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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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!

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.

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.

This week has been spent harvesting the vegetable plants, grape vines and fruit trees. We made jelly with ten and a half pounds of white concord grapes which yielded thirteen 12 ounce jars of jelly. This year we added calcium water to the pectin which allowed us to cut the sugar almost in half.

The jelly making inspired me to harvest some little peaches from a tree that's been trying really hard to produce a nice crop this year. The tree was loaded with small peaches just beginning to ripen up. So the first night the valley was threatened with a killing frost, I picked about 25 pounds of peaches, brought them in and am letting them ripen indoors. The taste of the peaches isn't that good, but the tree put out such an effort that it seems the least we can do is make some peach jelly. I'll add a little peach nectar to the juice for a flavor boost.

The tomato crop was not nearly as large as recent years past. Not nearly. Usually the day before the frost we bring in enough green tomatoes to line all the window sills in the house several layers thick. This year we'll be lucky to fill two sills with a single layer.

We also brought in all the house plants that live out of doors in the summer, but must come back in to escape the winter cold.

We then made baba ganoush with several small eggplant, baked some pita bread, then went to see the Nevada Opera's production of Carmen. It was an excellent show.

These home grown avocados were a gift from gardening friends from northeastern California. Here close to the border, reciprocal food sharing across state lines encounters an obstacle, that of the agricultural inspection stations Nevada gardeners encounter at nearly every entrance into California. But gifts and trades move east to west in other ways, especially during canning season.

There is something fascinating about food sharing amongst the humans. Of course, it's an ancient practice, described in detail by the cultural anthropologists. Humans share food in times of plenty, but also in times of extreme scarcity. The trick seems to be the great art of social cohesiveness and commutual respect, even across deep cultural divides. There are descriptions and studies, too, of the many ways in which cultural stability is achieved as well as lost. Much about cultural preservation, of course, centers around agriculture.

But food sharing is a good sign when it comes to prospects of peace amongst the factions. Grapes for avocados Tomatoes for honey. Philosophers bring up questions of balance and reciprocity. It becomes an ethical debate about the dynamics of material exchange and the age old question of payment. Who does the work? Who gets paid? Who gets fed? What is fair?

Guacamole anyone?

• At least two large ripe avocados or several small ones, remove seeds and scoop out flesh.
• One small Walawala onion
• 1/4 sweet red onion
• 1 freshly picked jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup freshly picked cilantro, finely chopped
• a little salt to taste
• black pepper to taste
• outer flesh of 1 freshly picked medium sized tomato, cut in small chunks
• 1 freshly picked cucumber, peeled and sliced into rounds

Mix together everything but the cucumber. Serve immediately with chips. Serve the cucumber rounds as an alternative to chips.

The song birds don't have to compete with the humans this year. The apples are abundant and suggest delicious foods like Old Fashioned Apple Pie, Apple Chicken with Caramelized Onions, or simply warm Apple Compote with California Walnuts.

One word of cautionary reminder: when harvesting the apples, if you use a ladder to climb up high enough to fall on your butt, be sure to have someone hold the ladder for you. You don't want to be eating your pie in a leg or neck brace.

Bob's Apple Compote

Gather about as many apples as you see in the picture, enough to make a generous six cups of prepared fruit. Don't be afraid if the apples have a blemish or two. Wash the apples really well, especially if you don't know what chemicals the growers have used on the trees over the summer. Wash them well anyway just to get the insect trails off.

Peel the apples whole and put them in a large pot of cold water with a little organic lemon juice to keep the apples from browning during prep. Take the apples from the pot of water, cut them in half and remove anything that isn't appetizing, such as the core and blemished spots.

Cut up the apples, reserving two cups in large chunks, two cups thinly sliced, and two cups finely chopped. Put all three types of prepped apples into a large sauce pan. Sweeten to taste; we added a 1/4 cup of organic brown sugar and a 1/4 cup turbinado sugar. Then add a tablespoon of organic lemon juice and a tablespoon of filtered water. For spice, add a 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg. Finally, add two tablespoons butter and a tablespoon instant tapioca.

Gently mix all the ingredients, then heat to bubbling. Reduce heat and stir in 1/4 cut chopped walnuts or pecans; your choice. Cover and simmer -- stirring occasionally -- for 45 minutes or until the larger apple chunks are cooked through and soft. According to the juiciness of the apples, you might need to add tiny bit of water, but do so only if necessary.

Serve warm, by itself or as a topping for vanilla ice cream, or spoon over sweet dumplings, biscuits or cake. This compote is also great as filling for pies and cobblers.

Neighbors are trading cucumbers for tomatoes, tomatoes for peppers, peppers for plums, plums for peaches. It's that time of the year. If you are lucky enough to come across a collection of tree ripened peaches, here's a recipe to make your summer evening dinner party a hit to the very end. It's quick, too. You can have your guests asking for the recipe in about 15 minutes.

Divine Peaches

You don't need a whole lot of ingredients for this incredible dessert. It's versatile, as well. You can use it as a sauce for ice cream, or pour it over a lemon pound cake fresh out of the oven, or simply dish it up in dessert bowls with a dollop of freshly whipped cream.

Ingredients

• 2 or 3 cups of fresh organic peaches, ripe off the tree.
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup organic turbinado sugar.
• 1/2 cup pure cranberry juice (not cranberry juice cocktail).
• 1 or 2 tablespoons organic lemon juice.
• 2 tablespoons instant uncooked tapioca.
• 1/2 cup pecan or walnut halves.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Poach the peaches ever so slightly so as to remove the skins. Remove the pits, too, of course. Let the poaching water cool down, then feed it to your earthworms; they will love you for it. Mix the peaches with the sugar and cranberry juice in a medium sized saucepan. Cook and stir until the mixture begins to bubble. Lower the heat, add the tapioca, pecans or walnuts or a mixture of both, and lemon juice. Simmer for a few minutes, just until it begins to thicken. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Serve warm, if possible, but it's delicious the next day over waffles or pancakes.

When planning a backyard orchard, it's fun to choose several types of apple trees -- one or two for sweet, juicy apple-a-day snacking, at least one tart and firm for baking the Thanksgiving pies. All do well for making cider, jelly and sauce.

Apple and other fruit trees can be planted pretty much anytime the ground is workable. It's good to prepare the soil. Come in and see our selection of apple and other fruit bearing trees, and talk to us about setting up your backyard orchard.