planted together, will fill a space more or less evenly, but with contrasting color. Both are rapid growing, compact floriferous perennials that take sun or part shade. Both bloom from late May to August into September. Flower stalks on each plant reach a a more or less even height between twelve and eighteen inches with a spread between eighteen and twenty-four inches. And both have deep green foliage setting off their spikes of long lasting flowers. One, the Royal Candles Veronica (Veronica spicata 'Glory') produces deep blue flowers. The other, Eveline Speedwell (Veronica longifolia 'Eveline') produces deep purple flowers. The combination is striking, complimentary and will produce color for your garden all summer long.

Easy to grow, simply give these Veronicas ordinary, well-drained soil that stays evenly moist. In winter, make sure the roots don't sit in water as root rot is probably the plant's greatest danger. Since our summer heat can be intense, it might be best if they receive a full dose of morning to early afternoon sun, then the rest of the day with dappled shade. This will help in keeping the roots moist. If the summer sun seems too intense, try giving the plant a modest layer of mulch. If you find your plants fainting, don't worry, just give them some water. They usually will perk back up in quick time. In the summer, deadheading will promote more flowers and a longer blooming season.

We woke up this morning to frost on the roofs in downtown Reno. At 6:30 the temperature read 32 degrees at the Reno / Sparks Convention Center. Higher up the mountain there were even more severe conditions. New snow on Peavine makes it look like early April rather than late May. But the afternoon proved wonderful. People are eager to get their plants all in a row and ready for the inevitable warmth coming in June.

Drycreek came to the rescue for many gardeners this week with their supply of reusable protective covers -- they still have a good supply and it's always a good idea to have protection at hand. And for those that missed the opportunity to add cover, Drycreek's green house was full this morning with all sorts of heirloom tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and many other healthy and happy vegetables, kept safe from the low temperatures last night.

Everyone is waiting for that moment -- any day now -- when "all danger of frost is past" and it's safe to put everything in the ground for this year's growing season. Is it tomorrow? It's only one more day till June; three weeks till Summer.

If you have a partly shady spot on a ledge where you would like to place a show plant, or a partly shady crevice in your rock garden that is crying out for something unique and interesting, Irish Saxifrage (Saxifraga x andrewsii) is a great choice. This hardy evergreen forms offshoots that grow into a cluster, eventually spreading into a nice sized mount. Great, too, for containers you can move around to where the plant receives just the right amount of easy sun and dappled shade. In other areas where cloud covered days are many, Irish Saxifrage can take more sun, but here in the desert, they seem to prefer more shade.

The plant forms clusters of saw toothed leaves that are fun to touch. The leaves fit into a variety of garden themes, from desert to alpine. In May and June, Saxifrage sends up tall, crazy looking reddish stems with tiny clusters of symmetrical white flowers with pink speckles. The stems reach to almost a foot in height and as the plant matures, multiply into a nice spray of delicate white flowers that sway in the breeze.

You can propagate this variety by dividing the root ball. If the flowers actually produce seed (some will not), you can let them dry on the plant, then collect for experimental sprouting. Growing from seed is a long process, but if you give it a try, scatter on a fluffy sprouting medium without much cover and keep moist.

Give your Saxifrage rich, well-drained soil. Keep it nicely moist, especially throughout the hottest part of the summer. Be sure to water them regularly while they establish themselves.

There are many different types of Saxifraga and many more gardeners who love them. So many, in fact, that there's even a Saxifraga Society. Drycreek often has several varieties of Saxifraga in stock. The one pictured arrived this spring.

This morning the National Weather Service is predicting the possibility of snow this holiday weekend down to the valley level with temperatures to the freezing level. The low temperatures, they say, will allow up to an inch of snow in the Truckee Meadows. The western mountains are in a Winter Weather Advisory. With gusty winds, snow and a cold night, conditions could definitely do some damage to delicate annuals like tomatoes, eggplant and peppers.

If you've already planted summer vegetables, it's probably a good idea to devise some protection for the weekend. Drycreek still has in stock Gardener's Season Starter Early Season Plant Protectors. The plant protectors safeguard plants like tomato starts, eggplant, squash, pepper starts, cucumbers, melons, herbs and other annuals, shielding them from damage. They carry Wall of Water protectors, too, that will protect plants down to 16 degrees Fahrenheit.

This time of year everyone is anxious to plant their summer garden plants, gambling to win more time in our typically short growing season, but as the saying goes, the snow isn't off Peavine yet, and this weekend we just might see more rather than less.

Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) is a perfect plant for fully shaded to partially shaded areas of the garden. The plant begins to develop tall flower stems in early spring -- at up to three feet high -- then blooms late May into June. Extend the blooming season by deadheading.

It's imperative that the right spot for growing Jacob's Ladder be found. It seems the variegated Polemonium need even more shade, but definitely, excessive sun and dry soil will produce negative results. This particular plant has been growing in a mostly shaded corner protected from the sun by an eastern and southern facing fence. A few feet to the west is the wall of the house, so the plant receives very little direct sunlight. It does receive a bit of late afternoon sun, but only for a short while. Certainly this plant thrives in this location.

Remember, well-drained soil is very important for this plant. And, as is typical for many shade loving plants, it enjoys a somewhat consistently moist, but not soggy, soil, although, if it doesn't bake in the sun, it will tolerate some drought. The flowers attract honeybees which is always nice since honeybees need all the help they can get these days.

This spring Drycreek has both deep green and variegated varieties of Polemonium.

This Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora), a member of the Agave Family, has been living in downtown Reno for five or six years. It commands a warm and sunny south facing spot, which it loves. Each spring it sends up several flower stalks that rise up above the leaves by at least two feet. Sometimes there are as many as ten flower stalks; other years less than half that amount.

Red Yucca is a hardy, drought tolerant, carefree evergreen perennial that's perfect for desert themed xeric landscapes and large rock gardens. The plant grows somewhat slowly, and will eventually become shrub-like, reaching a spread of up to five or six feet wide and three feet high.

In well drained soil, give your yucca a good occasional watering to encourage blooms. If your plant receives regular blasts of Nevada's drying winds, it will appreciate a drip line or weekly watering during the summer. The long lasting bright pink flowers are a major attraction to hummingbirds and the tall flower stalks make it easy to see when the hummingbirds make their rounds. Honeybees are also a frequent visitor. The flowers themselves last most of the summer, developing pods of flat black seeds that can be sprouted.

As the single plant spreads out, suckers will appear around the base that can be separated and planted elsewhere. You can propagate from seeds, too, although it will be several years before you'll be seeing flower stalks emerging.

Drycreek carries several varieties of yucca.

In spring and autumn Drycreek offers six packs of vegetable greens for cool weather gardening. Several varieties of cabbage and lettuce are available, plus mustard greens, kale, collard greens and others. These foods are easy to grow and good for you. The plants don't mind the late cool weather snaps, and in fact, thrive on them. Just give them good soil, lots of sun and plenty of water and you'll be eating some of nature's super foods grown from your own garden.

This hardy purple cabbage along with kale and collard greens was planted last fall and spent much of the winter under a layer of snow. The collards and kale have been recently harvested, cooked and deliciously eaten. The cabbage remains and is now beginning to form heads. This spring, another set of cabbage has been planted to replace these as they mature. The spring planted cabbage will form large, firm heads, hopefully by late June, as they did last year.

It's exciting to grow your own food. Plus, not only is cabbage beautiful, but it contains substantial amounts of vitamin B2, vitamin C, glutamine, and amino acid, all of which are essential for human health. Cabbage is also a great diet food since it is very low in calories and can be prepared in a variety of interesting ways. You can eat it raw or cook it, ferment it, can it, freeze it. Even the outer leaves and stems can be used as an ingredient in soup stocks. Try making sauerkraut and coleslaw. Your friends and neighbors will be amazed. More than once someone will say, "You grew that in the desert?"

Note: Be sure to prepare the soil. Make it rich and well-drained with lots of organic material. If you can, grow your garden vegetables in a raised bed for better protection from typical garden insects. They can also be grown in containers. Just make sure the pots are large enough to allow for proper root growth.

Each year Drycreek provides a nice selection of hardy Clematis suited to our climate and soil, including several varieties sold in small pots. This allows Clematis enthusiasts to collect several different types while saving on the overall cost of their collection.

Certain preparations for your plants will go a long way in helping them thrive. The soil should be rich, evenly moist and well drained. If you're dealing with clay-like soil, be sure to enrich it with peat and compost. The site should be sun drenched for most of the day, although some broken shade during the hottest part of the day will help keep the flowers from bleaching and fading. Probably the most important trick is to keep the soil itself cool, moist and shaded while the stems and leaves find the sun. If choosing a south facing location, it is imperative that the base of the plant be shaded, especially during the hottest days of summer.

Whether in the ground or in containers, if you want your Clematis to climb, you'll have to help them. A regular sized trellis is probably too thick for their tiny, fragile stems. Gardeners often attach plastic netting to fences and arbors to provide support for climbing. Be innovative. This year Drycreek has some wonderful free-standing ornamental Clematis cages that do the job beautifully.

In the winter here where temperatures can reach well below freezing, it helps to add an inch or two of mulch around the base of the plant to protect the roots. Try not to cultivate around the base of the plant as its root system does not like to be disturbed. Be careful, too, with their fragile stems. If your clematis blooms from new growth, hard early spring pruning down to about eight inches from the ground will stimulate growth. If your plant blooms from old growth, light pruning is best. If you are unsure of what type of clematis you have, talk to John or Nancy at the nursery. They will help with the details.

The Columbine plant (Aquilegia), also called wild columbine, wild honeysuckle, red-bells, rock-lily and jack-in-trousers is a cold hardy perennial that can be found growing in the wild growing just about anywhere, but especially in fields and meadows from Colorado's Rocky Mountains to the east coast. Very easy to grow, Columbine needs well drained soil and does best with morning sun and partial to full shade in the afternoons. Typically, the plant will grow to about twenty-four inches high with flowers forming on tall thin spikes. With a long blooming season -- from mid May through July -- the flowers are quite showy, coming in all sorts of colors, often in spectacular combination, including white, pink, yellow, deep purple, red and lavender. The leaves, too, are very attractive, producing a delicate, almost fern-like atmosphere in shady places. There are some dwarf varieties, too, like the one pictured here, with leaves staying close to the ground under multiple flower spikes reaching only about half a foot into the air. All varieties are quite adorable.

Easy to grow, Columbine returns from year to year for about five seasons, but also spreads by self-seeding. Plants that sprout from seeds bloom the second year. They will self-hybridize as well. In some areas, the plant is evergreen or semi-evergreen, but here, they die back in the winter only to return the next spring. They do well in containers, too. Butterflies, honeybees and hummingbirds love this plant. In fact, according to the USDA, Columbine is an important nectar source for hummingbirds.

Speedwell, also called Veronica, comes in many varieties. The one pictured stays very low to the ground, covering itself with a blanket of fairly long lasting tiny purple flowers in May. It's been blooming for a couple of weeks now. This patch receives an early dose of dappled morning sun, then a fair stretch of afternoon sun. Not all types of Speedwell are low growing. Some are tall with blue, pink or white flowers. Sometimes they show up in gardens and containers uninvited, but usually as a welcomed surprise. The low growing kinds can actually take a little foot traffic and thus are perfect for growing between pavers. They do well in rock gardens, too, but will enjoy a break from the intense afternoon summer sun.

Also in this photo is the lovely Sweet Woodruff which prefers much more shade than sun. This patch extends away from the sun, receiving only a short span of dappled morning light, then full shade for the rest of the day. Woodruff covers itself with a blanket of white flowers this time of year which lasts at least a couple weeks. But, even after the flowers fade, the plant's pleasant green leaves create a cool meadow feel for the rest of the summer.

This time of year is hit or miss with new growth on local hardwood trees. The late winter storms that swept over the Sierra this past week caused die-back on some trees like the sycamore pictured. The young leaves are now crisp and brown and crumbling. But the damage isn't long-term. This particular tree was also hit last year by the sudden frost in early June, but it completely re-foliated itself by mid-summer.

New growth on ash, maple, mulberry, oak and other trees is certainly vulnerable, especially if the trees are exposed to freezing winds, or in low-lying areas where freezing air settles. But there's usually no need to panic. If a tree is burned by frost and freezing temperatures, usually its dormant buds will come to the rescue. So don't attempt to remove the damaged leaves. They will fall to the ground by themselves and unless the tree is especially weak or diseased, new leaves will appear by summer. The tree might even come back with a vengeance, developing more leaves than usual to compensate for the shock.

Last year's late frost did reduce fruit tree and grape production in certain parts of the valley. Hopefully the timing of this past event won't be a repeat of last year.

Jupiter's Beard (Centranthus ruber), also called Red Valerian, is a carefree hardy perennial that blooms profusely this time of year. The beautiful magenta flowers are incredibly long lasting with tall stems suitable for cutting. In the garden, the flowers attract honey bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. In some parts of the world, this plant can be somewhat intrusive, but it's not much to worry about here in the high desert. Seedlings are easy to remove. Drought and heat tolerant, this is a good xeriscaping choice for dry areas that call for a field of color as Jupiter's Beard pretty much takes care of itself once established. It works well, too, as a single accent, as this photo suggests. It can also easily be grown in containers. If deadheaded, the plant will bloom pretty much the entire summer.

According to Wikipedia, both the roots and the leaves are edible.

Lilac (Syringa) is an upright deciduous shrub belonging to the Olive family (Oleaceae) and is grown for their beautiful, showy, highly fragrant flowers that bloom this time of year. Lilac is not indigenous to North America, but does very well in many parts of the United States, including the Truckee Meadows. This slow to medium growing shrub will reach twelve to fifteen feet at maturity. It loves full sun, but will take partial shade. The more sun, though, the better chance of a festival of blooms in May. Make sure the soil drains well.

To get more flowers, Lilac enthusiasts recommend snipping off the spent flower heads immediately after the flowers fade. This practice keeps the plant from producing seeds and promotes new flower growth for the next blooming season. The next year's buds develop just after the present blooms fade, so don't wait too long if you plan to prune, else you might inadvertently destroy next year's crop of flowers. Also avoid cutting old wood unless it has become completely unproductive as it takes about three years before flowers form on newer stems and shoots. If you need to shape the plant, try pruning old growth in yearly stages. This way the plant will bloom each year as its new shape takes form. Avoid severe pruning. If all old wood is removed, the plant will most likely survive; new shoots will emerge, but there won't be flowers for two or three years.

There are over twenty Lilac species with many more hybrids and cultivars. Flower colors include white, blue, magenta, pink, purple, violet, and of course, lilac.

The Sierra received some new snow this past weekend, as much as half a foot in the higher locations. The snow level from the storm was almost to the 2000 foot level with temperatures low enough to stick for awhile, at least on the western side of the Sierra crest. It was beautiful while falling and it covered the dirty snow banks along the roads and freeways, but people were not happy. The Tahoe leg of the Amgen Tour of California had to be canceled due to wet and icy road conditions and gardeners had to once again delay planting delicate annual flower and vegetable starts as well as protect what plants were already in the ground.

Earlier this month it was looking good. Before this late storm, snow on Peavine was all but gone. But it's back with more cool nights in the forecast, daytime temperatures barely to reach 70, and a chance of rain throughout this next week.

Here's the forecast for downtown Reno from the National Weather Service: Today: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Tonight: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then isolated showers between 8pm and 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Northwest wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. North wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Calm wind. Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Sunday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Sunday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Monday: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Monday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

With gardeners longing for warmer weather, at least the moisture is welcome.

One of the most significant oaks in Nevada is the Gambel Oak (Quercus gambelii). This slow growing shrub/tree is often seen growing in scattered fashion amongst the slopes and valleys of the Great Basin and Range. The species has an extensive range throughout Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. If left to themselves, Gambel Oak grow slowly in irregular shapes in thick groups, reaching a height of about fifteen feet in twenty years. In the wild, thickets expand by acorn seeds and root sprouts. The trees are long lived, easy to care for and remain small for many years. They enjoy regular, coarse soil, little fertilizer and regular light watering. The gracefully shaped leaves turn golden-brown to reddish-brown in autumn.

There are over one hundred different Manzanita (Arctostaphylos) species. California seems to be the Manzanita capital of the world, as there are at least sixty-nine varieties native to the state. Several types have naturalized in Nevada, including Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), Pointleaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens), Pringle Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pringlei), Greenleaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos patula), and Pinemat Manzanita (Arctostaphylos nevadensis).

The distinguising features of most Manzanita are their beautiful soft evergreen leaves, their amazing slick red bark, and their light pink flower clusters in late winter, early spring. The plant is incredibly drought tolerant and comes in a variety of shapes for different uses. The Manzanita featured in the photo is a bush type and a bit of a challenge to grow in the lower elevations (but who doesn't enjoy a challenge?), but perhaps the favorite for local xeriscaping projects is the Kinnikinnick. Also called Bearberry, Kinnikinnick is a low growing, creeping evergreen ground cover with beautiful deep green leaves and whitish pink flowers in the early spring.

The USDA characterizes Kinnikinnick as long-lived and very cold hardy. The plant requires little maintenance once established, but demands well drained, normally dry, course, sandy soils. It will grow in full sun, but also grows well under the broken shade of conifer trees. It's a very special plant, indeed. Drycreek has a limited supply of Kinnikinnick this spring.

The Desert Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) is a native wildflower in Nevada, Arizona, California and Utah. This rapid growing perennial subshrub has longlasting orange flowers on tall stems. The plant is heat, drought and even fire tolerant. It will grow well in a variety of soil types, including poor sandy and poor rocky.

Even though the Desert Globemallow isn't normally considered to be a typical nursery stock plant, leave it to Drycreek Garden Company to locate a small supply for those interested in xeriscaping with native and naturalized plants. They are great, also, for rock wildflower gardens. The nursery usually offers two or three varieties so gardeners have a choice between orange, pink or white flowers. The springtime blooming season is fairly long. If given space, the plant will grow into a nice round mound with an abundance of flower covered stems in the spring. This plant can be quite spectacular after a moist winter, so keep your eyes peeled.

One of the greatest experiences for desert tourists is to see native and naturalized cactus in bloom. Many cacti species produce flowers that rival even orchids in color and beauty. This Claret Cup Hedge Hog cactus has about a dozen flowers this year. They began opening this week. The Claret Cup flowers are surprisingly long lasting, staying open and crisp looking for close to two weeks. The cactus in the foreground of the photo is a different type of Hedge Hog and will have long trumpet-like pink flowers, probably in early June. The tiny hedge hog in the lower left corner of the photo will have bright pink trumpets in late June.

For many gardeners, especially those migrating to the desert from more verdant regions, the discovery of cactus growing is an exciting addition to the hobby. But, newcomers are often surprised and gravely disappointed to find that most cacti purchased from most big box gardening centers are not hardy for this area. For many hot house cacti, not only is the winter too severe, but even the summer sun can do major damage. Not so with hardy varieties. Drycreek is the best nursery in northern Nevada for finding cactus plants that can grow in our climate. All their cacti are winter hardy and the nursery has a fine selection this spring.

Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), also known as Antelope Bitterbrush and Buckbrush, joins Big Sage and Rabbitbrush as an essential species for the Great Basin desert. Many animals, both native and introduced, depend upon Bitterbrush for survival. The plant's range is vast, extending beyond Nevada to Arizona, California, Colorado Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and even to northern British Columbia. As with many blooming perennials this year, the local plants seem to have enjoyed this past winter's moisture. Many plants are completely loaded with flowers.

Drycreek tries to carry bitterbrush for those interested in xeriscaping with native and naturalized plants. The quantities are usually small and sell out fast. The nursery also carries a plant with similar features, the Cliff Rose. Both plants are very attractive, take very little care, accept poor sandy soil and are drought tolerant. They love full sun and will grow into a full sized shrub over a few seasons, typically three or four feet high. Bitterbrush is a good choice for controlling erosion on land that's been disturbed from recent construction.

In certain parts of the country, Photinia can be somewhat invasive, but not here. Easily controlled, Photinia works well in full sun for shaping into dense hedges for marking property lines, privacy screens, and to a lesser degree, wind breaks. Left to itself, without regular pruning, the plant will grow tall and wide, filling spaces with a more wild, free growing stance. This is a fast growing shrub, easily expanding a foot or more per season. They produce a more condensed growth in full sun. Regular pruning will help the shrub remain compact. In partial shade the branches will stretch out looking for sun.

Some gardeners grow Photinia in containers, whether as a bush or a small, single stemmed tree. The plant enjoys warmth, but also likes to be watered regularly. If over watered, though, they can develop leaf spots. This year the Photinia growing in the Truckee Meadows are vibrant, healthy with abundant new growth.

Word is, there have been some major trail improvements taking place in the Mt. Rose Wilderness lately. A special effort was launched in October, 2010, to add some twenty miles of new or improved trails. It's exciting because the Mt. Rose Wilderness is a true botanical wonder. Hopefully, good trails giving access will encourage respect. The effort includes attempts to curtail and even put to an end some of the more destructive traditions we humans have had with these mountains. Call it desert abuse. Mountain abuse. It's been around since at least the early twentieth century. Historically, the outskirts in all directions from downtown Reno were treated as dumping and shooting grounds. It has taken time for generational scars upon the landscape to fade. New scars appear. Older traditions of horse riding give way to pickups and Jeeps, and ever bigger machines. But there are, even in the Mt. Rose Wilderness, places simply too rugged for machines. Thus, traditions of humans and horses prevailed. Now the trail follows Hunter Creek past the falls all the way to Hunter Lake. The trailhead parking and traditional wilderness sign bring a new sense of US pride to the area, inciting feelings of love and protection toward one of the last genuine wild places so close to home. Mt. Rose Wilderness is Reno's backyard wild place that promises to renew the world, a place of superb beauty and rugged wild west splendor. From the Web site:

"The new trail system will be accessible through the Mt. Rose Summit Trailhead, U.S. Forest Service's Thomas Creek and White's Creek Trailheads, and Washoe County's Galena Creek Regional Park, Lower White's Creek and Lower Thomas Creek Trailheads. Ultimately, the trail system will be accessible from other Washoe County Trailheads, including the new Ballardini Trailhead, which is scheduled for completion in 2011."

It's time to plant and what a wonderful time it is. It's such a beautiful day for gardening. The morning light coming from the window wakes us to cool morning springtime air. It's such a draw to the out of doors. Hot coffee. Sierra morning light. Plants waiting to be planted. You can feel the day's warmth beginning. The unstable weather is exciting. May is that way.

These containers are on a backyard deck that receives excellent sun throughout the growing season. The larger pots are tomato and eggplant sized capacity for over twenty plants. The smaller containers in the background are pepper sized, enough for sixteen different type peppers. Tomatoes and peppers combine for a traditional recipe, tending enough plants to fulfill the famous Barbarella's Hot Pepper Salsa (12 out of fourteen peppers picked randomly, fresh off the plants. That combined with cilantro and any number of some twenty different tomato types, enough to temper the peppers and achieve the perfect hotness).

With new soil comes the question of water. Watering routines begin to be revived in May. Late autumn and over winter, watering had ceased, but now the warm winds are blowing and it's time to take an assessment of your garden's water needs. The air can turn hot and dry in May, so check the soil. It might be time to start a regulated watering schedule.

Garden vegetables to plant in May include beans, beets, brocolli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, collards, kale, leeks, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes, onions. Most herbs can be potted in May as well. Oh and don't forget to process and rededicate compost production.

Each year Drycreek offers great vegetables, and to elaborate on the list above, Drycreek supplies Reno backyard gardens with delicious Wala Wala Onion sets. There are at least fifty little onions in each set, ready to grow. One or two sets will insure great tasting onions all summer long, into autumn and winter. It's a great feeling to be able to offer home grown, freshly picked onions to the visiting summer chef. Definitely, growing your own food conjures up a feeling of being in place, where plants you tend give back nourishment, besides pure beauty, bringing us closer to ourselves where the place of the self becomes the garden.

Two columnar maples are new to the yard. They're young and slim and just now about 12 feet high. Adorable. Here come the leaves after the seeds have formed.

Wikihow.com claims that maple seeds are edible. They are in fact a treat whether cooked, raw or dried. These more desirable small seeds from young trees are more delicate, sweeter than larger seeds from older, more mature trees. The seeds need to be extracted from their helicopter shells. Taste them raw to see if they tend toward bitterness. If so, more preparation is needed.

It's difficult to have a favorite tree, but columnar maples are topping the list for trees that conserve land space. The small footprint, the narrow profile, the beautiful bark, beautiful leaves, spectacular color display in autumn -- all is combined into this amazing tree, the maple. Columnar or not, living amongst the maples is just a fun way to live.

In the late afternoon, lounging after the sun has left the side yard, it's like fishing, sitting peacefully in the shade, comfortable, quite, watching, waiting, wondering with thoughts to and from no place in particular, gazing at the two new columnar maple trees. New to Reno, these trees, so far braving the Reno weather, digging in quite well, their first spring in this final location. What better life than leisure to watch the trees grow?

Earlier this week the Weather Service predicted snow up to six inches tonight to fall in Lassen Park and along the western side of the Sierra backbone. This morning the report is predicting less snow, but low temperatures in Reno to drop to the freezing point. We gardeners on the eastern side might get the rain shadow advantage this time coming. We'll be lucky to get simply cool weather and if we're really really Nevada lucky, maybe we'll escape freezing temperatures with some rain late tonight into Monday. So far, the valley has weathered perfectly, the flowering fruit trees are blooming heavy as the month of May would have us expect. And today looks like a beautiful day. Happy Mother's Day!

This photo is a recent screen capture of the CALTRANS off-range Soda Springs traffic cam. In the higher elevations, at Lake level, Truckee level, but more so in the higher trails, lakes and passes, we can expect snow to be on the ground melting well into June, perhaps even to the 4th of July. Years of big snow fall help natural hydrological systems replenish and restart. From lakes to streams to systems of moisture circulation and conservation in trees and animals, good water years refreshes the mountains with a system-wide scrub.

But it might get cold. Tonight is one of those May frost watch days. If you have fragile, susceptible plants in the ground, it might do them good to cover or otherwise protect them for late Sunday night. Drycreek still has some Wall of Water sets and other types of protection available. It might be one of those better safe than sorry situations we have coming up.

Aubrieta, sometimes spelled 'Aubrietta,' also called Rock Cress and Alyssum deltoideum, is a hardy evergreen perennial with soft green foliage. This plant is prolific in providing long lasting springtime color. As a low growing ground cover, Aubrieta brings alpine and woodland fantasies to life in the desert. In full sun to partial shade, butterflies regularly flit to and fro touching thick patches of red, scarlet, violet, white, purple and blue. Once the flowers fade, to everyone's delight, the plants can be cut back to stimulate a second mid-summer display. Cutting back after blooming also encourages mounding and a dense production of its interesting foliage.

Aubrieta is a good choice for sunny, well-drained areas in rock gardens, borders and raised planters. Once established, offer light, but regular watering. If yellowing of the leaves occurs, simply cut back a bit on water. Certainly, if you're looking for color, Aubrieta has much to offer. With names like purple cascade and royal red, Aubrieta will fill your empty spaces with lasting color.

According to the National Public Gardens Day Web site, "National Public Gardens Day is an annual celebration of the nation's public gardens to raise awareness of the important role botanical gardens and arboreta play in promoting environmental stewardship, plant and water conservation, green spaces, and education in communities nationwide."

Pictured here is Reno's very own public garden, the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The May Arboretum is a living learning center for novice and professional gardeners and landscapers. Its location represents the unique challenges we face as gardeners

What can we learn from a stroll through our local public garden? We get to see the time-tested adaptation efforts of the experts using both native plants and plants able to adjust to a variety of arid to alpine microclimates. We get to see modern, efficient watering practices installed and working as models for backyard applications. By studying what the experts have tried, we can jot down landscaping ideas, general growing tips and gardening inspiration for our home designs. Springtime is always a productive and fun time to visit, but the May Arboretum offers itself as a living encyclopedia of seasonal advice throughout the year.

So, happy National Public Gardens Day! Find yourself soon at our local public garden. Why not today? Or this weekend? The weather is supposed to be perfect, good reason to take mom on a walk at the May Arboretum on Mothers Day. Then after that, drop by Drycreek Nursery to spot many of the very plants you will have seen in the Arboretum.

There are nearly three hundred species of Iris. Whether rhizome or bulb, this handsome, easy to grow hardy perennial signals the wonderful days of our typically short lived spring, the perfectly warm days of May and early June. Garden Party conversations speak of the incredible Sierra light articulated through word and image once by Ansel Adams and now by every handy digital camera. The party in the garden reflects that light, adding the experience of the sensational arrival of warmth. With grape vines and blueberry budding, the Iris unfolds and will do so now through the next few weeks. These and other awakening plants seen at dusk, dawn, and mid-day bind us to the feeling of Earth and life.

Yesterday and today are perfect spring. This week and hopefully the next four or so weeks. Perfect spring for planning the garden, for choosing suitable plants, and planting and watching the emerging garden and enjoying that. The earth under one's feet, the sky, the light, the warmth. The soil. The desire and ease of going outside again to be with the birds and the plants.

This group pictured has been living at this house for a decade. They were originally planted in a southern slope receiving full summer sun. They were fine there, but it was obvious they would better enjoy a western, northern or eastern exposure. So they were divided and replanted at the base of walls to the west and the north. Both groups take the pose each year at this time and make all the human onlookers happy.

But Iris in the process of blooming today, this spring, is the result of past planting and followed garden plans. If you have no Iris in your garden, be sure to plan to plant this coming fall. Think about your favorite colors because Iris means literally all colors. And here they come! The Iris tells us spring is here with all sorts of plants ready for planting right now, today. This week. Plants for blooming this summer, this year.

Heading to the nursery...

Geraniums and Pelargoniums are related. Palargoniums are the hardy type, usually called scented geraniums or storksbills. Even though there are biennial and perennial Geraniums, here in the high desert, Geraniums are often used as an annual for outdoor gardening. The family, Geraniaceae, which includes both Geraniums and Pelargoniums, make up over four hundred different species, most of which are indigenous to more temperate zones than what we have here in Nevada. With the hot summer sun, these beautiful plants with the fragrant leaves -- many of which are grown specifically for their scented oils -- seem to prefer more shade to sun without diminishing flower production. They do enjoy some cool morning sun. Flowers come in a variety of colors, including red, pink, blue, violet and pure white. They begin blooming in spring and continue all summer long.

To compensate for the winter chill that will kill many types of Geraniums, gardeners often grow them in containers that can be brought indoors once the cold weather threatens. They can also be planted in raised planter boxes and transplanted to pots as autumn arrives.

If planting outdoors, late May to early June is a good time, after the danger of frost has passed. Make sure your plants have well-draining soil. For the most part, Geraniums are care free. Just be sure to plant them high enough so that their stems are not buried. As the summer heat begins to bare down, don't let the roots dry out.

Worldwide, there are over one hundred and twenty different maple (Aceraceae) species. Indigenous to Asia, Africa, Europe, the United States and Canada, the maple is one of the most beautiful deciduous trees in the world. In fact, tourism with respect to maple trees is big business in areas of Japan, Korea, Canada and the United States. The trees offer perhaps the most spectacular display of autumn color of all deciduous trees. Their amazing color, their various shapes and sizes, their steady growth, as well as their tolerance of frigid winter temperatures helps the maple top the list of lasting favorites of gardeners, landscapers and bonsai enthusiasts. In the spring their early seed production signals the coming of warmer weather. Their distinct "key" or "helicopter" seeds invoke memories of childhood. Some species have silver-white trunks that catch light in such a dramatic way that they look as if illuminated from within.

The sap of the Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) is used commercially for the production of maple syrup, now considered one of the world's super foods. Its dense, extra fine-grained wood is used for making pool cues, bowling pins, guitar necks and fine furniture. It is also used for making high quality charcoal for smoking various meats and fish.

This maple (pictured) lives at the The Wilbur May Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Reno. This week marks the Arboretum's 25th Anniversary (May 6th, 2011). If you haven't toured the Arboretum, it's a wonderful place to find some peace and quiet for an hour or two, and a good place to view trees and other plants that can be grown in our region.

Springtime is when you'll see the beautiful Pasque Flower in bloom. Due to the timing and perhaps the color of its blooms, the Pasque Flower is sometimes called the Easter Flower. The name, pasque, means Easter, perhaps due to the timing and color of its flower. They are also sometimes referred to as campana, which might refer to way the flower resembles a church bell. Other common names include the Meadow Anemone, the Prairie Crocus and the Wind Flower. This cold hardy, low growing deciduous perennial is a native wildflower to the United States and Canada and can be seen in the wild growing in meadows and prairies and on southern alpine slopes of mountains from the Sierra to the Alaskan tundra.

As a welcome sign of spring, every party of this plant is interesting. The leaves are feathery, the nodding flowers come in bright purple, white, pink, lavender and deep maroon. The seed heads resemble the strange plumed heads of exotic birds.

The plant is drought tolerant, perfect for xeriscaping and rock gardens preferring a well drained, sandy or normal soil with southern or western exposure. At present, Drycreek has Pasque Flowers in four inch pots with flower stems ready to bloom.

Apparently the Pasque Flower was used extensively by Native American cultures for centuries, but takes skill and knowledge on how to utilize its powerful medicinal properties. For those without such Shamanistic abilities, the plant should be considered toxic, so don't eat it. It is also the state flower of South Dakota.

Speaking of trees, Arbor day is an old national tradition, dating back to 1872. The celebration was started by J. Sterling Morton to remind Americans and all citizens of this planet the importance of trees in our lives, the relationship trees have to our health and to our sense of beauty and our peace of mind. The day is celebrated each year on the last Friday in April. Arbor day as a reminder is always important, but perhaps more important now than ever as our planet's forests are disappearing at an incredible rate. The World Resources Institute gathers statistics on deforestation. Research indicates that about eighty percent of the earth's old growth forests have already been consumed. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the rate of forest destruction has slowed somewhat during the first decade of the 21st century, but we are still losing forests the size of Panama (7.3 million hectares) each year.

This year, trees and forests are not only being celebrated on a single Friday in April, but the United Nations has designated the entire year as the International Year of Forests! The effort is needed to bring to the attention of intelligent and responsive humans everywhere the dire need for a more sustainable response to the forests that remain. In conjunction with the UN, this year the US Forest Service has its own upbeat awareness compaign called "Celebrate Forests. Celebrate Life." Certainly, with only twenty percent of the earth's old growth, self-sustaining forests remaining, may this year help us to visualize, promote and implement policies and practices that might reverse this drastic, tragic history. So to this: Happy Arbor Day! And, if you forgot to plant a tree, it's not too late! May the International Year of Forests be a wake up call for all of those who have the means to respond.

Check out photographs of ancient Oak, Spruce and Ash trees in Europe's last ancient forest, Poland's Bialowieza Primeval Forest. The forest is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site of some 380,000 acres, one of the largest remaining old growth forests in all of Europe. The forest is threatened by global climate change and local resistance to protective park expansion that might ensure the forest's self-sustaining abilities.

John Strickland at Drycreek has a peculiar interest among his many horticultural interests: miniature trees. When you see his collection, you can see why. Each year he searches for true miniature and dwarf deciduous and conifer trees that would make any electric train enthusiast drool with delight. These trees are perfect for train hobbyists who have always dreamed of building a backyard railroad that wanders through a true to scale living world, something that brings out the kid in all of us. These trees are also perfect for those who like to create bonsai landscapes, miniature rock gardens, miniature parks and tree lined streets in tiny towns, and miniature hobbit forests whether in ground or in container. These little trees can be used, too, for creating small terrarium landscapes and are a wonderful way to get children interested in trees and gardening. The little landscapes change with the season and gardeners can decorate according to holidays and celebrations.

Some of the miniatures you might see coming and going through John's yearly collection are Boxwood, Cedar, Cotoneaster, Cypress, Golden Barberry, Hemlock, Juniper, Maple, Norway Spruce, White Spruce and many others. Drycreek also carries some beautiful containers for your hobby as well as miniature stones and ornaments. If you need tips on how to grow tiny trees, just ask John.

Oh, and Happy Arbor Day!

Sometimes called Beaked Yucca, Big Bend Yucca, Silver Yucca and Nordstrum's Yucca, Rostrata is a hardy evergreen, trunk-growing tree-like yucca that will take the dryness, the heat, the winter, the rocky soil and the occasional summer downpour. They establish themselves quickly and look spectacular reflecting light from the desert sun. Over its life span, the Rostrata can reach fifteen feet with multiple three foot wide, silver-green heads. The dead leaves remain on the plant, sheltering the trunk as it grows. The clustered white flowers, too, are stunning, emerging in late spring and early summer, reaching up to the sky on tall stems.

Rostrata roots very easily. Water regularly until established. This will help the plant extend roots deep enough to help it resist strong winds. Once established, watering should be very light. Feed the plant with an organic general purpose fertilizer in the spring.

This plant was utilized extensively by native cultures; the flowers for food, the spines for many uses including baskets, clothing and soap. The flower pedals are said to be quite tasty if harvested at the right time and great in salads. The fruit, if allowed to mature, can be used to make soups and other interesting dishes.

This spring Drycreek has a new crop of Rostrata in several sizes, as well as many other types of hardy Yucca.

The National Weather Service in Reno predicts cold temperatures with a chance of snow in the valleys tonight. Downtown Reno will dip to the freezing point while higher areas of the city like Somerset, Caughlin Ranch, Arrowcreek, Galena Forest Estates and Montreaux might see temperatures in the high 20s. Gardeners who have braved the odds with warm weather plantings should be wary.

Drycreek has in stock Gardeneer's Season Starter Early Season Plant Protectors for situations just like the one we now face. The plant protectors will safeguard plants like tomato starts, eggplant, squash, pepper starts, cucumbers, melons, herbs and other annuals, shielding them from damage. The Wall of Water type protectors will protect plants down to 16 degrees Fahrenheit. Made in the USA, these reusable protectors shelter your young plants from wind and frost that would otherwise damage and even destroy them.

Using plant protectors in our area can add several weeks to the growing season. Some gardeners set them up in March to extend the season for vegetables by six to eight weeks. With the Wall of Water insulator, the sun heats the water surrounding the plant during the day which provides a more favorable growing environment during the colder days of spring. At night, the heat collected during the day slowly releases from the wall, protecting the plant as the outside temperature drops.

Another way to extend the growing season is to build a cold frame. If you have or if your neighbor is getting rid of some old windows, utilize them for this DIY project. Measure the window, then build a box with 2 x 6 or 2 x 8 pieces that will sit under the window. It's easy. If you are even more dedicated to extending the growing season, Drycreek also sells very fancy, high quality backyard greenhouses.

A recent study conducted by researchers at Florida State University and published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (The FASEB Journal. 2011;25:971.10) gives credence to what we've always been told about apples: eating them is good for our health. Luckily, apple trees are probably the easiest fruit tree to grow here in the high desert and the most productive. It's important that the variety match the climate, which means finding trees with a high chill requirement. It is also imperative that the trees be planted in a good location, in full sun, protected from fierce winds. And, because of the tendency for late springtime frost, a protected eastern or northeastern location can help postpone springtime budding by several weeks. For example, the tree pictured here lives in an eastern facing back yard in the old southwest section of Reno and is protected by homes on the south and west and is only just now beginning to bud. Certainly, finding the best microclimate for your fruit trees can make all the difference with production.

Other fruit trees that do well in our climate are apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches and plums. Again, it's important to choose varieties that are compatible with our region. Talk to the experts at Drycreek. The nursery specializes in plants that thrive in our crazy climate.

Several varieties of green, gold, blue and variegated hostas do very well in shade to partial shade here in the high desert. Our bright skies offer more light than other locations, so hostas will tolerate more shade here. They do enjoy some morning sun, but their foliage can burn from the typical desert summer afternoon scorch. Properly placed, hostas offer a lush sense of coolness. Their wide leaves help produce that hideaway feeling of a retreat or desert oasis. There are some dwarf varieties you can place in areas where there is little space and the larger varieties work well as border plants, or as weed controlling ground covers. They also do well in containers.

This time of year, it's always exciting to discover your hosta's leaves beginning to emerge from the soil. The foliage is usually more interesting and eye catching than the flowers, although some of the flowers, too, are worthy of attention. In early spring, keep an eye on their emerging stems. If a late frost is predicted, you might want to cover their eyes with mulch.

Spring is a good time to divide and plant your hostas. They need regular watering, especially as they become established, but a moist medium is their preference, although they don't like to sit in soggy soil. Once established, hostas take very little care, except that they need regular water. A good organic fertilizer applied a few times during the growing season will make them happy and keep them healthy. Mulching the ground around their stems and under their leaves will help keep them cool and comfortable during the hottest part of the year. They usually flower in mid-summer. Once the flowers fade, you can cut the stem so the plant can dedicate its energy and nutrients to its leaves rather than to the production of seeds.

Hostas are a great addition to shady areas of the garden. Easy to grow, wonderful to behold, hostas are such a beloved garden plant that there is even an International Hosta Society dedicated to them.

Gardeners new to the area are often surprised to find primroses flourishing in the hot and dry conditions of the high desert. Many Primula enthusiasts believe that our summers are simply too hot and too dry, but there are varieties that grow well here. The trick is to find the plants most suited to the region and then to find or create a microclimate that satisfies their needs. It's not a difficult task. The primula pictured here grows well with several other types in a loamy, meadow-like bed that receives mid-morning sunlight, and regular water. The bed happens to be just under the hanger for the garden hose which inevitably drips after each use. The daily moisture coupled with the afternoon shade helps maintain the proper level of moisture for the roots of these little wonders.

Definitely, Primroses enjoy a moist environment. Some do particularly well in bog-like areas near ponds and streams. Others do well in afternoon shaded rock gardens rich in loamy soil that stays moist but not soggy. In areas that become consistently and naturally dry, drip lines can be added that water generously on a regular basis. Prepare the soil with ample amounts of compost. Use material that will soak up and retain the much needed water. Add organic chicken manure each year. You can also grow Primula in containers. We recommend glazed containers because they help retain moisture better than unglazed terra cotta.

Be wary of transplanting the grocery store varieties of Primula. They are almost always green house hybrids and usually take quite a shock when transplanted to the outdoors. If you are interested in growing Primula in the high desert, talk to John and Nancy at Drycreek.

Kinnikinick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), also called Pinemat Manzanita, Bearberry, Mealberry, Hog Cranberry and Sandberry is a beautiful low-growing evergreen shrub which grows well in sandy or rocky soil. In the spring, established plants send forth delicate light pink, bell-like flower clusters. The flowers and fruit attract local song birds.

This slow growing ground cover helps with erosion control on areas that have been disturbed by construction and clearing. It forms a beautiful dense, slowly spreading cover usually about a half foot high. A mature plant can cover as much as 10 feet in diameter. The leaves are a beautiful deep waxy green. The plant will cascade over rock walls and take some partial shade, especially in the hottest part of the day.

Drycreek recently received a shipment of Kinnikinick in one gallon containers which make it easier to transplant and establish. These plants are disease resistant and tend to flower and fruit well in our area. Once established, Kinnikinick requires very little maintenance. Feed it a good, balanced fertilizer in the spring for faster growth.

The Museum of Paleontology at the University of California confirms what we high desert dwellers already feel in our bones, especially in winter and early spring: the Great Basin desert is different than most deserts in that the Great Basin desert exists at a much higher altitude than the "hot and dry" deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. The Great Basin is thus considered to be a semiarid, nearctic "cold desert" with limited snow and rainfall caused by the wall of mountains we call the Sierra Nevada. Each winter the Sierra gathers most of the moisture coming from the Pacific causing the famous "rain shadow" that keeps the eastern lee side of the mountains so much drier.

It seems this rain shadow makes all the difference. The plants, the animals and insects have evolved to match the lower levels of moisture held back by the high mountains. Even the people have adapted. You can see it in how gardeners here react to a spring rain. On the coastline of northern California, gardeners long for and rejoice at the arrival of sunny days in the spring, hoping that the sun will warm and dry the soggy ground enough to sprout the seeds and energize the stock. Gardeners here long for and rejoice at the arrival of clouds with drenching rain to soak the soil enough to sprout the seeds and give drip lines, watering cans and garden hoses a day off.

This week we have a forecast of chance of rain and this morning rain is actually making it to the ground. What a perfect time to turn the soil, scatter the wildflower seed mixes and initiate springtime planting. It's so rare that we find this chance to actually get our heads wet! Even if the rain is only symbolic, it still makes us feel good, psychologically replenished. Of course, we can't forget that we're in the desert, that our lives are intertwined with this ancient xeriscape. We know it's the subsequent dryness that we can actually rely upon. And as this photo of hardy alyssum shows, the rain we received overnight didn't really soak the ground.

Adding trees to the neighborhood has multiple benefits. Trees help filter urban pollution, they provide much coveted shade for those hot sun downer days of summer, they provide vertical visual interest, they provide protection from the wind. Plus, humans just tend to enjoy having trees around. Maybe it's the psychological pleasure derived from the texture and color, or perhaps for people in the desert, it's the oasis feeling they promote. The notion of 'sacred groves' is ancient and there are even studies that show how trees help us heal both emotional and physical wounds. Certainly it's a fact that people love trees. Certain trees, like the mighty Sequoias and the coastal Redwoods take on so much meaning that people even put their lives on the line to save them.

To memorialize the planting of trees can help create memories that unite people and place for a life time and even for generations. The ritual brings to life the otherwise metaphorical notion of putting down roots. They become, literally, the trees of life, the trees of our lives. We often hear statements like "My grandmother planted that tree" or "My father and I planted that tree." In this way, trees become part of the family.

An advantage to planting trees in one's own yard rather than in a public place is that you can tend to and protect the tree more easily. It isn't a selfish act, since the tree will be well cared for and as it grows your neighbors will begin to reap the visual and environmental benefits as well. Of course, if you love your neighbors, this is a good day to invite them over to help plant the tree, or at least to mix the cocktails while the gardeners plant the trees.

One of the tricks to planting trees for Earth Day -- whether deciduous trees like maples, fruit trees or conifers -- is to make sure the trees you plant are weather hardy for our harsh high desert climates. Find a place in your yard where the tree can grow without competition. Happy Earth Day!

Desert Peach (Prunus andersonii) is good choice for local xeric landscaping as it is a desert indigenous perennial for eastern California and western and central Nevada as far east as Eureka and Nye counties, and therefore completely adjusted to our climate. This slow growing deciduous perennial shrub belongs to the rose family and is actually related to the peach, cherry and almond trees we use as food producers. Although Native American populations considered the plant as medicinal, they also utilized the fruit as food and the twigs and leaves as tea, but for gardening and landscaping purposes, the plant is now mostly considered an ornamental.

Also called the Wild Almond, this lovely plant enjoys the full intensity of the desert sun. According to the United States Forest Service, the plant is "morphologically and physiologically adapted to drought conditions," which means it will accept low to moderate amounts of moisture to stay happy and healthy. The USDA also notes that the Desert Peach is a good choice for revegetation on disturbed land within its historical range. This makes the Desert Peach a good choice for rehabilitating local home sites that were cleared during construction.

Drycreek now has Desert Peach in stock in one gallon containers, making it easy to transplant. The plants have flower buds emerging for this year's springtime bloom. The wide flowers attract honeybees for pollination.

Gardeners find huge disappointments when buying cacti from the local big box gardening stores because most of the cacti sold there are green house varieties that can't take our weather. People are shocked and saddened when the cactus shrivel and die at the first hint of frost. Not so at Drycreek Garden Company. All of Drycreek's cactus plants are cold hardy varieties.

This spring, John Strickland, the co-owner of Drycreek, took a special road trip to a cactus specialist who grows cold hardy cacti in Colorado. Wearing a good pair of leather gardening gloves, John hand picked this year's selection, making sure the nursery would have the best selection possible for northern Nevada gardeners. In stock right now are at least ten exciting cold hardy varieties.

Gardeners either love cactus or they hate them, but if they love them, they love them a lot. Besides the interesting flesh, the flowers tend to be over-the-top spectacular, from the bright red, long lasting Claret Cup, to the hot pink, lemon yellow and salmon colored Beaver Tail, to the deep purple and magenta Cholla.

All of the cactus John collected this spring are perfect for rock gardens and other xeric uses. They love full sun, take little water and sit there looking pretty simply left alone. They also grow well in containers. Each year, since many of the flowers, once ready, open so quickly, it's fun to set up a tripod for some armature time lapse photography.

Pansies and other cold hardy annuals provide instant color. If you have yet to plan your springtime garden, hybrid pansies, pansy violets and other types of Violas are good choices for early color. These plants can take the late spring cold nights, they are easy to plant, easy to grow. They will produce flowers in early spring and continue all summer long. Pansies are usually considered to be cold weather annuals, and they should probably be planted as such, although they can last much longer than you might expect, and some varieties will self-seed.

The plants are non-spreading and low growing, so they are great for your garden edges. They do very well in containers, too, for both early and late season color. This time of year, it's fun to plant pansies in pots around the garden for hiding Easter eggs. And speaking of youngsters, pansies are an excellent choice for teaching children about gardening. Besides their ease of care, they often have happy cartoon faces.

Another advantage to having pansies in the garden is that if you grow them without pesticides and other poisons, their flowers are editable and do wonders for summer salads.

There are many reasons that contribute to plant die back. Sometimes the plant is severely attacked by insect pests, bacteria or fungi. Sometimes plants are injured by trampling, over crowding, over watering, under watering, over grazing or even salts or chemical spills. The remedies for such causes vary and might take some time to see results, but perhaps more often die back results are not as drastic and the solutions are quite simple.

For example, a particularly harsh winter, a misplaced drip line or a neglected watering schedule might cause an otherwise healthy and happy perennial to partially die back. It's unfortunate, but it does happen, especially in a harsh environment such as the high desert where growing conditions are not always what we might expect or hope for. In such cases, it is probably better to think of the plant's condition as a mere set back rather than a more drastic die back.

In a case like the one pictured here, the set back results are such that the plant's life isn't actually threatened. In fact, the plant is very healthy and ready for and responding to the coming growing season. But as it sits (in the 'Before' photo), the plant obviously needs a little beautification, an easy task. All that is needed is a little brushing away of the dead debris and voila! The signs of its set back are no longer visible, the plant is beautiful once again and visitors will not even know the set back occurred.

Sometimes eliminating the signs of die back take clippers or other pruning tools, but it's a task that has its rewards in a garden that looks healthier, happier and well tended.

It's also important to find the reason for your plant's distress since not all causes will just go away on their own. If you find signs of disease or insect attack, definitely visit the nursery and talk to the experts.

We've all seen it, especially after a particularly windy trash pickup day: plastic grocery bags caught high in the trees. Such a sight. Such an obnoxious nuisance. Gardeners love their trees, and in the high desert they are important for shade and peace of mind, so it's particularly disconcerting when they inadvertently snag the neighbor's trash. To be sure, trash caught in trees is an embarrassing and annoying eyesore and one that can be particularly difficult to remove. Sometimes the bags are caught so high and so inextricably that all you can do is be glad that the tree stopped the plastic from choking local water fowl. One can hope that as the leaves fill in, the bag will become hidden by the foliage. If the trash isn't too high, a long pole and a step ladder might do the trick. There are even "bag snagger" tools available that can extend reach as far as forty feet, but these tools can be quite expensive, especially since, for most of us, tree trash is only an occasional occurrence. If the trash isn't too high, tree pruning tools can be used.

Online forum suggestions include slingshots, throwing shoes and tennis balls, but you have to watch out for the neighbor's windows. Other suggestions include scaring a cat into the tree so that when the fire department arrives, you can suggest they remove the trash as well. Out of complete frustration, still others suggest reconfiguring attitudes to consider the trash a work of post-modern art, flags flying high, proclaiming the meaning of who we are as a culture. With pretense, then, when the leaves are gone and the trash is flying, we can think of it as "winter interest," especially if more than one, hopefully multicolored bags are snagged. But it's difficult to be proud when the ugliness of the trash rather than the beauty of the tree is what catches the attention. In the end, perhaps the bags will finally, over time, disintegrate from the sun and wind...

Needless to say, tree trash gives good reason to stop using plastic bags in markets and super stores all together. There are efforts to get plastic bags banned in certain locales, but probably the best solution is to simply take it upon ourselves to change our consumer habits with the use of eco-friendly canvas bags. Our trees will be more beautiful and our neighbors thankful.

Locally, the Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), also called the Long-crested Jay, the Mountain Jay, and the Pine Jay is related to the Crow and Magpie and is usually associated locally with the higher conifer forests of the Sierra, but on occasion they do visit the lower desert valleys. In fact, it's not uncommon to see the Steller's Jay anywhere, from the Truckee Meadows to the summit of Mt. Rose.

This photo was snapped this week while three birds visited a backyard orchard of apple and pear trees in the old southwest section of Reno. You can see its crested top (the only crested jay this side of the Rockies) and cobalt blue body feathers. It's such a pretty bird, even if it is a bit noisy and aggressive toward other birds.

It's good to offer water in your garden for Blue Jays and other wild song birds. This jay, for example, will eat insect pests. Of course, it will nibble on nuts, seeds, apples, pears, grapes and other fruit, too, so be sure to grow enough to make everyone happy.

The Steller's Jay builds its nest usually mid way up the tall pine and other conifer trees. The nest is open, bowl-like, made of forest debris including twigs and pine needles. The clutch usually consists of three to five eggs.

Each week, Nancy Strickland, co-owner of Drycreek, has been chatting briefly about gardening with DJ Dead Air Dave on the local radio station, The X (100.1 on your FM dial). You can listen to her gardening tips from the home page of this Web site. This week Nancy tells how local gardeners can be sure it's the right time to prune their rose bushes.

To condense Nancy's advice on pruning:

"A lot of people say tax day, but we say it's time to prune your roses when the forsythia bloom. Because we have so many climates up and down the mountain here, if your forsythias are blooming in your neighborhood, it's time to prune your roses. But if the forsythias are not blooming, then wait."

If you grow roses, what better excuse is there for finding a nice sunny spot for a forsythia bush? Not only will it add springtime color to your yard; it will also alert you and all the rose lovers in your neighborhood it's time to prune the roses. This is an example of Green Philosophy. As Nancy said, "Plants give us lots of things, they feed us, they give us piece of mind and shade...plants will tell you things...you need to listen!"

There's a pretty good article about how to prune roses at the University of Illinois Extension Web site called Our Rose Garden. As you will see, the horticulturists at the University of Illinois agree with Nancy about the forsythia.

If you love maple trees -- and who doesn't? -- and you want brilliant autumn color in a narrow space, the Bowhall Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is a good choice. This rapid growing deciduous tree will reach 45 feet high with a typical spread of 15 to 20 feet. Native to North America, this wonderful tree grows into a well-formed columnar shape which makes it a good choice for street side plantings and other narrow spaces. It tolerates urban pollution and is hardy to -25 degrees. The Bowhall transplants easily when young and accepts a variety of soil types, from sand to clay. It will tolerate intermittent drought and also takes well to occasional flooding. It prefers full sun, but will accept a little shade. Resistant to deer, disease, and desert headwinds, the Bowhall is a good sport all around.

The tree sends out small red flowers (pictured) in April and May, then covers itself with the recognizable dark green, triangular 3 inch wide, 5 pointed leaves in summer. In early autumn, the tree makes a complete spectacle of itself with leaves turning usually from green to yellow-green to yellow, then to yellow-orange and then to bright red. Its tendency toward flashy exhibitionism can fluctuate in intensity from year to year depending on the weather and other subtle conditions, but even its less spectacular years are noteworthy. Stems and trunk are a dreamy silver gray.

Providing shade, stunning color and eye-catching vertical accent to almost any landscape, the Bowhall Maple is a tree to hug and fall in love with.

If you have areas in your garden that stay somewhat damp from shade, consider the area a prime location for this fancy perennial. In the high desert, Jacob's Ladder, also called Greek valerian and apparently named after the ancient Greek philosopher, Polemon (Polemonium caeruleum), does very well in partial to full shade. Their tall stems of blue, lavender or white flowers will bloom and brighten spaces that would otherwise remain without color. It enjoys a dose of cool morning sun, but definitely prefers to escape a south facing, afternoon bake. The foliage will scorch if it gets too much sun.

Depending upon its particular microclimate, flowers may appear in late spring, but usually early to mid-summer. The plant pictured here gets very little direct sun. Year after year it returns in the spring, first with its ladder-like leaves (as shown in this recent photograph), later in mid-summer sending up its two foot tall stems of colorful showy flowers. The flowers attract butterflies and honeybees. Some gardeners claim it to be deer-proof.

The trick to helping this plant flourish in high desert shade is not to let its roots dry out. The soil needs to be well drained, but consistently moist.

Jacob's Ladder was once considered to be a powerful medicinal companion. According to Wikipedia, in the past, from as far back as the ancient Greeks, the plant was used as a pain killer and was thought to be a potent healer. In more recent times, it was even used to treat syphilis and rabies, but such prescriptions probably didn't work out too well.

According to the experts, there are hardly any naturally occurring honeybee colonies left in the wild. Now almost all colonies are maintained by beekeepers, but even these are threatened. The consensus seems to be that the honeybee is under attack by deadly viruses, the source of which is not completely understood. But the bees have no built in defense to this new threat, so humans need to do all we can to help them survive.

What can we gardeners do? We can stop using pesticides and purchase foods that have not been grown with the use of pesticides! We can plan our gardens and landscapes with plants that attract honeybees. Bees love flowers, so to encourage the bees, make sure you plant a variety of flowering plants that will ensure blooming all season long. Fruit trees are a good source of nectar and pollen for spring. Vegetables, herbs, hollyhocks, foxgloves and all types of sunflowers will keep the bees happy through mid to late summer. Plan for autumn blooming plants like Asters and Chrysanthemums. Drycreek also offers desert wildflower seed mixes.

Other helpful tips: Take up beekeeping. Or at least buy local honey. Its fresher and the purchase supports the local economy. Even in Nevada, there is local honey being produced and sold at market. And if you find a swarm of bees in your yard, don't panic. Don't squirt them with water or spray them with pesticides! Even though it might look like a horror film in the making, swarming bees are relatively passive and not likely to sting, unless you act like a fool. Instead, contact a local beekeeper and swarm collector.

The Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) pictured here lives in the old southwest section of Reno. It's been in the ground for several years, but has been severely cut back numerous times to keep it small and beautiful. This Euphorbia is a flowering evergreen perennial, although if the winter is especially tough, the heavy snow can deform the stems. But no worry, since the root system is cold hardy, if the plant turns ugly or in any way unruly, all that needs to be done is to cut it back. Soon, the plant will send out new, beautiful, relatively fast growing stems and leaves for the next season. The flowers are strange, wonderful and long lasting. See a closeup of its flowers here.

The cold hardy Euphorbias for our area tend to be drought resistant, but they do enjoy regular watering. Make sure to plant them in well drained soil as they don't like to sit in water or ice.

Drycreek carries several varieties of Euphorbia, good for xeric landscaping, rock gardens and regular gardening, including the popular Donkey Tail, the Martini, the Myrsinites, the Purpurea and the Rigida which is a large version of the Donkey Tail.

The Drycreek Web site has a page dedicated to the Euphorbia.

The California or Valley Quail (Callipepla californica) are out and about, always a welcomed sight in spring. Very soon the roving coveys will include a line of chicks.

Quail are a common sight, often seen even in the downtown neighborhoods of Reno, Sparks and Carson City, although, since they are ground dwellers, they are vulnerable to fast moving autos, garden poisons and prowling house cats.

A signature pastime for Quail is the dust bath. The covey searches out a nice sunny spot of bare dirt where they belly down, twitch, wiggle, flap their wings and fluff their feathers. It's quite a sight to see. Giving Quail a space for this ritual is just one more reason not to have traditional grass lawns in the desert. Provide some shrubby landscaping and a nice sunny patch of soft bare dirt and you just might get them to visit.

According to Desert USA, the origin of the latin name, Callipepla, means "beautiful robe" which is certainly the case with our Valley Quail. We are lucky to have them as our neighbors.

Everyone knows springtime bulbs are great for mass plantings in beds and borders, but they work great in less conventional areas of your garden as well. Perhaps you don't associate tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and other flowering bulbs with rock gardens, but in the high desert, you get to see these springtime flowers poking their leaves and flower stems up between the rocks of xeric gardens quite often. And they look great.

If you have not thought of this, plan for next spring by planting springtime bulbs in the crevices between the rocks of your rock garden about six inches deep. Give them full sun and well drained soil. The rocks will act as a ground cover over the winter, giving the bulbs their needed moisture.

Once the flowers are spent and the leaves begin to brown, you can cut them back to the ground and fill the space by planting some shallow rooted sedum above the deeper bulbs.

If you haven't tried this before, write it as a plan for your fall gardening projects.

It's exciting to see that this beautiful Claret Cup Hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus) has more than a dozen buds emerging this spring. The long lasting, rich scarlet flowers will reach up from the spines, creating an incredible splash of color, usually in late April, lasting well into May and sometimes into June. The bright red flower is a major attraction for local hummingbirds. In fact, hummingbirds are its primary pollinator.

This plant will grow about six inches high, widening into ever greater clusters. It loves to wedge itself between rocks that catch the occasional desert rain. A cluster of five stems is usually considered to be mature, although old growth plants in the wild can have hundreds of stems in a single cluster.

Native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, the Claret Cup is easy to grow. Just be sure to give it a well drained space with lots of sun, although, studies of the plant indicate it can take some afternoon shade. The plant pictured receives splintered afternoon shade from its neighboring red yucca.

This is truly an outstanding cactus. With a good pair of leather gloves, you can divide the stems for propagation. Each year Drycreek offers a nice variety of hardy cacti, including the Claret Cup.

Yarrow is extremely easy to grow and will tolerate a variety of soil textures. Good for xeric landscaping, yarrow takes little water once established with a medium high tolerance to temporary drought conditions. All varieties like full sun and will withstand cold temperatures well below what is experienced in the basin and range environments. Soil conditions can vary, just be sure to provide a well drained space.

There are many types of yarrow, including dwarf types. The one pictured here produces yellow topped flowers on tall stems that are good for cutting and drying. Butterflies and honeybees love this plant. Other colors include white, pink, deep pink and crimson red. The foliage tends to be more fragrant than the flowers.

Yarrow works well as a ground cover in xeric landscaping and in rock gardens. The plants can be divided for propagation and will naturalize if helped along. They do very well in containers, too. Harvest the dried flower stems in late autumn for consulting the I Ching. You can leave the stems standing for catching the snow in deep winter.

Local early spring flowers include Phlox. Phlox longifolia is a native Nevada wildflower which can be found growing in the high desert as well as the High Sierra.. One of over sixty species, this low growing ground cover adorns itself with an eye catching splash of springtime color. The small flowers come in several colors, including bright red, pure white, sky blue, hot pink and lavender. There are even variegated varieties. If you mix them in mass, this time of year will bring abundant color to your garden.

The plants are basically care free. Give them full sun and well drained soil and they will return year after year. In late spring, after the blooms have faded, you can cut back the foliage. This will promote a thicker patch of green for the summer. At this time, too, you can divide the plants for a wider distribution.

A good choice for xeric landscaping, Phlox does very well in rock gardens and on south facing slopes. This plant also attracts butterflies and honeybees.

The photo shows a full bloom in progress with this nectarine tree. It will be interesting how things fare with the snow and cold temperatures predicted for Wednesday and Thursday.

There are some practical ways to provide added protection, especially for dwarf fruit trees such as the tree pictured here, and other vulnerable plants. Drycreek sells several sizes of Harvest Guard Protective Yard and Garden Covers. These sturdy covers can be used to create a tent over the trees. If the nightly lows are especially cold, you can also place plastic bottles of warm water on the ground under the trees to help warm the air inside the plastic tent. Wind is predicted, too, so you can weigh down the covers with the water bottles. Be sure to unwrap the trees during the day so the buds don't get too hot.

Drycreek also offers Harvest Guard plant protectors for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons and other plants. With the unpredictable weather we get in April and even May, it's a good idea to have something handy for those sudden cold nights.

Each year in spring, it seems both the Golden-crowned Kinglet and the Lesser Goldfinch make it a habit of collecting the hairy filaments off the leaves of several types of hardy yucca. We think the bird pictured here is a Dark-backed Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria), the smallest of the Carduelis species. This beautiful American seed eating songbird is common in the Sierra and is often seen in Reno backyards. They often gather in small groups around bird feeders and baths.

Interestingly, in 2009 UC Berkeley published a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences about the effects of climate change on the birds of the Sierra Nevada. The study found that 48 out of 53 bird species studied actually migrated, following or "tracking" the climate the birds preferred. The study goes on to say the birds that didn't relocate, such as the Western Scrub-Jay, were ones able to live amongst the humans.

Early to rise out of the cold hard earth, this sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile - formerly called Sedum spectabile) will grow to about 15 inches, producing a crown of abundant purplish pink flowers for autumn color. The flowers can be left to dry on their stems for winter interest, then the entire plant cut to the ground to allow for its reemergence in early spring.

Trouble free for years and years, this plant, like most sedum, is very easy to grow. Our climate is perfect since it thrives in heat and sun, little water and average to poor soil. Just make sure its roots don't sit in water. It's easy to propagate, too. Occasionally it will reproduce itself by seed, but you can easily divide the clumps or simply break off stems and replant them. Usually the stems will root themselves before long.

Many sedum are grown for their leaves more than their flowers, but this sedum has beautiful, showy flowers that open and mature in the fall. In mid-summer the plant will begin to develop a crown of flower buds, emerging first as the same color as the foliage, but they will eventually open and change to their crimson pink. Such a delight!

Hummingbirds, honeybees and butterflies are attracted to this plant. A good choice for many of your xeric landscaping needs, gardeners often use them as border plants, but they are also well suited as a specimen plant for ornamental accent in rock and cacti gardens, and as a potted plant.

For much of the year, this petite ornamental plum blends into the landscape, adding the welcome green of living things, doing what it can to hide the street and stop lights of city traffic. But this time of year, the tree grabs the attention of everyone, lifting moods and inciting expectations for a wonderful, happy spring. The flowers are small and open quickly, almost, it seems, within a day or two, as if in an attempt to surprise us into joy.

We're lucky here in the high desert because many flowering trees do so well in our locale. They are adaptable to a variety of soil conditions, including a tendency toward clay and sand. Definitely, they need full sun if you want to be made happy by their spectacular flower display in early spring.

It's best to prune branches just after the blossoms have faded and fallen from the tree. At this time you can spot the dead branches. Spring pruning, too, will allow the tree to develop new growth and plenty of time to produce an abundance of buds for next year's inflorescence.

This particular tree enjoys the benefits of a weekly schedule of watering, but ornamental plums are relatively resistant to drought, although, like most tree plantings, they need some extra attention to make sure they establish themselves. And when the temperatures get high and the weather dry in the summer, a drip line will make the tree happy so the tree can make the humans happy year after year after year.

So far so good. Even with last week's icicles covering the partially opened flower buds, the nectarine tree has weathered the recent cold. Even more vulnerable now, we wait and hope that there won't be a late cold snap.

The nectarine tree pictured is a dwarf variety which, after its sixth year, began producing some nice sized, juicy and delicious fruit. With the late heavy frost last year, the production wasn't as good as the year before, although it did manage to provide a small basket full of fruit. Maybe this year will be its first bumper crop.

With all the moisture we've had this winter, the tree seems to be off to a very good start, as it is completely loaded with blossoms. With yesterday's temperature in the 70s and today's temperature expected to hit 80, there will be no stopping its blooming frenzy.

Hurray! Hurray for spring!

Beloved by butterflies and hummingbirds, this beautiful little ground cover is one of the first perennial flowers to bloom in late winter and early spring, lasting into summer. They grow easily in full sun and even partial shade, although they tend to produce more blooms in full sun. Be sure to work the soil enough to insure good drainage. They would rather not sit in wet, soggy soil, especially all winter.

This particular Veronica (pictured) will cascade over rocks or the edge of containers, but there are many types and shapes of Speedwell, from low growing mats, to taller plants with spiked flowers good for cutting and arranging. Leaf textures and flower shape and color are quite diverse. They can be used in the garden for many types of accents. Try them as border plants, ground covers, and accent plants in rock gardens or along walkways. Plant them in mass to produce an intense eye catching stretch of color. You can also plant the low creeping "steppable" varieties between pavers.

In certain parts of the world, Speedwell can be invasive, but that's not a problem here in the high desert.

Incidentally, there's also a girl band named Veronica Speedwell.

This beautiful purple-blue sedum lives in a ceramic pot on a west facing patio deck in downtown Reno. It dies back to the ground each year and begins to emerge again, usually in early March. The color of its leaves is only one of its attention grabbing attributes. As the growing season unfolds, it grows into a think cover, stems reaching up, out and over the rim of the container, cascading down, contrasting with the color and texture of everything around it.

Perennial and annual sedum varieties are popular here in the desert. They are amazingly easy to grow, easy to propagate and a good choice for rock gardens and xeric landscapes. Many have interesting flowers that add autumn color and winter texture. Coming in many colors, shapes and sizes, common names like Autumn Joy, Chocolate Ball, Dragon's Blood and Purple Emperor gives some suggestion as to how this succulent can contribute to your garden's Western aesthetic.

Each year, Drycreek offers a wide variety of perennial sedum.

There has been local song bird action around this Perry's Agave and Hairy Yucca. It seems the Kinglets and other small birds like to snip the filaments for nest making.

Both of these pictured plants are cold hardy for our area (approximately zones 5 - 9). The yucca will grow to about twenty inches high with an almost three foot spread. The agave will grow to about 9 inches high. Both are beautiful plants and are great for rock gardens and other types of xeric landscaping.

The flower pedals of many different types of yucca are edible and some are considered to be delicious (no guarantees...). You can try putting freshly picked flower pedals into your summer salads. You can find recipes that call for harvesting the entire flower stalk as it emerges in late spring, early summer. The tips resemble the look of asparagus tips, but you won't get to see the flower stem bloom with this technique. Many types have long lasting flowers, some extending into late summer.

Apparently, especially in earlier times, many native American tribes utilized the yucca for food and for weaving, making baskets, weapons and clothing and also for making soap (hence the common name, Soapweed). Many Yucca types are incredibly easy to care for. Most do not uglify during the winter. They are natural born bird feeders and they will make your garden landscape look like you know and love the environment within which you live.

Joshua Trees are able to endure what humans would consider to be extremely harsh conditions. And yet, places and conditions humans consider to be sublime, Joshua Trees would find uncomfortable, unlivable. In their homeland, in the winter, the Joshua Tree easily endures subfreezing cold, snow covered, hard packed and rocky soil. But what they don't like is shade and they will die fairly fast if their roots stand in water.

This plant is a favorite of many, but it is truly a plant for adults. Adults Only. Their sharp dagger like leaves are unforgiving. The inevitable winner in any chance encounter, the spines can easily harm you. They can easily draw blood.

It's a good rule to be smart and respectful of the Joshua Tree. It is a fantastic plant that demands a well drained spot in the sun. It needs room to grow away from foot traffic and well away from kids and clumsy adults.

You can avoid the danger and still have the beauty and interest. We usually stock several hardy Yucca varieties that are much more child and clumsy person friendly and can safely and softly satisfy the Joshua Tree aesthetic. Many are also prolific producers of fantastic, long lasting, hummingbird loving flowers. We do occasionally stock Yucca brevifolia, but don't pass up varieties that are just as desert wonderful and not nearly as mean.

Is this a Sharp-shinned Hawk? It sat in the apple tree for awhile recently, came to startle the usual birds, the Stellar Bluejay and the Robins reappearing again now that it's spring. Hanging out by the dripping water, there have also been a few Kinglets and the Lesser Goldfinch. There are no bird feeders close by, but the water attracts the song birds. It makes sense that the Sharp-shinned Hawk and other birds of prey come looking round the water source for some small treats to eat. It's fortunate that there are trees in and among the landscape of yards in the city for all the birds to use. Life in the menagerie.

The body of the Sharp-shinned Hawk is especially shaped to hunting and catching prey in close quarters, inside and between trees. According to Wikipedia, their numbers greatly dwindled during the late 1960s and 1970s, most likely due to the accumulative effects of the widespread use of poisons such as DDT. After DDT was banned, numbers of all three species have come back strongly in the United States and Canada, back to the point where, if the right habitat still exists or is renewed, the Sharp-shinned Hawk is expected to re-localize and re-integrate.

This particular bird had the habit of perching with only its right claw. It's left claw was kept tucked away, used occasionally to fuss with feathers. It sat in this spot for almost five minutes.

Along with news of social trends moving toward small things -- from sporty fuel efficient autos to recycled lumber and tiny houses, comes a story from Los Angeles about a group of neighbors in one of the super super rich canyon areas of L. A. banding together to try to stop a new mystery neighbor -- they suspect perhaps a foreign prince -- from building a residential compound the size of a Wal-Mart: 86,000 sq feet across several adjacent lots. The lots themselves are worth millions each. There will be a 42,681-square-foot house, a 27,000-square-foot villa, a guest house somewhere around 4,000 sq feet. It's as if Reno's new American Gothic mansions and Tuscany styled villas have suddenly become appropriate only for weekend guests. If it's inevitable that a superstore sized residential compound be built in the already compacted hills around L. A., the hope would be that the landscaping plans accommodate birds like the Sharp-shinned Hawk and California's amazing song birds.

Homemade Friday night pizza is always threatening to become a tradition, a delicious delight, made with miniature yellow pear tomatoes that were grown in 12 inch containers on a sunny deck in the Old Southwest section of Reno. There were plenty of yellow pears for summer salads and kabobs, and plenty to freeze for many winter evenings when comfort food seems to make the fires glow brighter.

Plan for some space for tomatoes. We do contend with a short season, so John and Nancy make it a yearly goal to provide several short seasoned heirloom tomatoes. Several varieties do very well here.

Yes, it's always fun and usually very productive to grow tomatoes. Some years are better than others, and some plants enjoy our climate more than others, but they can do quite well, especially if you give them the basic, loving attention they deserve.

It's not too early to start dreaming about tomato plants. It's not too early to sketch them into the garden plan. Be sure to come visit the nursery when the tomatoes begin their arrival. It will be soon. Dry Creek always has a divergent selection of heirloom and short season varieties. Get the plan ready. The tomatoes go fast like the pizza.

The high Sierra is known for its winter snow. We've seen the photographs from the 20th century: big cars on winding, narrow roads through passes with walls of snow 20 feet high. This year is approaching one of those phenomenal snow years, something that has happened only a few times since the late 19th century. According to the Colfax Record, Squaw Valley stands today at 250 inches. That's nearly 21 feet. In the deep pockets, skiers and snow boarders are talking about the open space and sense of freedom because the brush and boulders have disappeared under the snow.

Since the winds died down last night, the Nectarine Tree sits with several inches of snow topping its bud studded stems. The snow was wet and formed icicles that encased whole buds and stem lines. We wait to see how that turns out.

Thinking about the nectarine, a quick Web search reveals some great things about this delicious fruit. The nectarine is naturally low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. It's high in vitamins A and C, niacin, potassium, and is a good source of dietary fiber.

Because the skin is often eaten, it is recommended that nectarines (peaches, plums, apples, grapes, berries, etc.) be grown by organic means. Without residual poisons, the nectarine is to be considered one of the basic foods to help maintain health and proper weight. For example, the heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet recognizes the nectarine as a member of the most basic and important food groups with low fat, low calorie, essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. It's a health food. It's a perfect snack. It's a salsa. It's a dessert topping. It's a jelly. It's a jam. It's a smoothie. Definitely, the nectarine is a real food, one we humans can eat often and with good results. And it's a dieter's good friend, too, with only a single point ascribed by the Weight Watchers Points System. What could be more perfect and delicious, ripe off the tree on a warm summer's day?

It seems there have been some major rumors circulating about the nectarine. Are nectarines some sort of freakish hybrid, perhaps a cross between a plum and peach? Is it the result of some 1950s scientific experiment designed to remove the fuzz? Was the nectarine bankrolled by fruit tree growers betting consumers would perfer a fuzzless peach?

Truth is, loved by all, the nectarine is its own fruit. That is, it's a peach. A fuzzless peach: Prunus persica var. nucipersic or Amygdalus persica var. nectarina, a cherished member of the Rosaceae family, originally from China. By the end of the Dark Ages, peaches and nectarines had moved to England. According to Wikipedia, they were introduced to the U.S. by David Fairchild of the Department of Agriculture in 1906. Many varieties moved to California with varieties migrating to Nevada and surrounding states. Overall and when the conditions are right, peach and nectarine trees do very well here with vibrant color in the spring flowers. Hanging fruit can be heavy and deliciously sweet as you would expect a tree ripened peach or nectarine to be. Providing the perfect growing conditions can do wonders. Come in and talk to John and Nancy about growing local fruit.

Yesterday's snow has melted from the branches. No visible damage to the buds. High winds expected today, and more snow falling by tonight.

Wake to heavy snow in the morning. The Nectarine Tree is covered with melting snow, its opening buds peeking out like tiny pink lights.

If the air doesn't freeze with a hard snap, all this good moisture makes the humans happy. But not just us. The fruit trees in town also look happy and full of life; ready to flower with a tree's promise to produce an abundant crop this time around. Surely, no doubt the trees are eager to make up for last year when a late hard freeze crippled the prospects for banner production of local tree fruit. But now again, the buds are coming. The Mojo is back, seen taking the form of flowers already opening. Is it too early? We always wonder as the days are not quite warm enough and the nights are still down right shivering. But what is right in a land where nectarine trees would not normally grow? Hope to have, perhaps the lucky dynamic of a close southern wall of light and mid-day warmth -- just enough of a heat collecting microclimate to keep the buds safe from some short lived, lingering bud killer. But is that warm wall confusing the tree into budding too early? Is the microclimate a good match? Perhaps the March snow convinces the buds to slow down somewhat. Once the cold has passed, and if events unfold well without damage, the tree can produce enough for summer, canning in the fall, leaving tales to tell of a banner year. If there's room and the conditions are right, fruit trees are definitely worth a try. Certainly, in this place, there are chances of failure as the transition from winter to spring is erratic, always exciting, unpredictable, challenging.

Today the streams coming down from the Sierra are silt colored and flowing above their usual waterlines. There are flood warnings in California and amazing amounts of snow in the high mountains. It is exciting. The little Kinglets have come down closer to town. It feels like a natural, serendipitous goodness coming into spring. It is, in spite of the crazy universe, a hopeful year with the surroundings, the wet, snow covered, saturated ground, the perennials showing green. Maybe, hopefully, it will be a good wildflower year and a good vegetable year and a wonderful gardening year all around.

Everyone hopes for a good year. Of course! Of course! Who can not hope for an abundant and juicy sweet food for the summer to prolong the hope for an even more abundant harvest come fall? And thus, the relationship between the weather and the land and the birds -- the unpredictability of so much seasonal mortality -- energizes the heart. Spring wakes us, a result the body feels immediately like the crisp clear air enough to incite the mind to wondering. It's true, the snow is high and such a necessity for where we live. How great to be living in a place where the end of a drought coincides with the beginning of the growing season, even as always temporary as it is in this arid landscape, this scarcity of erratic and uncertain moisture. So much snow. It hearkens back to other memorable winters here. The summers always followed with hiking the high country delayed, due to snow packed passes, high water creeks and roaring rivers. We can live with that. We want to live with that.

The snow melted fast on this south facing city slope. It seems to be a friendly, symbiotic relationship between the Tulips, the Kinnikinnick and the Colorado Gold Alyssum. This photo is from a southern exposure in Reno. It took a while to get the Kinnikinnick to establish itself, more or less on this angled spot. After watching eight plants take root here, it seems they take to living in close quarters with other low growing perennials and annuals. They like sun, but they like to lean against other plants. They like to mingle and meander and share the density. That sort of incidental cooporation allows the autumn and winter mat to collect enough material to keep the plants and critters a cushion to battle the cold.

We leave a partial layer of last year's leaves well into spring.

This soil was hard pan, and needed to be worked. The soil was removed, sifted, then reworked with a variety of soil enriching ingredients, including compost, organic chicken manure, recycled potting soil. The springtime bulbs will thank you for the softer conditions that allow room to expand. The Kinnikinnick will have a better chance of digging deeper in its woody way. It's exciting when loved plants thrive.

Last Fall, we decided to fight off the late August aphids that attack our Kale plants each year. In past years we would try to get our fill of Kale before the aphid attacks began, but this past year we decided to confront their inevitable season.

When watering, I began to notice the aphids' arrival. Each day there were more. I found a nice warm afternoon to harvest the entire crop. I washed each leaf individually with some good water pressure to make sure all the aphids were removed. I then rewashed and bagged the leaves and found a shelf in the deep freezer.

Kale freezes as well as spinach and is great for soups, fries, bakes. Like this Stromboli. Or pizza. It's delicious. It's good for you and your family. It's easy to grow. It's beautiful to look at. From a small plot - 4 x 4 feet -- we had Kale to eat all summer and winter, along with tomatoes that we grew in containers on the deck.

And we have organic Kale seeds. We have many other organic garden seeds and starts for your vegetable garden this year. It's time to get gardening.

What a delight, with last night's snow and the big moon light breaking through from time to time. Shimmering and frosty, it was a sight to see. Here we are again approaching the very moment when the sun moves across the equator with equal time for day and night for everyone on earth, and then the swing for more warmth here.

For the Truckee Meadows, the thin layer of snow is another springtime drink for the soil and perennials just beginning to stir.

Saturday's moon is a Big Moon, a 'Supermoon' with its closeness to the earth making people excited about astro-logic, about the circle of life, about big changes when the future pulls the tides and we dream of the prospects of growing things, of helping the garden grow.

We welcome snow on the eve of the Vernal Equinox. We welcome the moisture and the worms awakening. Where do we go from here? Into Spring. Soon we will see much more greening.

The nursery is open. We have seeds, potato starts, compost, organic fertilizers and soil enhancers. Our first springtime shipments of lawn and garden ornaments have arrived. We have some amazing, hand carved, hand polished thick granite bird baths. These will go quickly. We have a good supply of evergreen and deciduous trees for early spring planting. Come in and say hello. Let's talk about this year's gardening plans.