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A Gardening Blog for the East Side

The climate of the Eastern Sierra is very different from most of California and so gardening here is different, too! 

Preparing the contents of the pile.

In this blog we examine some of the quirks of gardening on the East Side, and cover horticultural issues that are important locally. Note that if you're visiting our site from the outside our little corner of California, you may find this information may not apply to your area.

Articles are written by local UC Master Gardener volunteers or the local Farm Advisor. 

 
And a website...

The Inyo-Mono Master Gardeners also have a website with local gardening and soil information. Visit it to learn more about our program and gardening.

 

Many branches of a crape myrtle chopped back to 2 feet high and decorated with a garland.
Article

Murder Mystery

November 30th, 2021
By Dustin W Blakey
I was driving down south last week when I noticed some seriously butchered crape myrtles along 395 in a prominent location along the highway. I don't want to embarrass anyone so I've included pictures from outside the area of this common offense to plant physiology.
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November harvested potatoes.
Article

New Potatoes for Thanksgiving

November 26th, 2021
While harvesting my Agata potato tubers on July 17, I came across a few good-sized ones that had been growing too close to the surface and as a consequence had turned green and had some pretty healthy looking sprouts developing.
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A horizontal twig with white fluff suspended on it.
Article

Woolly Apple Aphid

November 17th, 2021
Each fall my Gravenstein apple gets a small patch of fluffy exudate on the bark at the base of the tree. These are caused by woolly apple aphids, Eriosoma lanigerum. I hose them off with a jet of water which is usually the end of the problem.
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2 pink flowers
Article

Desert Globemallow: Beyond Apricot!

November 3rd, 2021
Desert globemallow or apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) is a local favorite, brightening the roadsides and hillsides of the Eastern Sierra region dependably every year.
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Article

Choosing Plants for Fall Color

October 20th, 2021
With the magnificent display of fall colors that now surround us in the Eastern Sierra it is difficult to resist the urge to visit a local nursery and acquire some plants that will liven up our own gardens.
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