Villager Blurbhttp://www.villagernursery.comFri, 18 May 2012 18:57:01 GMTThu, 17 May 2012 04:02:22 GMTTruckee Spring - Mid-Mayhttp://www.villagernursery.com/truckee-spring-mid-mayWed, 16 May 2012 05:00:00 GMTEric Larusson

Day-length is rapidly increasing, the soils continue to absorb the sun's radiation and the average temperatures are climbing.  Tonights average low in downtown Truckee, is 31°F, last nights 30°, a week ago 28°.  Our night-time temps have been WAY above average and we are all loving it but averages are just the mathematical numbers in the middle of the extremes of reality.  It will be nearly miraculous (or ominous) if we don't have more snow and a lot more frost.  That is not to deter gardening, God-knows I've been going at it since early April and am delighted at my gardens.  My comments are to remind you to be prepared to cover when the cold returns.

We are having a HUGE sale on our pre-packaged 10x12' 1.5oz frost fabric (packaged by "easy gardener") reg. 15.99 on sale for 10.99 through memorial Day.  It is great to use when transitioning plants from the house or shade to the outdoors as well.  I just leave it over the plants for a few days.  It is also important to have on hand in for fall cold when I often leave it over the garden for days or weeks at a time.  AND as a bonus... WE use it top protect ferns, hosta, rhubarb, thimbleberry and dogwood from HAIL!  it works great.  If hail is called for, I cover plants before leaving for work.


]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/truckee-spring-mid-mayHardening-Off / Frost Protection / Floating Row-Coverhttp://www.villagernursery.com/hardening-off-frost-protection-floating-row-cover1Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonFloating Row Cover is graded by "basis weight": measured in ounces of material per square yard (osy) or grams per square meter (gsm).  After MANY years of experimentation we have found the n-sulate, 1.5oz. spun-bonded poly row cover to be far more durable and versatile than any others. The n-sulate gives us 6-8°F of protection and allows 50% light.  We double the layers for extreme cold.

I have used it over my garden for weeks at a time with water, light and air going through all day yet warmth staying in at night.

Row cover is essential for cold-climate and mountain gardening. We offer it in 10x12' packages or by the yard (10'wide) from the Villager's bulk rolls. Always have a supply of frost protection fabric (1.5oz. N-sulate floating row-cover) on hand.

Remember, "there is no such thing as cold", there is only heat and we are trying to preserve it.  There is also NO "average last date of frost"

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/hardening-off-frost-protection-floating-row-cover1Arborist Culturehttp://www.villagernursery.com/arborist-cultureSun, 12 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMTEric LarussonImproving Tree Structure with Structural Pruning, Western Chapter - International Society of Arboriculture (WCISA) : I spent Friday with 3 of the top research and teaching Arborists in the country: Brian Kempf (Urban Tree Foundation), Ed Gilman (University of Florida etc...) and Nelda Matheny (HortSciense, Inc.).  I went with Helen from A Garden Gecko and Jason from Hall Tree.  We met in a community center near downtown Sacramento with 97 other Certified Arborists from the region where each of the three presenters gave their hour plus talks on the latest research and thinking on a variety of tree pruning topics.  They discussed and showed slides of the best current practices, the engineering and biomechanics, tree growth and response and the biology behind it all.  While much of arboriculture focuses on tree health, vigor and pest prevention, this class was entirely about the art and science of pruning and it was the most insightful class on the topic that I have enjoyed in many, many years.  In the afternoon we all went out into the park and directed, commented and questioned every cut that some brave volunteer tree worker / arborists made in a variety of age and species of trees.  Every time I attend one of these seminars, I am for weeks afterwards pruning every tree I see in my mind.  At every stop light, as drive along the road, I find myself making cuts that will improve the long-term structure and stability of the trees.  For more information, the Urban Tree Foundation with CalFire has produced four "cue cards" on the topic that are full of excellent information and advice (there are some considerations for our environment but they are pretty darn good).  Look HERE.

Helen and I also attended an all-day seminar last October in Chico where several legends in California arboriculture (Joe McNeil, Rob Gross, Gordon Mann, Denice Britton, Torrey Young) spoke on many aspects of Caring for Mature Landscape Trees.  That day was also a half indoor and half outdoor and was also a great day of education.  

The arborist community seems to be especially passionate and dedicated to improving itself and the individuals within it and I am proud to be among their numbers.  Eric Larusson, ISA# WE-7983A

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/arborist-cultureWinter Watering Again?http://www.villagernursery.com/winter-watering-againFri, 10 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMTEric LarussonAs far away as our spring really is, the days rapidly lengthening and our ground is warming.  When we had the florist and nursery together in Old Gateway I would annually plant up the planter-box at the front of the shop for Valentine's Day. (We will have cut flowers and be open the 13th and 14th for V-Day).  It is the beginning of the beginning of spring.  Viola, Primrose, Pansy, Dianthus and Calendula would take the next couple of months of cold and would be huge flourishing masses by May.  

Regarding the lack of moisture, just be aware of the fact that we have had very little and you may need to water much sooner than normal.  Of course we are all hoping for a substantial change in the weather and a great mass of snow for what remains of the ski season and for the essential water reserves.  I really, really, really, hope that we don't have another cold, snowy May-June.

We'll see what comes from the next few days of storms but in all likelihood, we'll be watering the south-facing portions of our demonstration gardens next week.

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/winter-watering-againWinter Watering January 2012http://www.villagernursery.com/winter-watering-january-2012Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMTEric LarussonPeople were pointing and actually laughing at us as they pulled off I-80 when we fired-up the irrigation system for the nursery and landscape this Friday (1/5).  Their loss I guess. We have been fielding calls every day, usually prefaced by "...this might be a stupid question but..." at which point I often interrupt and say "Yes, you should water" (...as though I could read minds).  In our Planting Instructions and Winterizing hand-outs, we say: "Maple, Birch and Alder are particularly susceptible to drought injury in late fall and winter. Always send your garden into winter with moist soil. The last watering is often around Thanksgiving. Even dormant trees need water, so... if we have no substantial rain or snow, water at least once a month, even through the winter."  Your plants are sleeping, they're not dead.
In sunny locations if the snow is gone, trees and shrubs planted within the last 2 years, small plants, young plants and groundcovers need to be watered.  We have been watering the sunny south-facing slopes in the nursery since we had that little rain last week.  I watered the sunniest parts of my exposed lawn earlier this week.  Think "light rain" when watering. You want to avoid saturating frozen soil and creating a solid ice layer that will suffocate roots and beneficial soil microbes but all those same components of soil need some moisture to survive. Water only during the warmest part of the day (when temps are over 40°F) and give the water a chance to soak well in before afternoon shade and cooling sets in.
This is a year when we are glad we promote antitranspirant applications and plenty of mulch.  

Colorado State University has a handout on the subject and we are pretty much in agreement with what they say: look here.
The temperatures turned dramatically cold this fall before many plants had a chance to naturally shut-down (many still have leaves on them). These would be more susceptible to winter die-back in a NORMAL winter. I am already seeing damage to some evergreens (Cedar and Giant Sequoia) and broadleaf evergreens (Holly, Oregon Grape and Manzanita). It will be yet another instructive winter seeing what really THRIVES in our always challenging climate... stay tuned.

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/winter-watering-january-2012Christmas Thymehttp://www.villagernursery.com/christmas-thymeTue, 20 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMTEric LarussonWe moved through our largest 12-16' Christmas trees earlier than normal this season.  Fortunately MANY folks called ahead and have had us reserve their trees (first pick) many of the Silvertips were cut in the field for specific clients.  We have our wild Silvertip of course, a very few dense Douglas Fir (which we keep in the green house to protect from cold and drying), "Open Grade" Noble Fir (denser than Silvertip and not as dense as the #1 Nobles) and we have LUSH, fragrant, supple #1 Noble Fir 4-13'.

In our LIVING trees we were able to get a few (more than usual) Picea glauca ssp. densata, Black Hills Spruce. This is a smaller and thicker sub-species of White Spruce which grows in the far northern American continent (well into the arctic circle).  And we have Blue and Green Colorado Spruce (the state tree of Utah).  Instructions included.

We have Long-Lasting cedar garland by the foot or the roll and MANY sizes of fresh wreaths!

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/christmas-thymeEasy, Beautiful, Perennial, Naturalizing, Deer Proof Bulbs en massehttp://www.villagernursery.com/easy-beautiful-perennial-naturalizing-deer-proof-bulbs-en-masseWed, 05 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonI am a lazy gardener.  I thoroughly enjoy my garden's displays, but I don't love working to hard to get them.  Bulbs give me, by far, the most "bang for my buck".  I bring in bulbs from at least 4 different growers and distributors who in-turn bring them in from all over the globe.  The VAST majority of our bulbs are long lived perennials, that will last for years and years.  Many of them will naturalize and increase in numbers.  Most are never bothered by rodents or deer. Narcissus (Daffodils and close relatives) are foremost among these tough bulbs and we have an enormous selection in every shape, size, fragrance, color and bloom time.  We also have a wide variety of "wildflower" bulbs that look great in a wildflower garden or en masse in a perennial bed.  Allium, Fritilaria, Tritielia, Scilla, Chionodoxa.  We also have locally native Camas Lilies and Sierra Fawnlilies (arriving 10/10).

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/easy-beautiful-perennial-naturalizing-deer-proof-bulbs-en-masseDig.Drop.Done. Bulbs Demystifiedhttp://www.villagernursery.com/dig-drop-done-bulbs-demystifiedWed, 28 Sep 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonFall is for Planting.  While Fall is the BEST time of year for planting trees and shrubs it is also the ONLY time of year to plant spring-flowering-bulbs. 

 

I have ALWAYS been a fan of bulbs.  They are the simplest and most gratifying form of gardening, literally: Dig. Drop. Done.  Enjoy blooms in spring. "The flowering bulb is the little black dress of the flower world. It's one of the simple things that women can trust to make their lives beautiful. Flower bulbs are actually some of the most reliable and fail-proof blooms available."  Check-out the North American educational campaign, "Dig.Drop.Done".  "Books and websites are filled to the brim with numerous species, lengthy planting guides and tedious details on the ins and outs of gardening with bulbs. It's easy to infer that these plants must be time consuming and require a high level of gardening knowledge."

Dig.Drop.Done brings to life how easy flowering bulbs really are. At the heart of the Dig.Drop.Done education is a clean, pared-down website that is easily navigable for the avid gardener and the first-time planter. The site is so simple, there is no need to know species names or soil conditions. Appreciating beauty is the only requirement.

Check these out:  Bulbs 101  /  Meet the Ladies  /   Easy Bulbs Video  /  Dig.Drop.Done. Facebook


]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/dig-drop-done-bulbs-demystifiedExtending Our Harvest Seasonhttp://www.villagernursery.com/extending-our-harvest-seasonSun, 25 Sep 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonFrost is imminent... an undeniable fact of Autumn but you do not have to yield your still producing or ripening vegetables to it.   We LOVE our 1.5 oz. Frost Protection Fabric, a medium weight, breathable, permeable, UV treated spunbonded polyester fabric designed to protect crop plants from freezing, drying and extreme temperatures. Usually referred to as Floating Row Cover, it creates a warmer microclimate by capturing heat of the the day - and then slowing the loss of stored heat at night so it raises minimum temperatures, without suffocating, crushing or burning plants the way plastic could.  If days are warm, it is better to remove the fabric during the day and to cover well before nightfall.  Its light density and permeability allow air, water and sunlight through so plants can flourish beneath it even if left on for weeks.  Remember: there is no such thing as cold, just less heat.  The trick is to collect the day's heat and trap it for the night.

 Protect tender flowers from the frequent the late frosts of spring. Even use it over apple trees and lilacs to save the buds (more). Use it in summer to protect plants from hail storms (leave it on for days if necessary).  Use it for flower boxes, vegetable gardens, row crops, fruit trees and flowering and fruiting shrubs (in a pinch, it can be used as filter fabric or a liner for moss baskets).

In Autumn, your vegetable harvest time and blooming plant season can be extended by a month or more.  When it gets really cold, double up the layers and leave a string of C7 or C9 Christmas lights on around your plants at night.  We have been through dozens of brands and weights and have been delighted with the durability and effectiveness of the one we now use.  Our bulk rolls are 12' wide by 300' long but we sell any length.  Our pre-cut packages are 12' x 10'.

1.) Drape over the plants to be protected.  Support with stakes over (not touching) the plants if hard frost is expected.

2.) Remove when weather improves. In early spring and late fall, garden plants thrive under the row cover for weeks on end.  After use, store out of direct sunlight (we use clean / new garbage cans to store ours... keeps out sun, rain and rodents).

BTW, there is evidence to show that fertilizing your plants with seaweed gives them an extra measure of frost resistance (as well as providing micronutrients, improving flavors, strengthening stems and cell walls, and helping plants fight insects and diseases).  Kelp Meal, Maxicrop, etc... can be used ANY time of year. It is usually my first feeding of the year and often my last as well... (besides the BIOSOL on the lawn in November).

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/extending-our-harvest-seasonLabor Day and Early September Mountain Gardening Noteshttp://www.villagernursery.com/labor-day-and-early-september-mountain-gardening-notesFri, 02 Sep 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonSeptember really is a time of scurrying around.  Before I had the immense pleasure of raising children, my wife and I would leave this beautiful place every fall for the Rockies.  I have had family in southwestern Colorado (Ouray) since the early 70's and I LOVE the Colorado flora.   We would try to go for two weeks.  One week in Ouray, relaxing by the lake, fishing, hiking, botanizing and gardening for my Nana; and one week exploring the Rocky mountains. We would be the only people in the entire campground, MANY times.  Moose would walk through our camp and grizzlies would be browsing for berries two hundred yards away. I collected LOTS of seed over the years. I came to absolutely love fall.  (that was a change: growing up as a passionate amateur naturalist and botanist, I had always loved spring, things rising from the dead but fall was depressing, everything was dying...of course it meant going back to school which may have had some impact on my emotional bent.)

I still love fall.  I love going hiking when no one else is around.  I love collecting seed (many of the native plants we have in the nursery are from our seed collections).  I love the warm days and chilly nights.  I love the hardiest of perennials that continue to bloom into the fall, in spite of frosts or even snows.  AND I love fall colors.  I think the show of fall colors is more dramatic and can be longer lived than the explosions of spring.  I love the colors of stems and the structure of bare branches.  I love rose hips,  persistent crabapple fruit and pendulous branches loaded with mountain ash berries.

In spite of the FACT that fall is the best time for planting in our short season and to wait until spring costs gardeners a year's worth of root system expansion, we are slower in the nursery and I am looking forward to getting out and hiking and biking several more times.  By all accounts, the wildflowers in the high country are just beginning to explode and many just won't have time to bloom out before it snows.

So... In the Villager Nursery... we have an amazing assortment of plants that deliver late and spectacular fall colors like Rudbeckia laciniata, R. triloba, Heleneum, Phlox, Physostegia, Aster, Erigeron, Eupatorium, Sedum, Campanula, Aquilegia (you know our native columbine blooms for about 3 months!), Spiraea douglasii, Potentilla, Hemerocalis, Clematis, and even more...     Under appreciated fall colors from Dwarf Birch (already going dormant), Skunk Bush (looks JUST like poison oak), Mountain Maple and Twin-flowering Honeysuckle (both have etherial, ghostly cream fall color... incredible in dappled shade), Wild Roses (the flowers are a flash-in-the-pan but the fall colors, the showy hips and the cranberry red stems are beautiful)... and AH!  Birch-leaf Spiraea (a Cascade native - perfect mounding shape, crisp white flowers in early summer and fluorescent red-orange - like GLOWING - fall colors)  AND the Villager only carries the hardiest of bulbs, specializing in wildflower bulbs, naturalizing bulbs and bulbs that animals are repulsed by.


]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/labor-day-and-early-september-mountain-gardening-notesAugust Gardening Newshttp://www.villagernursery.com/august-gardening-newsFri, 19 Aug 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric Larusson

In This Issue...

·Top 10 Things to Do in August
·In the Shop·Mosquitoes and Hornets
·Mulch and Compost
·Gifts and Pottery
·Get Out & Enjoy
·Troubleshooting Tips
·The Easiest Perennials on the Planet!
·What's In Bloom Now...
·Upcoming Entertainment and Classes
·Garden Center Shop Hours

·Cart-Load Sale 25% Off all you can stack or balance on one cart.

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/august-gardening-newsNursery Events and Classes in August and on...http://www.villagernursery.com/nursery-events-and-classes-in-august-and-onThu, 18 Aug 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonThis Saturday's Morning Entertainment: 8/20, 9:30-11am, Come watch Rob and Eric gesture and articulate while sharing the finer details of tree and shrub planting in the mountain environment..

Upcoming Entertainment, Events and Classes

August 20 - Saturday  9:30 -11:00 am: High Sierra Planting Techniques - Specific for our climate and soils or “Planting by the Experts”. We'll teach you the methods which our decades of experience and hard earned knowledge have proven to work best in this climate and in these soils. We'll discuss the options and field your questions. These are local, proven techniques you will not learn in any book.

August 31 - Wednesday Truckee Music in the Park - Fearless Chicken - A Thyme to Plant and  Villager Nursery are this nights sponsor! Come dance with some Villager Peeps for the last Music in the Park of the season.

September 9 - Friday, 5-9 pm: Customer Appreciation Fiesta -  We will have food, drink and entertainment (they agreed to come again) by Bias and Dunn. José y su familia will be preparing Carne Asada and all the traditional fixin's.  Pot-luck additions are always welcome.  RSVP's appreciated to info@villagernursery.com or call Sarah (our event coordinator) @ 587-0771.  Please come by.  [Last year's pics]

September 13 - Tuesday, 6:00-9:00 pm: Fall Mountain Gardening & Appreciation of Fall Colors - Are you yearning to have a garden that celebrates the beauty and richness of fall colors? Join us for this informative workshop that will provide you with ways to create a showy fall garden. Learn how to select plants that will thrive in your garden and what to avoid. Many of the gardening activities you perform now will dictate how beautiful your garden will be in the spring. We’ll cover fool-proof bulbs, which trees, shrubs, and perennials have the most colorful leaves, persistent berries or super late blooms. We’ll also discuss winterization. This class is at Sierra College Truckee Campus and requires pre-registration.

September 24 - Saturday, 10:00-11:30 am: Fall Colors for Your Garden – See the trees, shrubs, and perennials with the most colorful leaves, persistent berries or super-late blooms. We'll cover the chemistry and the natural artistry of a showy fall garden.  Fall can be our longest season of color.

October 1 - Saturday, 10:00-11:30 am: Fall Gardening - October is a time to plant, transplant and divide trees, shrubs, bulbs and perennials. Collect seed, propagate cuttings, fertilize, mulch, prepare soil and prepare new beds. There is a lot to do to ready the garden for next year's growth.  Deciduous trees and shrubs put on as much as 80% of their annual expansive root growth in the fall, after they lose their leaves.  Fall IS for planting.

October 8, 2011 -  Saturday, Truckee Fall Color Tour - IF there is interest.  Rob and Eric will lead a leisurely stroll from the Villager to Brickletown and Downtown and back through Old Town, looking for and discussing the beauty of fall. 

October 15, 2011 - Saturday, Winterizing Your Mountain Garden - A good class NOT to miss if you want the best results for spring.

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/nursery-events-and-classes-in-august-and-onSaturday, July 23, 9:30 - Free Mountain Gardening Class: Native and Historical Plantshttp://www.villagernursery.com/saturday-july-23-930-free-mountain-gardening-class-native-and-historical-plantsFri, 22 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonMountain Native Plants, Historical Introductions and Wildflower Plantings
When:  Sat, July 23, 9:30am – 11:00am

Where:  Villager Nursery, 10678 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA 96161 (map)

Description:  Saturday, July 23, 9:30-11:00am- Mountain Native Plants, Historical Introductions and Wildflower Plantings – Learn to choose the best and easiest native plants for many situations.  Learn how to protect and enhance your existing native plant populations. Gather some seed collecting tips and ideas for wild berry jellies and jams.  Bring samples for identification after the class. We'll also cover a few of the historically important introduced species thriving in Truckee without care for more than a century.  Rob and Eric are your instructors for this one.  BTW - We HAVE the most outrageous selection of natives right now including Epilobium canum (Zauschnaria californica) from a Donner Summit seed source.  Thimbleberry from seed collected in a wild (and rare) patch of pink flowering Rubus parviflorus.  We have - about- 30 species of Penstemon, if you like showy, easy care, drought tolerant, flowers that are loved by hummingbirds.  AND Soooo much more!

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/saturday-july-23-930-free-mountain-gardening-class-native-and-historical-plantsFourth of July Hourshttp://www.villagernursery.com/fourth-of-july-hoursSat, 02 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonWe will be here in the nursery to help you with last minute 4th of july decorations, vegetable gardens, fertilizers, shade and fruit trees and screening shrubs to block a view of those rowdy neighbors.   We'll be open 8:30 until the road closes for the races and then after the parade we'll be here until 3 or 4:00pm depending on traffic.

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/fourth-of-july-hoursAnnual Free Planting Day Funhttp://www.villagernursery.com/annual-free-planting-day-funWed, 29 Jun 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonThank You everyone who participated and huge thanks to our volunteer planters from Kellogg Garden and Gardner & Bloome - Mike and Giselle.

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/annual-free-planting-day-funDowntown Truckee has Crabshttp://www.villagernursery.com/downtown-truckee-has-crabs1Fri, 17 Jun 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonIf you have not been through downtown Truckee this week, do drive through.  The Crabapples and Apples throughout lower Truckee are in full bloom right now.  Check out out Apple trees in front of the nursery.  They were topped (very badly pruned - before we were here) and we've been working on their rehabilitation since we moved in.  Don Triplat is a good man and a fine arborist and he has helped us by pruning these trees on numerous occasions.

 

this is the Malus sargentii we attempted to save from the saw but were thwarted in our efforts throughout.  We managed to move it to our Caltrans offramp beautification easement but I'm not holding my breath.  It WAS a beautiful and perfect specimen of that species.

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/downtown-truckee-has-crabs1Vole Info and Trappinghttp://www.villagernursery.com/vole-info-and-trappingMon, 13 Jun 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonGo here:  Vole Information


]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/vole-info-and-trappingHierloomhttp://www.villagernursery.com/hierloomMon, 06 Jun 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonEvery day (that we actually have people walking into the Villager from the snow) someone will ask us where we keep our "Hierlooms" and I always give a different answer.  Without labeling them as antiques or relics, we focus on providing only (and all) the toughest, hardiest and most productive plants, seeds and bulbs that will thrive in our harsh climate and poor soils. We do offer hundreds of cool heirloom plants (trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vegetables and seeds)... we are avid, fun-loving gardeners and we relish anything unique but we also like improved, hardier, showier, and more vigorous new varieties as well.

An “heirloom variety”, or “heirloom vegetable” is a cultivar (cultivated variety or selection) that was historically popular (for reasons of color, flavor, scent, habit, etc.), but which is not commonly grown in modern industrial agriculture or horticulture. Many heirloom varieties are open pollenated, some are hybrids, and many have been propagated over the years through grafts and cuttings (think: "great aunt Mildred's Christmas cactus that she brought over from the old country in 1855"). Growing heirloom vegetables in gardens is a hugely popular trend of recent years (I love 'Brandywine' tomatoes but cannot grow them without a greenhouse).  Many, many commercially grown varieties have excellent color, flavor, vigor and production but they are just not quite as old, fun or interesting as some of the heirlooms.


Another example: only a handful of varieties (of the thousands) of potato are commercially grown. All the others are considered “heirlooms”.  Some old "fingerling" varieties are so widely produced now that they may no longer
actually qualify as heirlooms!  (Eric's harvest 2009)

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/hierloomSimple Mosquito Preventionhttp://www.villagernursery.com/simple-mosquito-preventionWed, 01 Jun 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonWe are offering 1lb shakers of Mosquito Preventer (Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis, Bti) reg. 12.99 for 3.99 ea. in an effort to help reduce mosquito populations this spring before they get worse (they are already out and I have been bitten).  Bti is a naturally occurring soil bacteria that kills the larva of a very narrow group of insects (Mosquito, Black Flies, Midges and Fungus Gnats) and no others.  It often attacks and kills within 24 hours.  It is safe to apply to areas used by birds, pets or wildlife or that contain aquatic life, plants and fish.  

Read the label first!  For Use In: Bird baths; Statuary; Old tires; Flower pots; Water gardens (features); Ornamental fountains; Fountains; Rain barrels; Roof gutters; Drains; Pool covers; Unused spas; Other water holding receptacles; Containerized standing water; Plant trays; Planters; Hollow trees. Any location where water collects and remains for periods of time. Other areas where standing water accumulates.

WSU Pest Management  /  Nevada County West Nile Virus Prevention  /  Natural Mosquito Controls


]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/simple-mosquito-preventionIn Spite of the Weatherhttp://www.villagernursery.com/in-spite-of-the-weatherSun, 29 May 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonWe could all use a little sunshine.  Wall Street Journal had an article on Saturday (5/28) discussing weather and temperatures and their effects on the psyche of our corporeal forms.  We were discussing how it lifted our spirits when the snow would break for a few minutes and the sun would shine.  We are amazed and appreciative of all you hardy souls who braved the funk to visit us at the Villager this weekend.  

We did call off a truck or two with our plants but we had 7 deliveries last week including our specialty tomatoes (Tumbler and Sun Raisin 'Tomasio' included), a 48' tractor trailer full of robust quaking aspen and fragrant lilacs in bloom.  We have much more arriving next week as well and we hope the weather improves (if only for our sanity).

Here are a few recent arrivals of fragrant Syringa (Lilac) cultivated varieties (cultivars) fresh from the fields, in order:  'Mrs. Klager', 'Sensation', 'Albert Holden', Sky Blue, 'Adelaide Dunbar' and Common Lilac in Downtown Truckee 25 May, 2009. (note the beautiful Sargent Crabapple in the background).

'Mrs. Klager''Sensation'

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/in-spite-of-the-weatherDeep Cold Forecasthttp://www.villagernursery.com/deep-cold-forecastSun, 15 May 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonDeep Freeze Expected Sunday Night

~19°F (5/15-16):  I'll use 2 layers of N'Sulate 1.5 oz Frost Protection Fabric (floating row-cover) over my newly emerging Bleeding Hearts, Siberian Rhubarb (the edible Rheum should be fine) and Salomon Seal, just in case. Be careful not to break the tender new growth - put stakes in the ground to keep the fabric above the plants. We're cutting loads of daffodils right now in case they freeze too deeply... 

Hardy Plants

MOST plants in our gardens should be fine. Plants that come up on our schedule are pretty tolerant of our extreme temperature swings in spring. I'm a little concerned about the buds on my crabapples and I noticed the beautiful Mazzard cherry tree at the west end of downtown is about to bloom. If you've pulled tomatoes or basil or fuchsia into your garage for protection, be sure to move them away from the door.

We are turning off our irrigation again and draining the above-ground commercial valve, one more time. A string of incandescent Christmas lights under row cover over a planter box can save even tender plants.

Don't walk on your lawn on frosty mornings or you'll have black footprints when the sun comes out.

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/deep-cold-forecastMay IS a Spring Month.http://www.villagernursery.com/may-is-a-spring-monthSat, 14 May 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonAt Villager Nursery we have always said, with regard to mountain gardening in Truckee, that "April is a winter month with many spring-like days and May is a spring month with many winter-like days" (sadly, June can have many of them too...).

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/may-is-a-spring-monthResurrection and Repairhttp://www.villagernursery.com/resurrection-and-repairSun, 01 May 2011 05:00:00 GMTEric LarussonHere are a couple of our class handouts that deal with post-winter, early spring garden revival.

Tree "Repair" and Simple Pruning

Early Spring Gardening


]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/resurrection-and-repairUnusual Aspen Breakage in Mountain Gardenshttp://www.villagernursery.com/unusual-aspen-breakageSat, 01 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMTEric LarussonComments on the storm of 28-29 December 2010

This storm came into Truckee and Tahoe with a cold front.  It then turned very wet and gradually piled up as the temperatures dropped.  I have seen more broken tops in quaking aspen (Populis tremuloides) than ever before (several dozen while driving in town).  There seems to be more damage at lower elevations, probably because it did not rain at the higher elevations so the snow was not as sticky.  Aspen has a tendency to grow rather quickly when we water and feed it but it is usually fairly flexible.  The trees that broke did not have unusually rapid growth, they were average, healthy trees.  I am guessing that we will see lots of evidence of breakage in wild local aspen as well.  We regularly see very disfigured and broken aspen in the canyons of the southern Sierra where we collect seeds of Villager Nursery's favorite, and indestructible, western river birch (Betula occidentalis var fontinalis). 

I had been waiting to prune my broken Aspen until a little later.  Any time after mid March should be fine (earlier and there will likely be drying and die-back from the cut). Cut just above, and sloping away from, the next substantial lateral branch, below the break,  that can assume the role of leader.  Do not cut to a small branch if there is any choice.  By large I mean 1/2 - 2/3+ the diameter of the main trunk.  As long as you are at it, go ahead and prune any competing leaders back to large laterals as well, it's called "subordination"of potential competitors. If pruned properly, the tree should "recapitulate" a new leader.  

Aspen do best with one strong trunk and one stout and dominant leader.  The narrow, pyramidal form that young deciduous trees and most coniferous evergreens exhibit is called "excurrent growth". I find pruning for excurrent growth is relatively simple to visualize and practice.   Our first class of spring is usually, "Resurrection" after the ravages of winter.

html: http://bit.ly/idtSMr

iCal: http://bit.ly/hjGBTc

xml: http://bit.ly/hiE7U5


]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/unusual-aspen-breakageSilvertip Christmas Trees in Truckeehttp://www.villagernursery.com/silvertip-christmas-trees-in-truckee1Tue, 21 Dec 2010 06:00:00 GMTEric LarussonThe Villager staff (all of us boys left here in late November) go out and harvests fresh, high elevation silvertip Christmas trees from snowy mountain tops.  This year we had to wait and wait until it got cold enough to harvest.  If you cut before severe cold, the trees do not hold up as well.  

When the temps finally dropped, we had exactly 5 days to harvest before the monster storms of Thanksgiving 2010.  As a result we harvested fewer than usual but they were lovely trees.

While the Boy Scouts and Optimists sell through thousands of trees, the Villager usually sells about 200.  We have 50 or so folks that pre-order and we cut-to-order for them then we bring in 100 HUGE fresh Noble Fir from a great little grower, high in the Oregon coast range.  Troy (the grower) actualy measures for degrees Brix (symbol °Bx: the sugar content) of his fir and compares his to other growers.  His have far more sugar and as a result, hold more water, last longer and smell better.   The 12' trees we received this year weighed nearly 280 lbs but they were spectacular.

We ususlly sell a few trees before the 20th and the bulk between the 20-23rd.  3 busy days after uncovering these trees from snow for weeks.   We were actually running pretty low so I ran over to a friend's tree lot this morning (they have acres of land north of the Sierra Buttes) and picked up 30 trees.   

At this point, we have about 20 nice silvertip Christmas Trees left.   530 587 0771   12/21/2010

I've been so lame with the blog this fall, we were soo busy, Thank Goodness!.   Rob and Eric had an epic trip to the southern Sierra to collect wild birch seeds.   Eric went to Salt Lake City to tour retail nurseries and steal great ideas.  Eric had a 50th birthday surprise party! And we are still here.  The lights are still on.

Merry Christmas to anyone who might read this!  Thanks so much for keeping us alive.

Eric Larusson

Villager Nursery, Inc

Truckee, CA



]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/silvertip-christmas-trees-in-truckee1Silvertip Christmas Trees in Truckeehttp://www.villagernursery.com/silvertip-christmas-trees-in-truckeeTue, 21 Dec 2010 06:00:00 GMTEric LarussonThe Villager (all us boys) go(s) out and harvests fresh, high elevation silvertip Christmas trees from snowy mountain tops.  This year we had to wait and wait until it got cold enough to harvest.  If you cut before severe cold, the trees do not hold up as well.  

When the temps finally dropped, we had exactly 5 days to harvest before the monster storms of Thanksgiving 2010.  As a result we harvested fewer than usual but they were lovely trees.

While the Boy Scouts and Optimists sell through thousands of trees, the Villager usually sells about 200.  We have 50 or so folks that pre-order and we cut-to-order for them then we bring in 100 HUGE fresh Noble Fir from a great little grower, high in the Oregon coast range.  Troy (the grower) actualy measures for degrees Brix (symbol °Bx: the sugar content) of his fir and compares his to other growers.  His have far more sugar and as a result, hold more water, last longer and smell better.   The 12' trees we received this year weighed nearly 280 lbs but they were spectacular.

We ususlly sell a few trees before the 20th and the bulk between the 20-23rd.  3 busy days after uncovering these trees from snow for weeks.   We were actually running pretty low so I ran over to a friend's tree lot this morning (they have acres of land north of the Sierra Buttes) and picked up 30 trees.   

At this point, we have about 20 nice silvertip Christmas Trees left.   530 587 0771   12/21/2010

I've been so lame with the blog this fall, we were soo busy, Thank Goodness!.   Rob and Eric had an epic trip to the southern Sierra to collect wild birch seeds.   Eric went to Salt Lake City to tour retail nurseries and steal great ideas.  Eric had a 50th birthday surprise party! And we are still here.  The lights are still on.

Merry Christmas to anyone who might read this!  Thanks so much for keeping us alive.

Eric Larusson

Villager Nursery, Inc

Truckee, CA



]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/silvertip-christmas-trees-in-truckeeVoles... Voles... Voles...http://www.villagernursery.com/voles-voles-volesMon, 25 Oct 2010 06:24:00 GMTEric LarussonGeneral Reference Voles

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/voles-voles-volesAutumn Thoughtshttp://www.villagernursery.com/autumn-thoughtsTue, 19 Oct 2010 03:55:57 GMTEric LarussonI just spent 5 days with good friends up on the Klamath river, at a remote, rustic fishing lodge (River's West Lodge), 20 miles up-stream from the ocean.  We saw sea lions and otters chasing Salmon, fly-fishermen catching half-pounders by the score, bears swimming the river in front of us, dozens of bald eagles squeaking and chirping and fishing, herons and egrets fighting for a fishing spot.  The Vine Maples and dogwoods were showing off some spectacular fall colors.   (By the way, They're always looking for pilots who love to fish.  It's a 2 hour flight to Klamath Glen or a 9 hour drive.)

I came back expecting to see more fall color but it seems the first wave of color is largely over and a second wave has yet to begin. That first wave of cold we had a month ago along with shorter days set many plants in our area into fall color production that proceeded more quickly than normal as the late summer weather kept metabolisms racing.  

Interestingly, many plants have NOT had enough cold or drought to trigger their shut-down.  It is VERY important that you cut back on watering plants that are still very green.  They need to know that winter is on its way.  If we get extreme cold before plants have a chance to close-up for winter, they may suffer some severe die-back.  Alternatively, we may get to have another spectacular wave of fall color.

Rob and Eric are going to Mammoth Lakes to talk about Cold Hardy Garden plants and collect some high-elevation seed next week.  We are hoping the fall colors will be spectacular in the southern Sierra, "east-side".  (Really, the "colors" are always great there, we are hoping the vegetation looks great as well.)



]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/autumn-thoughtsFall Color Walk Saturdayhttp://www.villagernursery.com/fall-color-walk2Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:15:58 GMTEric LarussonFall Color Walk - On October 2 , Saturday from 10-11:30, we led a Fall Color Walk, a leisurely stroll, through Brickletown and Downtown discussing the trees, shrubs and perennials with the best fall displays. We walk from the nursery and back ~1mi. roundtrip. ALSO - The Villager Nursery received a truck load of native and ornamental trees, shrubs and hardy perennials last Friday including MANY for fall color (like the Amelanchier - Serviceberry in this pic.).  We have another truck-load arriving on Wednesday full of fresh aspen and much more.  Come by and see... and don't forget, please...   FALL IS FOR PLANTING.  You have everything to gain.

]]>http://www.villagernursery.com/fall-color-walk235 Anniversary Customer Appreciation Salehttp://www.villagernursery.com/35-anniversary-customer-appreciation-saleTue, 28 Sep 2010 20:13:39 GMTEric Larusson35 Anniversary Customer Appreciation Sale 

from the 10th to the 19th of September had some smokin' deals sign-up for the Newsletter to receive a notice of any future specials, sales, discounts, coupons or timely information about mountain gardening. Copy of recent newsletter here.

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