Ramblings from Rabbitbrush Ranch

Check out different nurseries

Laurel — 2012-05-26T22:05:52Z

I've made an effort this spring to visit locally owned nurseries as well as good ol' Home Depot and Walmart. Even if you're a cheapskate like me, I think you should, too.

Putting aside the argument for letting a local business owner rather than an international corporation make the profit, you can expect to find higher prices but better selection at the local nurseries.

Here are my observations after shopping for the re-landscaping project at our "new" house this spring:

Rail City Garden Center, Sparks. (Just north of I-80 and behind the water park.). We've bought numerous pickup loads of soil amendments there this spring. (The stuff just keeps blowing away . . . ) As cold as it is today, the place was busy. Their prices are high (to me), but I saw plants I haven't seen anywhere else. I also saw large tomatoes marked down to $2 and 4-inch veggies marked down to 50 cents. They have a huge selection of water features, accessories, and plants.
Dry Creek Garden, South Virginia Street. Their prices are also high, but again they have plants I haven't seen anywhere else. They have lots of native plants. I had to have the orange-scented thyme I saw there, so I swallowed the price and divided it into four plants when I got home. At least one of the owners seems to be present at all times and will offer to help you. I have a little trouble getting in and out of the spaces in the tiny parking lot.
Moana Nursery, Moana Lane and South Virginia Street. This is the grandaddy of Reno nurseries. In fact, they are celebrating their 45th anniversary. Again, their prices are high, but I've bought from them over the years when I've found things I had to have. I think it's cool that they have a Wild Birds Unlimited store within their store.
Home Depot. This has been the best place for me to find a decent selection of healthy plants at decent prices (not that they give them away by any means). The Damonte Ranch store seems to have a better selection and slightly healthier plants.than the South Virginia store. This spring I joined their online garden club, and the other day I got a $5 off coupon I was able to use in the garden center. There have been times when I've seen plants wilting from lack of water at the South Virginia Store, and that really bothers me.
Walmart, Kietzke Lane and South Virginia Street. I visit the nursery whenever I shop at Walmart during growing season. Their prices are similar to Home Depot's. The selection isn't quite as good.
Costco. I've never bought plants there; the selection seems limited and you have to buy more than I want of any one kind. I have bought Preen, a garden cart, bulbs, etc. there.
Mail order. Brace yourself. You have to spend a lot of money to have healthy plants shipped to you. A couple of places I've ordered from are Bamboo Garden and Forestfarm, both in Oregon. I have to really, really want a plant to buy it this way. For example, I haven't been able to find a western redbud tree locally. Forestfarm has it, but it's only a 1- to 2-foot plant in a gallon pot for $19 plus shipping.
Misc. Plants for sale are magnets for me wherever I go. I look for bargains in front of CVS stores and affordable treasures at Trader Joe's. For example, I bought a cyclamen at Trader Joe's for about $3.50 the other day because the one I bought there last year bloomed continuously well into fall.

Supposedly locally owned businesses give better service, but I have to say I have not experienced that. (Not that I've had really bad service, either.) I think it's just as hard for local owners as for "box" stores to find knowledgeable employees, and even nursery owners can't be expected to be plant encyclopedias. I usually don't ask Home Depot or Walmart employees to answer botanical questions, but I've run into some really nice and helpful ones there.

My approach is to keep an open mind and watch for bargains. I always enjoy browsing through a nursery whether I buy anything or not.

Time for a couple of plant sales this weekend?

Laurel — 2012-05-25T16:41:19Z

I wanted to remind you of the Reno High plant sale (starting today!) and tell you about another one I just found out about. As far as I can tell, both will be selling veggies only.

The Reno High AP class sale runs until 3:30 today and from 7 to 3:30 tomorrow. Keep in mind that they sold out fast last year. For more information, here's a link to their flier.

The other one is (take a deep breath) the "Great Basin Community Food Co-op's Annual Seedling Sale & Grand Opening!" The flier mentions both Flint Street and Court Street, so I hope it's not too hard to find. It will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

You won't see me there--if we don't have any more bad luck, we will be laying sod! (Looking out the window at the rain . . . )

I'm on it! Moana Nursery June seminars

Laurel — 2012-05-22T18:24:02Z

It might be a little early to post Moana Nursery's June seminar schedule, but I don't want to forget the way I did last month. Here goes:

June 2 – Summer Pruning: Yes, Virginia, there are many trees, shrubs and perennials that will benefit greatly from pruning now. Join Moana Nursery Plant Doctor and Certified Arborist Jon Bruyn to learn what and how to cut, for beautiful, healthy plants. This hands-on workshop is for seasoned and newbie gardeners alike. You’ll not want to miss this one. Wear appropriate clothing for outside and bring your pruners and gloves. Class will last 1-1/2 hours.

June 9 – Irrigation “How To” for New Homeowners: So you just moved in to a home with an irrigation system and you haven’t a clue as to how to turn it on, much less what comprises the system or how it works. Fear not! Moana Nursery Plant Doctor and long time high desert gardener Steve Packer will walk you thru the basics, explaining the differences between drip and lawn irrigation, and showing you how to program, trouble shoot and operate your system. He’ll also suggest who to call if you need help or would rather have someone do it for you.

June 16 – Culinary/Medicinal Herbs in Your Garden and/or Kitchen: With so many herbs having multiple uses, this is a great opportunity to learn from local herb experts Kim Powers and Evert Broderick. They’ll teach you about herbs you may already be growing (or want to grow) as well as some in your spice rack that work well for health challenges or just improve and maintain your already good health. They’ll also share helpful hints on how to prepare the herbs and offer a few tidbits for you to taste.

Both Kim and Evert have been on the path of learning and sharing about herbs and essential oils for many years and recently completed teaching the first year of classes at Truckee Meadows Community College that fulfill the requirements for a Certificate in Herbal Studies. They also teach at Headwaters Outdoor School in Mt. Shasta, Calif. They live in the Virginia City area where most of what they plant feeds the wildlife in the area--whether or not it was their intention to share!

June 23 -- Extending the Growing Season: While we’re off to one of our best growing seasons in recent memory, we still have at least three more months left to grow. Learn what you need to be doing in your garden now to make the most of your efforts: successive plantings, row covers, fall crops, cover crops, planting onion seeds for next year and more. Instructor TBA.

All seminars are free and held at Moana Nursery, 1190 W. Moana Lane, Reno, in our Landscape and Design Center unless otherwise stated. Seminars begin promptly at 10 a.m. and last one hour. Please arrive 15 minutes early, as seating is limited to 60 and is first come, first served. Visit www.moananursery.com or call (775) 825-0600 for more information.

Plant sale sneak peek

Laurel — 2012-05-15T02:43:02Z

UNCE (co-op extension) has posted a list of the plants that will be at the Master Gardener Plant Faire Saturday at http://www.unce.unr.edu/calendar/files/pdf/2012PlantFaireFlyer.pdf. Yes, it includes a price list, and I'm including it in my "Cheapskate Gardening" category now.

If only it didn't start so darned early . . .

Hope returns to Rabbitbrush Ranch

Laurel — 2012-05-13T20:09:03Z

Gardening still hasn't really started here. While you might have thought I've been too busy with my plants to blog, the reality is I've been shoveling dirt and sifting rocks.

Here's some advice: Don't ever let a piece of heavy equipment anywhere near your yard. I let myself be talked into letting a backhoe remove the sod in the front yard. I posted a picture of what was left March 30.

A "skid steer" loader was supposed to smooth and level the mess the backhoe left both in the front and in the back where we removed the raised deck, cottonwood tree and pond last fall. It didn't. Here's the way it left the front yard:

The photo below doesn't even show all the dirt that had to be moved one shovelful at a time to level this area in the back yard:

We used a rototiller in the front yard for a day or two, but other than that.my husband, our sons and I have been doing the leveling and smoothing by hand.

Now, to me, gardening is working with plants, not with dirt and rocks. Unfortunately, the dirt has to be in the right place before I can plant, and the dirt is full of rocks.

Specifically, the dirt is full of red lava rocks. I'm still trying to figure out if occur naturally here or if a previous owner for some reason had the entire lot covered with fill dirt full of them. It's possible they were deposited here in a mudslide a few decades ago. They collect at the surface when we move dirt around so we sift them and put them aside to use later.

I've really been feeling sorry for myself because I feel as if I'm missing spring. I've had nothing positive to say in my blog.

But I'm starting to feel some hope!

Our front yard is close to being ready to landscape finally. (But see the green? Neither the backhoe nor the loader removed all the sod.)

We've decided to have a contractor install an irrigation system in the front yard, and that is scheduled for the middle of the week.

I finally did enough in back to plant a blue spruce:

The flowers I planted along the front walk last year are thriving. Some of the petunias even came back! That was a pleasant surprise. I've always pulled them when they froze in the fall, but last year I decided to leave them since they withstood the early frosts well and they're in a protected spot on the south side of the house.

Finally, our first family of doves has already hatched in the nest above the walk.. (Yes, we put the box there for them.) There are two babies with the mother in the photo below, but you might have to look closely to see the one on the left.

Flowers are blooming, birds are doing their thing and we should be able to lay sod and plant things in the front yard by the end of the week. Maybe you'll start seeing more posts here if I'm not too busy trying to make up for lost time.

Note

When we bought this house in fall 2010, I was looking forward to rescuing the neglected yard. I had no idea then that we would have to destroy most of it before we could "save" it. I've decided to add a "Rabbitbrush Ranch II" category to my posts about our progress in case anyone wants to follow it.

It's plant sale season

Laurel — 2012-05-12T21:30:34Z

Here are several Reno plant sales to put on your calendar:

Saturday, May 19, 7-11:30 a.m., Annual Master Gardener Plant Faire, UNCE
Not just a plant fair, a plant faire! The cooperative extension promises a wide variety of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, grasses, shrubs, grapes and more in 4-inch and 1-gallon containers. Among them will be more than 40 heirloom tomato varieties. 4955 Energy Way, Reno. More information: 784-4848.

Friday and Saturday, May 25-26, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Reno High Sustainable Agriculture and Urban Garden Project
OK, it says "Agriculuture," on the flier, but we know what they mean. (And just calling out their typo guarantees that I'll make a big one in this post.) Reno High's AP Environmental Science class is holding a veggie sale to raise funds for class projects. The flier says there will be several unique varieties of heirloom and traditional tomatoes, pepper varieties and strawberry plants.395 Booth St., Reno, Room E8. For more information, check out the flier.

Saturday, June 2, starting at 8 a.m., May Arboretum Society Plant Sale
I found this on their Web site but don't have any more information. I'm assuming it will be at the arboretum (Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Reno), but don't hold me to it.

If you know of any others, please let me know and I will share.

(Most of the) May gardening seminars at Moana

Laurel — 2012-05-05T04:35:05Z

I've blown it. I was just getting ready to share Moana Nursery's seminar schedule for May, and I realized it's too late for the first one. It required advance registration that ended Thursday. I'm sorry! Here are the rest of them, from the Moana Nursery news release:

May 12: Edibles in Small Spaces – Learn how easy it is to grow edibles in virtually any space – as long as it gets several hours of sunshine. The possibilities for growing edibles without a yard are endless – using Smart Pots, Earth Boxes, Dr. Earth Bag-tainers, raised beds and vertical walls. Join Dr. Earth gardening expert Thomas Chaplin for tips on raising the healthiest, tastiest home grown food imaginable.

May 12: Dr. Earth Answer Man -- 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside Moana Lane Store – Dr. Earth representative Thomas Chaplin will be available to analyze your lawn and garden problems. Learn how to live every day healthier and safer by using Mother Nature’s Organic fertilizers and insect, fungus and weed controls. Free samples.

May 19: Creating a Back Yard Bird Habitat: Join our plant doctor and long-time high desert gardener Jon Bruyn to learn how easy it is create a back yard habitat that that attracts a variety of birds. Your bird habitat will soon become an outdoor learning center for your entire family, providing year round entertainment.

All seminars are free and held at Moana Nursery, 1190 W. Moana Lane, in our Landscape and Design Center unless otherwise noted. Seminars begin promptly at 10 a.m. and last one hour. Please arrive 15 minutes early, as seating is limited to 60 and is first come, first served. Visit www.moananursery.com or call (775) 825-0600 for more information.

Plant sale--save the date

Laurel — 2012-04-29T04:14:52Z

The University of Nevada co-op extension will hold its annual Master Gardener Plant Faire Saturday, May 19. Hours are 7 to 11:30 a.m. I've heard you need to get there early for the best selection.

Expect annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, grasses, shrubs, grapes and more in 4-inch and 1-gallon sizes. Oh, did I mention there will be more than 40 different heirloom tomato varieties?

UNCE is at 4955 Energy Way in Reno. For more information, call 784-4848.

So it's called 'birdscaping'

Laurel — 2012-04-06T04:31:27Z

I've always tried to make my yard hospitable to birds. I plant flowers that provide nectar and seeds, and I try to avoid using pesticides for fear of harming birds when they eat poisoned bugs. (If only they'd hold up their end of the bargain and eat all the bugs!)

I also keep water in a bird bath during the summer and try to keep it clean. I'm proud of attracting hummingbirds without using a hummingbird feeder. And we make fools of ourselves accommodating (and photographing) doves that nest on our porch.

I've just learned that what I've been doing is called "birdscaping." A Moana Nursery news release about it gives some good tips:

Making yards more attractive to birds is called “birdscaping,” and it centers on offering a combination of food, shelter, water and places where birds can safely raise their young.

“Attracting a variety of birds requires offering a variety of foods,” explains Jacque Lowery, manager of Moana Nursery’s Wild Birds Unlimited stores. “The best way to provide that food is through vegetation that produces nuts, berries, fruits, seeds or nectar. You can supplement the plants you have with bird feeders.”

Having a variety of shrubs, trees and/or brush piles will provide shelter to many birds. Lowery recommends using plants that are native to our local climate and suitable for your yard’s type of soil.

A clean source of water will also attract a wider variety of birds. Because their high metabolic rate and respiratory system drain moisture from their bodies quickly, birds need water just as much as they need food. Birds use water for more than just drinking; they also use it for bathing and preening their feathers. Clean feathers are important for birds’ health and optimum flying ability.

Providing safe nesting places for raising young ensures the viability of your yard as an ongoing habitat. “People seek out the perfect neighborhoods in which to raise their children, and birds do the same,” says Lowery. “As more natural habitat is destroyed, it’s important that we provide usable replacements such as nesting boxes.”

There are many different styles of nesting boxes, including decorative, functional and bird-specific. Wild Birds Unlimited recommends that a functional nesting box meet these six requirements:

(1) Designed for a specific species, according to its size and nesting requirements

(2) Ventilation holes to prevent excess heat build-up

(3) Easily cleaned

(4) Easily mounted or hung

(5) Durable to withstand several seasons of use

(6) Drainage holes in the bottom of the house

It's finally April!

Laurel — 2012-04-02T04:46:30Z

April 1. The wind died down to a breeze, and the sun was shining except when the clouds blew over it once in a while. Compared with a summer day, it was chilly. Compared with the past few weeks, it was bliss. If you read my last post, you know how ready I was for this.

My husband and I went on somewhat of a buying binge and came home with cold weather flowers (freesia, stock, primrose, snapdragon) and a spruce tree to plant where we removed the cottonwood tree. It felt so good to spend the afternoon planting the flowers in front of the house. (The spruce will have to wait until we finish the leveling we started before the wind took over.)

I suspect/hope most local gardeners will be spending their weekends in their yards from now on, but Moana Nursery has announced a full schedule of seminars for this month. From their news release:

All seminars are free and held at Moana Nursery, 1190 W. Moana Lane, in our Landscape and Design Center. Seminars begin promptly at 10 a.m. and last one hour. Please arrive 15 minutes early, as seating is limited to 60 and is first come, first served. Visit www.moananursery.com or call (775) 825-0600 for more information.

April 7: Waterfowl . . . Ducks for the Whole Family 10 a.m. – noon - Who knew there were so many different varieties of ducks in Reno? Join local birding guru and longtime Audubon Society member Alan Gubanich for a slide show and pointers for identifying various duck species, followed by a field trip to Virginia Lake to practice what you’ve learned! For children ages 8 and up with a parent or grandparent. Meet in the Landscape & Design Center. Bring your binoculars and bird guides if you have them. If not, binoculars will be loaned. Free cracked corn will be supplied. Birdwatching is a great educational family activity that costs virtually nothing, so this is a great way to get started.

April 14: Water-wise Gardening Doesn’t Mean Zeroscape! Yes, you can grow a beautiful garden with four seasons of interest and have reasonable watering bills with water thrifty plants. Join Master Gardener Catherine Hancock to learn the basics of water-wise gardening – from how to select plants that will thrive in the high desert to how to install them for maximum interest and water efficiency.

April 21: Organic Vegetable Gardening Made Simple – Based on years of experience with his own high desert organic "market garden," urban farmer Craig Frezzette will teach the basic steps of creating and tending an organic garden – from living soil and seed starting to providing weather and critter protection. Craig sells his produce to local restaurants, the public and the Reno food co-op. and is passionate about the local food movement.

April 28: Beginner’s Guide to Bountiful Tomatoes -- Join Plant Doctor and long time high desert gardener Jon Bruyn to learn how easy it is to successfully grow and enjoy (harvest) tomatoes and other complementary warm season vegetables in the high desert. He’ll discuss varieties and proper care throughout the season. While this presentation is tailored to the novice gardener, it will cover many tips that advanced gardeners will find useful.

Die, wind, die

Laurel — 2012-03-31T02:31:07Z

These drab pictures reflect my mood at the moment. I've been looking at these piles of dirt--excuse me, soil--in the front yard for the past three weeks. I swear they were bigger when we peeled up the sod and put it in the piles, but the wind has been blowing on them ever since.

While waiting for the wind to stop so we can resume work in the front yard, I've been sorting rocks in the back. I want to reuse the ones we pulled out of the pond that was here when we bought the place.

The cart is new, and it's a big help. It's very sturdy, and it has a dump bed! I'd been picking up a rock or two and carrying them across the yard. Now I can fill the cart, drag it across the yard, and dump it. Less time, less energy.

It's easier for me to use than a wheel barrow because I don't have to lift the rocks as high to put them in it; you can even drop one or all of the sides if you want.

This is a Gorilla Cart (model GORMP-12) we bought at Costco, but there's a similar model at Amazon if you'd like a closer look.

I know spring will arrive when it's ready, but I'm having a hard time waiting. I know how much work there is for us to do as soon as the weather will let us, and by then we'll have to rush to be ready to plant things before summer is here. Until then, I guess I'll try to get by with my Trader Joe's daffodils. $1.29 for 10!

It's bird courting time

Laurel — 2012-03-19T05:36:57Z

No, not bird counting. Bird courting. A recent news release from Moana Nursery says,."Now is the time of year when male wild birds begin to draw the attention of females, and these courtship practices can be as entertaining as they are complex."

True. I happened to notice this pair of mourning doves the other day when I looked down at the yard from upstairs,. They were acting all cute and--sorry--lovey-dovey, so I snapped a quick picture from above. I know the lighting is awful, but if I waited for them to pose in good light I'd never get any pictures at all.

The news release says mourning birds fluff up their feathers and "dance." I wonder if that means the funny head bobbing they do. Soon the female will be sitting on a nest as if she were glued to it, and we'll be watching for babies. Last summer three successive batches of eggs hatched above our front walk.

In case you have questions about the birds in your yard, all three Moana Nursery locations host Wild Birds Unlimited, a franchise system that provides bird feeding and nature products, expert advice and educational events.

Moana Nursery reminds us to spice up our gardening

Laurel — 2012-03-15T23:22:33Z

Moana Nursery just sent me a reminder about the herbs and edible flowers seminar it has scheduled for this Saturday (March 17). Here are the details:

"Add variety and interest to your garden and table with fresh herbs and edible flowers. Join Master Gardener Whitney Lauren to learn where and how to incorporate them into your garden/containers as well as how to use them for cooking and even floral arrangements.

"This free seminar is held at Moana Nursery, 1190 W. Moana Lane, in our Landscape and Design Center. It will begin promptly at 10 a.m. and last one hour. Doors open at 9:45 a.m.; seating is limited to 60 and is first come, first served. Visit www.moananursery.com or call (775) 825-0600 for more information."

Why I have no use for weed cloth

Laurel — 2012-03-14T18:36:50Z

As you can see in these photos, salt grass grows wherever it wants. To stop it, the previous owners of our house tried heavy black plastic . . .

. . . a fabric-like barrier . . .

. . . another type of fabric-like barrier . . .

. . . . another type of fabric-like barrier . . .

. . . and a heavy tarp-like material, all with several inches of bark mulch on top it.

Parts of these barriers were exposed throughout our yard when we bought the house, and it looked (still looks) sloppy and ugly. We've been working on removing them, and it probably will take us at least the rest of this year.

I'm leaving the bark mulch in place. The rear section of the back yard, which has most of the bark and weed cloth, will be my native plants area. My plan is to just let the salt grass do whatever it wants there since it's going to anyway. Then I'll just be vigilant about other weeds (yeah, right).

It's almost time

Laurel — 2012-02-22T04:54:52Z

Sure, this is a false spring. That doesn't mean we can't enjoy it.

I spent some time today doing some tidying and pruning. I also walked around with a notepad making lists of things for everyone in the family to do so we can actually landscape the yard of our "new" house this year. (This spring, I hope.)

Another thing you could do now without putting any tender plants at risk is attend a gardening class. I received this list of free gardening seminars set for next month from Moana Nursery today:

March 3 – Ready, Set, Grow – Moana Nursery Plant Doctor and longtime high desert gardener Lisa Braginton will share tips to get your season going, showing that you can grow successfully virtually any place that has sun – from a small apartment balcony to a field for the hungry! If you’re new to gardening, this is another must class!

March 10 – Spring Lawn Basics – Moana Nursery Plant Doctor and longtime high desert gardener Jim Stanton will share some simple steps to ensure your lawn will be its very best this year – from animal and winter damage repairto feeding, weed control, mowing and watering practices. He’ll also discuss other low maintenance, living alternatives to turf grass.

March 17 – Edible and Ornamental Herbs – Fresh herbs are good for you, good for the birds and good for the eye. Learn where and how to incorporate them into your garden or containers and how to cook with them.

March 24 – It’s Rose Pruning Time -- Master Gardener and rose guru Charlene Oakes will discuss when (April) and how to prune your roses and demonstrate proper techniques. She will also share other care tips for having spectacular roses, especially if you’ve never grown roses before; you’ll learn how easy they can be when the right varieties are chosen.

March 31 – Good Bugs, Bad Bugs – Yes, there are good bugs and they are your garden’s friends -- the trick is knowing what they do and how to identify them. You’ll also learn how to identify the bad bugs and how to control them. Join Moana Nursery’s Jim Stanton and Bonide’s John Ford for this informative seminar.

All seminars are free and held at Moana Nursery, 1190 W. Moana Lane, in the Landscape and Design Center. Seminars begin promptly at 10 a.m. and last one hour. Please arrive 15 minutes early, as seating is limited to 60 and is first come, first served. Visit www.moananursery.com or call (775) 825-0600 for more information.

Book review: The New Sunset Western Garden Book

Laurel — 2012-02-08T22:57:38Z

I consult the Sunset Western Garden Book whenever I choose a new plant for my garden, but I don’t buy it every time it’s updated. Plants don’t change that much over the years, do they?

However, I was curious about the new (ninth) edition, released this month just in time to plan this year’s gardening. I don’t know whether recent editions have addressed climate change before, but I was curious to see what the new guide would have to say about it. After all, Northern Nevada’s first and last frost dates have changed in recent years, and it’s been a long time since we’ve seen 20 degrees below zero here.

So the first thing I looked at in The New Sunset Western Garden Book was the climate zone section and found that it still shows our minimum temperature as 20 below. The editors do discuss “Climate Change and Gardening”: They say average temperatures in the West have risen a degree or two in the past 30 years but that does not change the zones.

Northern Nevada, by the way, is in Sunset garden zone 2B. Both Reno and Carson City are actually on the edge between 2B and 1A, “the coldest zone west of the Rockies.” (Sunset climates zones are different from USDA zones, which are used by many seed and plant catalogs.)

The Sunset guide has always been a complete package of gardening knowledge for Western gardeners, and the editors seem to have added even more to the new edition.

A section I used a lot when I had to landscape a bare half acre in the 1980s was the Plant Finder. That section seems to have grown. Now it has 11 lists of plants to solve problems such as wind or hungry deer and nine lists of “earth-friendly” plants adapted for certain growing conditions or attractive to birds, bees and so on.

It also has seven lists of plants for “special effects.” Do you know what a moon garden is? No, it’s not round, and no, it’s not rocky and pitted. It’s a garden filled with plants that are attractive at night.

Can’t wait to buy the book? The Sunset site has a searchable Plant Finder.

The Gardening, Start to Finish section of the book probably will allow you to get rid of all your other gardening books. It provides everything you need to know, including planning, soil preparation, planting, growing various types of plants, watering, fertilizing, staking/training, protection and managing pests, diseases and weeds. All of the advice is based on years of experience in the western states.

The heart of the book, of course, is the encyclopedia of 9,000 plants (compared with 8,000 in the previous edition). Each entry gives a plant description, the zones the plant will survive in, sun and water needs and potential size. The encyclopedia includes color photos for the first time.

The plants are listed by their botanical names, but the Sunset editors have thought of everything. If all you know is a common name, you can find it in the index. They even provide an explanation of botanical names and a pronunciation guide.

Sunset is publishing the “paperback” version of the new edition with what it calls “flexible” binding. It’s sturdy paper with a glossy finish, and it overlaps the pages like a “hard” cover. It’s supposed to be more durable than a regular paperback cover. It will be interesting to see how it holds up with the heavy use I will be giving it.

The New Sunset Western Garden Book has a cover price of $34.95 for the flexible binding and $44.95 for the hardcover, but I’ve already seen it for less at Amazon.com. If you would like to try to win a free copy, you have until 9 a.m. Feb. 12 to submit up to 75 words about what makes a great western garden.

Also posted on ThisIsReno.com.

'Tis the season . . . for gardening classes

Laurel — 2012-02-01T04:31:27Z

Northern Nevadans know we can't start gardening in February no matter how sunny it is. This is a great time, though, for gardening classes.

Moana Nursery has four gardening seminars scheduled for February (from a news release):

Feb. 4—Ornamental and Fruit Tree Pruning — Hands-on workshop with Moana Nursery Plant Doctor and Certified Arborist Jon Bryn. Wear appropriate clothing for outside and bring your pruners and gloves. Class will last 1-1/2 hours.

Feb. 11—Shrub, Vines, Grape & Berry Pruning — Hands-on workshop with Moana Nursery Plant Doctor and Certified Arborist Jon Bryn. Wear appropriate clothing for outside and bring your pruners and gloves. Class will last 1-1/2 hours.

Feb. 18: High Desert Gardening 101 — Moana Nursery Plant Doctor and longtime high desert gardener Steve Packer will teach you the basics. If you’re new to gardening or new to the area, this course is a must to ensure your gardening success!

Feb. 25: It’s All About the Soil! — Moana Nursery Plant Doctor and longtime high desert gardener Lisa Braginton will show you why the key to gardening success begins with the soil and why the soil in Northern Nevada needs to be amended and fed.

All seminars are free and held at Moana Nursery, 1190 W. Moana Lane, in the Landscape and Design Center. Seminars begin promptly at 10 a.m. and last an hour unless otherwise noted. The nursery recommends arriving 15 minutes early as seating is limited to 60 and is first come, first served. Visit Moana's website or call (775) 825-0600 for more information.

First crocus/crocuses/croci of 2012

Laurel — 2012-01-31T23:41:09Z

These tiny beauties appeared along my front walk yesterday. They caught me by surprise because, as you can see, hardly any foliage has poked up.

Yes, these are the cheap crocus bulbs I bought at WinCo and planted in the fall of 2010. I complained a couple of times last year because they just sent up foliage and never bloomed. I'm sorry, WinCo.Well, kind of. They really should have bloomed the first year.

As I wrote the headline for this post, I wasn't sure about the plural of "crocus." I first checked my gardening bible, the Sunset Western Garden Book. It seemed to use "crocus" as the plural.

To be sure, I checked the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Its first choice is "crocuses," but it also gives "crocus" and "croci" as plural. That means I'm covered no matter what I do. I still don't think I'll ever use the word "croci."

Speaking of the Sunset guide, I recently found out they're publishing an updated edition! I can't wait to check it out and review it here.

Thinking about growing your own food?

Laurel — 2012-01-27T06:29:40Z

Although I've been growing flowers longer than I'll admit, I started trying to grow food just a few years ago. Where did I turn to get up to speed on fruit and veggie growing? The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

The Cooperative Extension is Information Central for all aspects of Northern Nevada gardening, which is why I've had a link to it here forever and why you should consider signing up for its "Grow Your Own!" classes if you've been thinking about growing your own food.

From a UNCE news release:

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension has eight new “Grow Your Own!” classes to help you get on the path to sustainable, local, healthy living.

Beginning in February and ending in late March, UNCE offices in Carson City, Duck Valley, Elko, Ely, Eureka, Fallon, Hawthorne, Logandale, Reno, Winnemucca and Yerington will return with the ever-popular “Grow Your Own!” series, providing gardeners and health buffs in the Silver State with a “back-to-the-basics guide to great harvests in Nevada.”

Schedule

Feb. 8: What to do with all those seed catalogs
Feb. 15: Greenhouse growing
Feb. 22: Raised-bed gardening
Feb. 29: Edible landscaping
March 7: Training and pruning fruit trees
March 14: From anise to yarrow: growing herbs
March 21: Saving seeds from your garden
March 28: Preserving your harvest

“Anyone can become a better gardener by attending these classes,” said Horticulture Specialist Heidi Kratsch. “From the beginner to the advanced gardener, everyone can benefit from a Grow Your Own class.”

Extension experts will touch on seed storing, raised-flower-bed construction, best practices for growing delicious herbs and vegetables, and the benefits of low-cost, high-yield greenhouses and hoop houses.

“Hoop houses are really taking off here,” Kratsch said. “Some Nevadans who built hoop houses last season are reaping the benefits of this warm, dry winter by growing some of their foods year-round.”

To register for any and all of the upcoming “Grow Your Own!” classes, contact Ashley Andrews at the Washoe County Cooperative Extension Office at (775) 784-4848.

The class fee for Reno residents is $15, or $60 to register for all eight classes.

Class fees in other locations may vary. Carson City, Duck Valley, Elko, Ely, Eureka, Fallon, Lovelock, Pahrump, Winnemucca, Tonopah and Yerington residents should contact their local Cooperative Extension office for information on attending the series in those locations.

See and learn about orchids this weekend

Laurel — 2012-01-25T03:48:27Z

This is an orchid I bought at Trader Joe's for $7.99 two years ago. It's living proof that orchids are easy to grow, because I still have the plant. (I know, it's hard for me to believe myself!) Getting it to bloom again might be another story, but it did bloom for months after I bought it.

Before I took a chance on this plant, I thought orchids were just for prom corsages and eccentric people who obsessed about them. Now I know their beauty is within the reach of even a black-thumbed person like me.

I'm telling you all this as a way of introducing the rest of this post, which is based on a news release I got from Moana Nursery today.

The nursery will be hosting the Northern Nevada Orchid Show Friday through Sunday (Jan. 27– 29). The show will include the Easy Orchid Seminar Saturday.

A selection of several varieties of unusual orchids–including funky masdevallias, foliage jewel orchids, dendrobiums, phaleonopsis, lady slippers, and cattleyas–plus orchid supplies will be available for purchase. Ten percent of orchid purchases made during the show will be donated by Moana Nursery to the Orchid Society.

Schedule

Orchid Society of Northern Nevada Show - Moana Lane Garden Center

Friday, Jan. 27—Noon to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 28—11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 29—11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Members of the society will be exhibiting some of their rare plants at the show and will be available to answer questions about orchids and the society throughout the show.

Easy Orchids Seminar with Sean Abbott of Moana Landscape & Design Center

Saturday, Jan. 28—10 a.m.

Learn how easy it is to have gorgeous blooming orchids. With a few simple tips, you will be able to grow orchids that bloom for months. According to Moana Nursery, the hardest thing about orchids is choosing a color!