The Backyard Gardener

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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!

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.

We are part of UC Cooperative Extension in Inyo and Mono counties.

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A Wild Rambler

May 30, 2018

By Dustin W Blakey

It's rose season in the Owens Valley. Every yard in my neighborhood is full of blooms. Among all the cheery white, pink, yellow and red blossoms atop nice straight stems you can often find our most common cultivar of rose, 'Dr.

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Remembrance Poppies - Papaver rhoeas

May 18, 2018

How red poppies became associated with fallen soldiers: John McCrae was born in Canada in 1872 and was a successful poet, physician, artist, and author. He served in the Boar War (1899-1902) and quickly became disillusioned about the cost of war in human lives.

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A Field Trip to Hawaii?

April 30, 2018

On a recent trip to Hawaii I discovered a bonsai nursery that was off- the- beaten path, not a tourist destination, and free.

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Brazilian Spinach front with Okinawa Spinach behind.

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An Experiment with Brazilian and Okinawa Spinach

April 16, 2018

In the constant search for green leafy vegetables that will do well in a hot climate I stumbled upon Brazilian Spinach (Alternanthera sissoo) and Okinawa Spinach (Gynura crepioides), and although a tropical plants I decided to give them a try in our dry high desert climate.

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Some Common Questions Answered.

April 9, 2018

What do the numbers on fertilizer sacks indicate? The big three nutrients show on bags are nitrogen, phosphate, and potash which provide N, P, and K elements. They are the ones declared on a bag of fertilizer.

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