critters

Carson Now reader Katie Farr submitted these photos of Carson City's wildlife she came across. It's been a great summer for critters so far!

My neighbor Mark, now known as “Chip” after Chip Gaines from “Fixer Upper” on HGTV, acquired his new moniker after building an amazing fence to enclose his wife’s garden (with her help of course!). Since we have major animal challenges in our neighborhood — ground squirrels, rabbits, deer and bears — a strong defense system is essential for successful vegetable production. The impressive garden fence that "Chip" built should keep all the critters out.

I’m watching leaves fall. What does one do with all these leaves? I mentioned in a previous article, some can be used as mulch around trees and shrubs. Others can be shredded with the lawnmower and added to a compost pile. However, winter composting presents a few challenges, primarily due to the cold temperatures. But you can still compost.

Skunks are back in our neighborhood. Twenty-five years ago we had skunks here regularly, sometimes living under our shed. Our dogs would run through nearby fields and get sprayed. When the golf course was built across the creek from us and numerous houses went in, skunks disappeared.

The word “pest” means different things to different people: weeds that are never-ending, insects on plants or in houses, plant diseases of all types, mushrooms in a lawn or critters digging up a garden or yard. Gardening is not for the faint of heart. Some people spray or use a chemical for everything, whether it is called for or not. This is not necessarily an effective approach.

Heading into Thursday, June 27, 2019, there's plenty to do and see around the Carson City area as we march toward an action-packed weekend. There's a morning Muscle Powered walk, Food Truck Thursday at Mills Park, a Farmers Market in Dayton, a discussion on climate change at Western Nevada College, a history presentation on Chinese woodcutters at the Nevada State Museum, a presentation by the NNDA Executive Director at a GOP monthly meeting, Cruise Night at Wing Stop, an information meeting on the Ross Gold Park master plan hosted by Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space. Read on. There's more.

With a windy cool down headed our way, activities around the Carson City area Wednesday, June 26 will make for a breezy good time. Looking at the day ahead there's a walk hosted by parks and recreation, kids events, Wheeled Food Wednesday at the Brewery Arts Center, a free "rough cut" feature film screening at the Carson Nugget, Young Chautauquans at Dangberg Historic Park and more.

As we set our radar ahead to Tuesday, June 25, 2019, we say hello Carson City and welcome to a bevy of events ahead including activities for children of all ages, a Muscle Powered morning walk, evening hike and bike ride, a cyber security awareness workshop hosted by DeBug Computer, a job fair at the Carson Nugget, art showings, a delicious taste of France via Bleu Café Culinary Travelers Club and more. Read on for what's happening.

I bumped into my friend Cat at a nursery buying marigolds to solve a problem her lilacs were having. She said something was eating the leaves along the edges leaving sharp-edged cutouts. She said someone swore that marigolds planted around the base of the shrubs would solve the problem.

Heading into Tuesday, June 18, 2019 we're looking at continued warming around the region with a daytime high around 91. Temperatures are expected to actually lower toward the end of the week. Events around town Tuesday include a Muscle Powered walk, hike and bike ride, yoga, exercises for the mind and body hosted by the Carson City Emblem Club, political gatherings, art activities and more.

SILVER SPRINGS, Nev. — Fort Churchill State Historic Park is offering a variety of ranger-led programs during the month of July. Programs highlight the area’s rich history and abundant natural resources.

Carson City University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, in partnership with Carson City Parks and Recreation and Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch, is offering two weekly sessions at Silver Saddle Ranch, 2648 Carson City Road in Carson City, for youth who are not able to keep or raise a small farm animal to experience working with either rabbits or goats. Area 4-H leaders will bring their animals for attendees, 9 – 14 years of age, to work with in these hands on day camps.

SILVER SPRINGS, Nev. — Fort Churchill State Historic Park is offering a variety of ranger-led programs during the month of June. Events highlight the area’s rich history and abundant natural resources. Among the activities are:

Greetings Carson City as we head into the first day of the work week, Monday, April 22, 2019. With Earth Day being recognized around the globe, we celebrate our climate, season, critters and natural beauty of this place we call home. Monday will bring sunny skies, light winds and a daytime high near 70. Another beautiful day for a morning, afternoon or evening walk, bike ride, or stroll through downtown. Enjoy.

To grow strawberries successfully there are a few things to know: which type and variety to select, the correct growing conditions, how to rejuvenate a bed and how to protect those succulent fruits from the critters.

Carson City 4-H programs, brought to you through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, have new and on-going project clubs open to area youth ages 5–18.

Happy Groundhog Day, Carson City! While the prognosticating Punxsutawney Phil looks for his shadow in western Pennsylvania, our region is bracing for more Winter weather due to arrive this weekend.

Phil might speak for his neck of the woods, where he bats about .390, but I would keep an eye on our critters here to determine how much more Winter we have left.

Anyone who lives near wilderness ought to know that wildlife comes with the territory.

Wild critters are no strangers to the front and back yards of Carson City residents. They also know their way around the streetscape pretty well, too.

Big trees inspire me. In part, it’s their age, but it’s also their size. I was in Agate Bay at Lake Tahoe recently staying with a friend. Outside the back door is one of the biggest Jeffrey pines I have seen. It’s massive and regal.

In what has become a holiday tradition, critters and children of all ages are invited to join CASI at Benson's Feed in Carson City for Pictures with Santa.

Garden Media Group (GMG), a public relations firm based in Pennsylvania, has been predicting gardening trends since 2001. In their recent report, “Rooted Together,” they have incorporated statistics from the National Gardening Association’s (NGA) annual survey to come up horticultural predictions for 2019.

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.

GARDNERVILLE, Nev. — It wouldn't be fall in the Carson Valley without the annual Scarecrow and Harvest Festival hosted by Main Street Gardens and East Fork Gallery. Or the Annual Slaughterhouse Lane Coffin and Stretcher Races.

This year Main Street Gardnerville has combined all these events into one big festival called Main Street Fall Fest, with more music, activities, demonstrations and vendors at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Today's column features good news and bad news. The bad news is Labor Day is now behind us and we must re-adjust to a regular two-day weekend again. But therein lies the good news. Another weekend has arrived, and you'll find plenty of ways to enjoy your time off.

I had already written out this morning's column ahead of time when I learned of U.S. Sen. John McCain's passing.

His death has changed the course of my day, because now I am writing to remember the man who earned the media moniker of "Maverick," and the reputation of someone who usually went his own way.

SILVER SPRINGS, Nev. — Fort Churchill State Historic Park is offering a variety of ranger-led programs during the month of August. Programs highlight the area’s rich history and abundant natural resources.

CARSON CITY — Signups are underway for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's new 4-H club for children ages 9-12. Kids who enroll will be able to be involved in the science of gardening and will learn what it takes to grow their own tomatoes and more.

Recently, I wrote that aphids invaded our ash trees, but I’m pleased to report that a battalion of good little buggers came to the rescue.

I’m referring to the syrphid flies, sometimes called flower flies or hoverflies.

SILVER SPRINGS, Nev. — Fort Churchill State Historic Park is offering a variety of ranger-led programs during the month of July. Programs highlight the area’s rich history and abundant natural resources.

Farmers, ranchers and gardeners everywhere face many of the same challenges: Weeds growing in unwanted places, critters digging holes and insects eating plants. To help producers better understand and overcome these common struggles, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension presents “Weeds, Critters and Insects in the Landscape and Garden,” May 29 at the CVIC Hall in Minden.