Apples

Happy New Year! Many of us are glad to see the end of 2020 and hope 2021 will be much healthier and more peaceful. The calendar says winter is here, but the temperatures don’t seem to agree. I’m not complaining — sunny winter days in the upper 40s make me happy. Something that does concern me though is the lack of snow.

Snow and cold, oh boy! The leaves still remaining on the ground are heavy and soggy, so no raking for a bit. That’s good news. The ground is moist again, so more good news. I got the tools, hoses, sprinklers and patio furniture put away before the storms. We turned off and drained the main sprinklers in time. So far so good.

Heading into the weeknd, there’s a bevy of activities around the Carson City area. Lions Club kicks off its annual “White Cane Days” Saturday and Sunday in Carson City to increase awareness of the white cane traffic safety laws, and collect used eyeglasses for distribution to those in need. Local business Wizard of Pawz grooming salon hosts a socially-distanced grand opening on Saturday afternoon, followed by a pool tournament at Bulldog Billiards at 6 p.m. Combined with live music and karaoke, the state capitol will be packed with excitement! Read on for more information.

A big Thank You to all who have supported us and all the local farmers of Nevada! We are sold out of apples for this year, but look forward to seeing you about the 3rd week of September in 2021!

Heading into the weekend, there’s a bevy of activities around the Carson City region. Franktown Apples in Washoe Valley is hosting apple picking Friday through Sunday. In celebration of National Public Lands Day, Nevada State Parks will have a fee-free day on Saturday filled with hikes and tours. Combined with live music and dinner at local restaurants, the weekend will be filled with excitement! Read on for more information.

UPDATE: Organizers say due to an overwhelming response, the apple picking has finished as there are no more apples to sell. Organizers say they will bring the picking back next year.


I found photos last week of our landscape when we bought the house in 1988. There were trees lined up like soldiers along the borders of the property and lawn everywhere else. No flowers, no shrubs. Everything was flat. Although this was boring, it certainly was easy to maintain. Thirty-two years later, I look back at that landscape and think, why did I plant so much?

I can’t believe what I’ve been doing this past week. All gardeners realize there are a lot of repetitive, often tedious, tasks involved in gardening successfully. But seriously! I have been snipping off hundreds, no thousands, of crabapples. Most people let the crabapples stay on the tree for fall color. Believe me, I would like to do that, but ...

Look under your fruit trees. You might see dozens of tiny fruit on the ground. Don’t worry; it’s the June drop. Since trees often set more fruit than they can support, each June they shed an abundance of underdeveloped fruit.


I’ve been watching the apple buds, waiting to see swelling begin, waiting for color to start showing. Last week I was excited to finally see a bit of color. Then, snow and overnight lows in the low twenties hit, which is just like last year, when we had no apples. I hope the cold doesn’t kill the blossoms and my apple crop again this year.

The first of a series of 12 educational gardening classes presented through the collaboration of Carson Tahoe Health and The Greenhouse Project begins this Friday, Jan. 24. Site managers Cory King and William Pierz have put together the monthly series of classes.

I come from a very outcome driven profession, marketing communications. Every action is measured. ROI (return on investment), CPM (cost per thousand), everything is counted to make sure campaigns are effective. Outcomes are everything. Imagine how hard it was to transition into a much more human side of communications.

UPDATE: The 19-year-old bear captured Tuesday in Carson City by wildlife officials has died as a result of a brain tumor after he was tranquilized, with the intention of being released later into the wild, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Go here for the updated version of this story.
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With recent bear sightings around Carson City, including Tuesday morning off of Minnesota Street, it is a sure sign that fall has set in as the capital city area is seeing increased bear foraging activity, according to wildlife officials.

Washington State House of Representatives in capital Olympia opened its March 6 session with Hindu prayers, containing verses from world’s oldest existing scripture.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed delivered the invocation from ancient Sanskrit scriptures. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English interpretation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.

Washington State House of Representatives in Olympia will start its day on March six with Hindu prayer, containing verses from world’s oldest existing scripture.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will deliver the invocation from ancient Sanskrit scriptures before the House. After Sanskrit delivery, he then will read the English interpretation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.

Although I have never tried Epsom salts, named for a town in England, in my landscape or garden, I have heard many gardeners rave about what they call a miracle cure for plants. Whenever I wonder about whether something is a horticulture myth, I turn to Linda Chalker-Scott, Ph.D., a well-respected horticulture researcher at Washington State University.

Good morning, Carson City, on this first day of February. Our area has been enjoying Spring-like weather and temperatures all week long. Today will be no different, so enjoy the pleasant conditions while they last.

A series of storms is forecast to move into our region Saturday, dropping temperatures as well as rain and snow. As the photo suggests, rain in the morning is a sailor's warning, so batten down those hatches.

A collaboration between Carson Tahoe Health and The Greenhouse Project, The Foothill Garden in Carson City is home to sustainable growing classes year round. Classes provide a variety of local experts who specialize in teaching people how to grow their own food.

On a recent visit to Oregon, I spent three days harvesting produce from our friends’ garden before temperatures could kill cold-sensitive crops. We harvested bushels of tomatoes, four kinds of peppers including "Jimmy Nardellos" and jalapeños, lemon cucumbers, "Malibu" green beans, artichokes, golden raspberries, basil and figs.

I would like to think I’m on task for completing necessary fall gardening activities. In all honesty, I’m probably not. I tend to procrastinate until the window for getting jobs done is closed.

Thomas the Tank Engine is in town this weekend greeting his young fans and taking them on a magical train ride in Virginia City.

Don't miss a chance to see the pride of Sodor in action.

Nevada Day and the big parade are just one week away, but first is the annual Carson City Ghost Walk this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in downtown Carson City.

This will be the final weekend for a chance to bring the family to the Apple Basket for an amazing and unique adventure at the only u-pick organic apple orchard in northern Nevada. Open 9-5 Saturday and 1-5 Sunday. Children's play area, picnic area, gift shop with local honey, lavender jewelry, and gifts. We look forward to seeing you! 7425 Franktown Rd. Washoe Valley, NV.

The mighty U.S. Navy Blue Angels and fellow air show performers give an encore performance Sunday, the final day of the 2018 Aviation Roundup at the Minden-Tahoe Airport.

Keep your eyes to the skies and your ears to the wind for that famous navy blue streak.

The thunderous roar of jet engines will rumble across the skies above Carson City and the Carson Valley this weekend as the famed U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight team headlines the 2018 Aviation Roundup at the Minden-Tahoe Airport.

Weekend events, including Oktoberfests and zany outhouse races, continue Sunday around Carson City and throughout the greater Reno-Tahoe area.

October in Northern Nevada means more than Nevada Day. There are also outhouse races, fall festivals and Oktoberfests; all three of which are happening this first weekend of October around the region.

Birds, bears, bobcats, deer, tree squirrels, voles, moles and more are migrating from summer to winter habitat. With the arrival of autumn, animals must devour quantities of calories to prepare for winter food scarcity. Abundant fruit is falling off trees, waiting for hungry critters to come and get it.

With daytime high temperatures in the low 70s, Sunday could just about be a near-perfect day for outdoor activities in celebration of September's swan song.

Saturday is recognized nationwide as National Ghost Hunting Day as well as Nevada Public Lands Day statewide. Odd as it may seem, the two can be combined at haunts around Nevada.