Bloom

Hello fellow anglers, I wanted to give you a small report on the higher lakes in the Alpine County area. Although down in the valley the temperatures have been in the low 40's to mid 70 degrees. The higher lakes are still in winter, spring mode. Temperatures are in the low 30's and not rising until after mid day and may only hold a mid 60 degree temperature for an hour or so. Be prepared when you travel to the higher elevations.

There’s nothing unlucky about this Friday the Thirteenth. Spring is in full bloom, the sun is shining, and the weekend is hours away. Beers and Brats returns to Fuji Park; the girls of Nevada Sharks Fastpitch look forward to seeing you. Upstairs in the ballroom of the Brewery Arts Center, a special show featuring Pioneer High School students’ art begins at 5 p.m. Enjoy a night on the town with live music at the Fandango, Max Casino, Bella Fiore, Westside Pour House, and Glen Eagles. Check out the list for all of today’s options.

FRIDAY:

Recently, my friend Bob in Gardnerville asked me to recommend a native groundcover that was more insect-friendly than vinca, otherwise known as periwinkle. I asked him a few questions about the site. It faces southwest, has poor soil and is irrigated.

Hello fellow anglers, we're less than a month from opening trout season in Alpine County and throughout California. Many of you are beginning to plan ahead for the weekend of April 30. I just wanted to give you some info on the campground situation.

I should not have done it, but old habits, and common sense, die hard. Carson Street is the main drag through town, always was, always will be, for going between the north and south sides of town. Just look on the map. There are no through-street alternatives that run the length of town, from College Parkway to Clearview Drive; only fragments, most of which are residential.

All winter I have said, wait to prune your roses. April 15 is time to prune roses. While there are general rose pruning principles, the different types of roses: hybrid teas, floribundas, shrub, climbers, ramblers and miniatures, all have special requirements.

My friend Monique asked me to write about shrubs that attract birds. A bird-friendly habitat requires food, water and shelter. Food consists of sap, nectar, pollen, seeds, nuts, berries or fruits. Shrubs should be dense enough to support nests, but also allow birds to move about to escape predators.

This is a picture of an unsung hero of Carson City, though few know of him. No, it's not really Santa under a rainbow but it is a picture of a simple hard working business owner who, like countless other business owners, makes this city work as part of the free enterprise system. This man is out before dawn cleaning and preparing the property where he runs his business and is still at work long after dark every day throughout the year.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Oct. 21, 2015 and beyond.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Sept. 16, 2015 and beyond. Note: Nevada Department of Wildlife fishing reports for Western Nevada waters are not included as their reports have not been updated since June 4.

Here is the fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for July 22, 2015 and beyond.

Hello fellow anglers, there are only two things that make me extremely angry, and I experienced both of them this last week. While fishing last week, I met an angler with a limit of nice rainbow trout.

Later one that same morning I saw him fishing again in the same spot catching more fish. He had taken his first catch home and returned the same day to catch more fish.

The summer of 1776 must not have been much different from other summers gone and yet to come: Hot, muggy and miserable for those who had to work out in it. And in 1776 that included most people.

Like any other summer, that particular one 239 years ago was alive with fragrances in full bloom; the sounds of children playing in fields of wild flowers, and splashing about in creeks and ponds where it was cool; young animals frolicking in the fields; men and women toiling in their gardens and on their farms; and the happy songs of birds, crickets and frogs relishing in the summer solstice.

Here is this July 4 holiday weekend fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and northern California. Pack a cooler, stay hydrated and don't forget your fishing license.

High Desert Harmony’s Annual Reno Artown Performance! Music in Bloom! The event will be Saturday July 18, 2015 7pm at Reno High School at Booth & Foster Drives.
Free Community Concert with HDH’s own quartets Chordacious & Just Flakes. . . and Featuring Whatever 4 Quartet from Sacramento Barbershop Express & Barbershop Brigade from Reno’s Silver Dollar Men’s Chorus.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of May 13 and beyond.

Extreme drought in the West draws attention to what a precious resource water is. Of all the water on Earth, only a small amount is available for us to use. Since 97 percent is salt water, there is only three percent fresh water for the world to survive on. Of that, slightly over two percent is stuck in glaciers and icecaps.

Yet, even with such a small percentage of fresh water available, we put 50 percent of our home water into our landscapes, often wasting about 50 percent of that by applying it ineffectively or unnecessarily.

What gorgeous weather we have this weekend! Head over to Eagle Valley Middle School for a rummage sale benefiting their LEGO Robotics Team; you may find something fun for your patio. The Spring Fling Stop and Shop at the Plaza Hotel will help you spruce up your wardrobe. Or head up to Silver City for the big closing sale at Doodad’s Emporium. If you find yourself in Gardnerville, the First Annual Summer Splendor Showcase and Expo features vendors galore.

SATURDAY:

• Last Day to buy tickets for High Sierra Swing Dance Club Spring Ball Dinner and Dance on April 25 ($35; To reserve a will-call ticket, call Rika at 530-307-8937 or Idie at 775-443-8870 by; no tickets will be sold at the door.)
• Escape From Prison Hill Half Marathon and 10K begins at the Silver Saddle Ranch (8am-12pm; Half-Marathon: Packet Pickup/Race Day: $50, 10K: Packet Pickup/Race Day: $40)

We prune shrubs for a number of reasons. We want to remove dead or diseased wood. We may feel the shape of the plant needs improving and choose to prune branches that cross or stick out. Another important reason to prune is to maintain or improve flower production.

Timing is important with each of these, but particularly important to increase flowers. Often people get the urge to prune everything in the spring, not realizing that may be the worst time to prune flowering plants such as lilac, if you want to have flowers.

Weeds are taking off. Some are already blooming. Yesterday I saw my first bur buttercup, Ceratocephala testiculata, in bloom. While this tiny little winter annual with its petite yellow flower doesn’t seem like much at two inches tall, its Velcro-like seed heads wind themselves up in an animal’s hair and eventually have to be cut out.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Oct. 15-21, 2014.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Oct. 8-14, 2014.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Aug. 13-20, 2014.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Aug. 6-12, 2014.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. This report is for the week of June 30 through Aug. 5, 2014.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of July 23, 2014.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of July 16, 2014.

Now that we are at that time of the year that I hate (daytime temperatures near, at or over 100 degrees), my thoughts drift off to hiking and fishing for trout at higher altitudes where it is cooler than here in Carson City.
When our local summer temperatures are over 80 degrees, it is miserably hot – hot – hot for this poor, sweltering soul.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, northern California and the Sierra. This report is for the week of July 9-15, 2014.

Hello fellow anglers, happy Independence Day to you all. There will be a lot of people out and about this weekend. If you are headed out to do some fishing this weekend, I have the place.  Number one on the list this week is Caples Lake. This is what they offer, bed and breakfast rooms, cabins on the lake, general store, 12-14 foot fishing boat, kayaks or canoe rentals.