Drycreek Blog

The Chocolate Flower

2012-06-26T18:50:58-04:00

The chocolate scented daisy (Berlandiera lyrata) is a Southwest native. It's drought tolerant, loves full sun and opens fresh blooms about the size of a half-dollar, each day during its long season. The flowers grow on stems that reach about 14 inches. The dried flowers can be used for indoor floral arrangements. The plant itself matures at around two feet in diameter.

We bought plants from Dry Creek a few years back and planted them in a south facing spot close to the front porch steps. The morning fragrance is wonderful. Butterflies are attracted to the flowers, as are honey bees and other pollinating insects.

In late autumn, with the first killing frost, the plants die back completely. They disappear, so the first year we marked the spot to make sure we saved the space for their return the next spring. Sure enough, the plants returned, bigger than the year before.

Grow these great little plants along walkways, near the backyard patio or deck or in your rock garden. Just be sure to give them plenty of sun. They can reseed themselves, too, but are not invasive.

Abundant, Happy and Beautiful Potato Plants

2012-06-23T15:11:00-04:00

This is the second year we've grown potatoes in the Reno garden. After reading several stories on the sorry plight of the commercial potato, we decided to improve our health by organically growing some varieties. So, early this past spring, after hearing that the potatoes had arrived, we stopped by Dry Creek and picked up a couple bags of potato starts.

After talking to John Strickland about last year's harvest, he suggested that we plant the potatoes in trenches. Since they are nightshades, like tomatoes, you can bury the main stem deeper than intuition tells you, which helps grow more roots, and with the potatoes, helps grow more potatoes.

So, we dug trenches in the raised bed two feet or so apart, placed the potato starts at the bottom, covering them with a few inches of top soil. Once growing, as the stems emerged, we kept filling the trench, little by little until they were completely filled in to regular ground level. Since then the main stems have grown several feet. We added bamboo cane tripod supports to help the plants stand tall.

The flowers have been developing through June and should start to open in the next week or so. The greenery and the delicate white flowers make potatoes a nice ornamental feature for the garden, as well as a good producer of food for the table.

In the photo you might be able to pick out some collard leaves. The collards this year have been wonderful, too. There has been very little insect damage, and the leaves grew broad and tender and delicious. We've been sautéing them with turkey bacon and onions. Delicious!

Little Garden Herb Forests

2012-06-21T14:59:00-04:00

For several years, we would grow basil, cilantro and dill as single plants in eight inch, herb sized pots. But they never did as well as we hoped. Almost immediately after potting the single starts, the cilantro and dill would bolt. Also as a single plant, the basil would so easily stress over the hot part of summer days. We figured the three plants just weren't cut out for our dry desert air. So we struggled along with our less than exciting herb garden.

Then one day a couple years back, we happened to be at our neighbor's house across the street where we saw basil being grown as a thick forest of crowded plants. The pot was large, a barrel type container, and flourishing. So, we tried it. We bought seeds and a good potting soil, and sowed the seeds as you can see in the photo. Each pot provides a little herb forest.

The basil, both green and purple as pictured, is growing quickly now that the weather has become consistently warm and the nights are less cool. We will soon be randomly picking the leaves off these plants. We read somewhere that the cilantro can be mowed like grass, so we tried it. This helps to keep the plants from going to seed, as they are otherwise prone to do rather quickly.

Located lower right in the purple pot is the dill. We're attempting a little dill forest in this pot. It is an experiment. Not that we need to find a solution to bolting. Dill often does perfectly well as a single plant in a pot. We're just interested in seeing what happens.

This year this herb garden also has two fennel bulbs growing in a single pot. They faint if they don't get enough water, but if watered, they are growing large and beautiful, with that deep fennel green. So delicious, too. We can't wait to eat them.

Drycreek has a great selection of seeds. Supplies are limited. You can plant several types of herb seeds anytime of the season, to keep your herb garden going.

Growing Berries in Containers

2012-06-18T14:52:40-04:00

Last year we decided we wanted to try growing more berries, but our growing space is very limited; we don't have room for a full fledged berry patch. We do have blueberries and service berries in the ground, but this time we are attempting to grow two berry types in containers. We want to keep the plants tidy and to move them around the yard, if we want.

The raspberry bush pictured was planted in its container last fall. We purchased the plant from Dry Creek late in the season and transplanted the two gallon root ball to a weather worthy ceramic pot. The plant was left outside in the pot all winter. Early spring, we pruned it severely, and soon out came several new canes.

Thee are two different types of raspberry plants. One type -- called 'ever bearing' -- produces its fruit on new canes each year; the other produces its fruit on last year's canes. If you have the ever bearing variety, you should severely cut back the plant each fall to allow new fruit bearing canes to emerge next year, and to keep the plant tidy. If you have a plant that needs two years for canes to set fruit, you'll need to be careful not to remove the canes that will be producing next season. We're unsure which type of plant this raspberry is, so will wait to see whether any fruit appears. If it does, we'll know that the plant is an ever bearing variety. If it doesn't, we'll have to wait until next year for its first crop.

You need a fairly large container for berry bush roots. A 16 or 18 inch tomato-sized pot works well. We've added a tall dried bamboo tripod to the container to give the otherwise floppy canes some support. It's been reported that horizontal support is better than vertical support, so we are trying the less popular way just to see what happens. Thus, we hope to train the canes around the bamboo stems. We will limit the raspberry canes to three -- four at the most, to keep the plant nice and tidy.

If you have limited space, like we do, you might try putting the container on rollers so it's easy to move if the need arises.

Shade Spots - Shade Plants

2012-06-10T18:10:00-04:00

The fence creates a very visible place to show off some shade loving summer plants. The deep purple Choral Bells is such a beautiful contrast to the light glaze of a twelve inch pot. This plant has been living in the space, year round for several years. We add a bit of new soil and about half an inch of organic, composted Chicken manure as a top layer. The blooms are a couple weeks later than the bright pink Choral Bells in the yard, but those plants get some sun. These flowers are soft white.

The Jacob's Ladder would like more sun. It seems that last year, the plant enjoyed this spot much more than this year. Last year the plant was more compact, more upright. This year it's more leggy, moving all over the place looking for the sun. It still looks great and is blooming.

We waited until now to plant the Coleus out side in its shade corner. Around this yard, Coleus enjoys some morning sun that quickly turns to dappled late morning shade, then deep shade for the length of the afternoon. This one gets full shade.

The purple flowers are abundant and long lasting on the Dalmatian Blue Bellflower. This easy beauty is a type of Campanula and a good choice for the semi-shade or dappled shade garden. This plant (pictured) has been moved several times, looking for its favorite spot and this spot seems to be the one. It gets some early morning sun, with long afternoon shade and flowers for several weeks this time of year. The flowers form a soothing patch of purple color.

Easy and Beautiful Remedies

2012-06-09T18:42:00-04:00

Quick color solutions are easy. There are many different types of plants, both annual and perennial, that can be planted in June for immediate color and texture. Plants planted now can be full and in crazy bloom by July.

Annuals mixed with perennials can insure color all summer long. Annuals and perennials in containers, too, allow you to move color to different places in the garden for changing accents, adding interest, and setting the stage for every summer dinner party.

Cactus Flowers Are Abundant This Season

2012-05-29T18:39:00-04:00

Cactus flowers seem to be blooming earlier than usual this year, and ever so abundant!

The Claret Cup Hedge Hog bloomed in mid-May this season, and now the Beaver Tail is in full swing. In stock are several species with many flower buds on each plant, yellows, pinks, cream-salmon, chrome-orange, green, the colors are spectacular and lure the garden visitors into the mythical desert wonderland that is easy to create with these cold hardy, drought resistant, carefree cactus wonders.

The yuccas, too, are blooming earlier and more abundantly this year. Some plants have over twenty stems rising. Plant them in proximity to create the mythology of the desert right in your own yard.

Currently Dry Creek has a limited supply of many different cold hardy cacti in stock. They grow well in containers, too.

Cold Nigh Time Temperatures Again This Week

2012-04-09T18:28:00-04:00

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.

A Typical April

2012-04-06T15:39:06-04:00

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.

Get a Head Start with Cool Weather Vegetable Starts

2012-04-01T20:17:26-04:00

Even if you plan to grow lettuce and cabbage from seed, it's always fun to plant a few six packs of beautiful spring lettuces and cabbages to set the garden in motion right away. In just a few days, the plants establish themselves and begin responding to the spring sunshine, and especially with lettuce, the leaves are delicious when young and tender and are ready to eat pretty much as soon as you put the plants in the ground.

Early April is the time. Setting these cool weather plants into the ground early gives a quick sense of accomplishment, and inspires even more planting as the days grow longer and the nights warmer.

Onions and potatoes, too, can be planted now. It's time!

Happy April!

Anticipating the Coming Growing Season

2012-02-24T15:17:00-04:00

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.

Clematis Blooms Emerging

2011-05-24T13:39:00-04:00

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.

Lilac In Bloom

2011-05-19T14:48:00-04:00

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.

National Public Gardens Day

2011-05-06T11:48:00-04:00

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.

Cold Weather - Freezing Temperatures Tonight!

2011-04-28T13:05:00-04:00

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.

The Hostas Are Coming!

2011-04-26T10:58:00-04:00

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.

For The Love Of The Primula

2011-04-25T13:41:00-04:00

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.

What's Better Than A Springtime Rain In The Desert?

2011-04-23T13:21:00-04:00

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.

Helping Plants Beautify Themselves

2011-04-18T14:55:00-04:00

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.

Springtime Is Rose Pruning Time

2011-04-15T15:26:00-04:00

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.

More Snow And Cold Night Temperatures Coming

2011-04-05T15:15:00-04:00

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.

Nature's Rock Gardens

2010-07-14T15:18:00-04:00

If you want to create a rock garden on your property, you need look no further for inspiration than the very terrain that surrounds us. The Sierra and the Great Basin Desert offer endless examples to emulate.

If your yard is sloped with rocks already in place, you're lucky, especially if the rocks are beautiful and well placed. If your yard is flat and rockless, you'll have to collect some rocks. Remember though, rocks are heavy and lifting them can hurt your back! If you want big rocks, you're best bet is to purchase them and have them delivered. (We have some beautiful large rocks on hand this season for this very purpose.)

Rock gardens can be, but they don't have to be sprawling. Even a small space in your garden can serve as an interest point for plants that drain well and do well against rocks that heat up from the summer sun. Place the stones in a pattern or design layout you like, using larger stones as a wall to hold the soil in place. Fill the space between and around the rocks with soil. Add smaller rocks on top of the soil, but reserve some really nice larger ones, too, to make the design look naturally erratic. You might also want to install a drip system.

For the plants, you can pick and choose which ones you want according to color and texture, but also according to what enjoys living in your new rocky microclimate. Choose plants that will grow so as to show off your rock garden, rather than hide it. We carry many plants, including miniture, low-growing ground covers, cacti, sedum and other hardy perennials in small containers that are perfect for rock gardens. We can also help with designs and installations.

Wala Wala Onion Sets & Asparagus Crowns

2010-04-15T14:37:00-04:00

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

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

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

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

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

Another Year Of Below Average Water

2010-04-14T15:31:00-04:00

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

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

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

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

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

Don't Be An April Fool

2010-04-01T13:50:00-04:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Euphorbia myrsinites -- Donkeytail Spurge

2010-03-26T13:09:00-04:00

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

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

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

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

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

Baby Asparagus in the Snow

2010-03-25T11:39:00-04:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

Compost and Worms

2010-03-24T12:06:00-04:00

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

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

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

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

Progress on the Raised Bed Continues...

2010-03-22T12:05:00-04:00

It's just not true what some local gardeners will tell you about not planting anything until Peavine Peak is free of snow. It's a confused notion because while it might be true that tomatoes and eggplant and peppers should wait, nevertheless, there are lots of plants and starts that can go into the ground right now.

It all depends upon where you plant and the degree of protection you provide. Some plants will need to harden a bit before spending a chilly night out. With these starts, we hardened them by first letting them feel the cool evening air until bedtime, then we brought them in. Then we let them spend a few nights on an open air, though covered porch. Then we planted them in the raised bed, covering them at night with a clear plastic frame.

Lettuces, beets, cabbage, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, brocolli spinach, onions, leeks, chives, parsley and other hardy herbs and vegetables can take some cold at night. We cover the box as a precaution until the roots have settled in and the leaves get used to the microclimate of the backyard. During the day we remove the plastic cover to let the sun shine in and to make sure they new plants don't overheat.

It's all fun. And in the high desert, each season is different; each planting is experimental. It gives for good writing in the garden journal.

Right now we have in stock all the vegetable and herb starts mentioned above. This week, too, we've received shipments of hardy perennials that can also be planted before the snow leaves Peavine Peak. Some are early flowering natives. This is also a great time to plant shade trees like the Norway maple and the honey locust. Certainly, if you're itching to start work on the garden, turn your back on Peavine Peak and drive down to the Reno nursery. We're in the gardening mode already; we'll show you what can be planted today.

Celebrating the Vernal Equinox

2010-03-21T11:06:00-04:00

Yesterday was the Vernal Equinox! And if we couldn't actually feel the intersection of the equinoctial points or the fact that night and day were almost equal in length and that the center of the sun passed vertically across an exact point on the Equator, it sure did feel like a day for planting!

This year, our plan for this raised bed is to grow salad vegetables. We will get a head start by planting some six packs of various lettuces, cabbage, beets, leeks and onions. We will at the same time plant seeds of lettuce, kale, spinach and carrot.

To stay organized, it's easy to mark the rows with a straight edge, then place a yardstick next to the line drawn for spacing the plants and seeds. The straight edge and ruler combination can also serve to draw the seed lines to their proper depth.

As we plant the seeds, of course the local song birds watch from nearby branches and ledges as if this yearly springtime ritual is for them. But, we will cover the frame to allow the seeds to sprout and to protect the starts from any sudden dips in nighttime temperatures.

Happy Spring!