The Backyard Gardener

Looking for a specific Blog post?

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.

Article

Master Gardeners Volunteer at Manzanar

May 1, 2019

On Saturday, April 27, 2019, fifteen Inyo-Mono County Master Gardeners served as volunteers for the 50th annual Manzanar Pilgrimage. Each year since 1969, the Manzanar Committee has sponsored the Pilgrimage.

View Article

Clock in October 2018. The seconds are made up of succulents. Photo by Viv

Article

Geneva's Flower Clock in Le Jardin Anglais

April 4, 2019

Viv Patterson and Trish Schlichting, both Inyo/Mono Master Gardeners, visited the Flower Clock in Geneva, Switzerland, this past October. Geneva is recognized all around the world for its watch-making tradition. In 1955 Geneva created the biggest clock in the world made from flowers.

View Article

Article

Painted Lady Migration

April 2, 2019

By Dustin W Blakey

I drove down to Ridgecrest last week hoping to check out the wildflowers.

View Article

Some early herbs from Bonnie Kelley's garden

Article

Herb Growing Workshop

April 1, 2019

An overflow crowd of master gardeners and interested members of the community gathered at the Community Garden on Sunday, March 24, 2019, to hear Alison Collin speak about herbs. Alison covered a wide range of topics, including growing needs of culinary herbs and aromatic varieties.

View Article

Article

Tips for Garden Journaling

March 11, 2019

The main quality of a competent gardener must surely be the skill of accurate observation. However, observations on their own do little to help us unless they are recorded in some way so that they may be referenced at a later time.

View Article