It usually goes without saying that if you live in the Truckee Meadows, the northern valleys, the southern valleys, or anywhere approaching the Sierra, at least once in your life you'll find yourself at Donner Summit during a snow storm. Even in April, if you find heavy rain in Auburn, the cold front at the higher elevations just might be throwing heavy snow as you attempt the pass.

Even if the moisture doesn't drench our dry soils, the snow in the high mountains melts into the ground sending the river waters our way in summer when beloved plants get thirsty.

By mid April, there's not as much concern about diving over Donner Summit, but it happened again this year. Such weather ends up prompting a celebration, another chance for snow shoes before the warmer weather sets in.

Another late winter/spring storm is predicted for later this week through the weekend, and even if snow doesn't reach the valley floor, cold night time temperatures dipping down into the high 20s, low 30s are predicted.

This time of year is always iffy for many of our most cherished plants just waking up to the spring -- fruit trees, grape vines and early vegetable sprouts. The best gardening tip for these erratic events is to either bring your vulnerable plants indoors, or add protective wraps and water walls.

Dry Creek has various sized plant wraps, water walls and other protective products to help us get through the late storms that seem to inevitably threaten a smooth transition between winter and spring. If you haven't already, stop in and see what might be done to protect your plants from yet another approaching cold snap.

The nectarine tree has been in full bud for a couple weeks now, and then arrives several cold nights with temperatures in the city dropping down into the low twenties.

Last year the same thing happened and the result was no summer fruit. So, this time we decided to cover the flowering tree at dusk to see if it might help. So far, we wrapped the tree with two drop cloths at dusk, then removed them each morning. The cold temperatures are predicted for a few more nights, so we'll continue to wrap it up.

We won't know until later whether our efforts will pay off. But, it's worth the try.

Dry Creek has all sorts of protective devices and covers. If you haven't already, stop in and see what might be done to protect your flowering trees and early sprouts from this cold snap.

It's been a surprisingly dry winter for the Sierra and Great Basin. So dry, in fact, that gardeners needed to compensate for lact of rain and snow by watering their trees, perennials and lawns from time to time during the cold winter months. But if your watering efforts were too little, too late, damage and die back, especially with plants that are strangers to the desert to begin with, are probably the inevitable results.

Some plants will survive and recover. Some will die. As the soil begins to warm with night temperatures rising, the damage will become more evident. Many drought tolerant plants -- the yucca, agave, hardy cacti and others -- will probably be just fine. Plants with deeper root systems might send up their new spring growth like nothing strange happened at all. Time will tell.

If you keep a gardening journal with maps for locating and tracking your plants, it will be easier to tell what's been lost. Whatever the case, this is the time of year to work on preparing and improving the soil for the typically hot, dry growing season to come. If there was little water in the winter, we can most definitely expect more of the same for summer.

Right now, though, as the lack of water continues, it's important to add moisture to your soil, especially for your large trees and shrubs, as well as your less drought tolerant perennials. For large trees and shrubs, twice a month, slowly soak the dripline areas (away from the trunk toward the outer edges of their branches), at least to a depth of 8 inches. Do this slowly so that the water does not run off, but rather soaks in.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.