JoAnne Skelly: Spring sales at the state nursery

Nevada Division of Forestry state nursery is open for business. When we first bought our home in 1988 with its 2.5 acres, there were some poplars, pines, blue spruce, willows, and grass, but little else. I soon discovered the state nursery and filled the yard with flowering shrubs and other plants. I added lilacs, sand cherries, golden and Nevada currants, sumacs, Apache plumes, and incense cedars.

Our lot size met their one-acre minimum requirement. In addition, since my goal was to enhance the environment for birds and other wildlife, I met their criteria of what their plants can be used for. I knew that their native and adapted plants, although small on purchase, would actually quickly outgrow much larger containerized plants. NDF grows plants for Nevada in Nevada, and they are hardy.

The purpose of NDF’s state nursery program is to provide native or adapted plants to help private landowners as well as public land management agencies put in conservation plantings for windbreaks, shelter belts, erosion control, food and cover for wildlife, post-fire restoration, and riparian restoration. Plants purchased at the nursery must be used for these purposes rather than simply as landscaping materials. To buy at the nursery, a lot must be one acre or more in size or combined with a next-door neighbor so both lots combined to one or more acres. In addition, the property must be outside the designated urban area of Carson City or in unincorporated areas of other counties.

Perhaps you have a slope that needs erosion controlled. NDF can guide you on picking plants that will work and give you advice on how to plant and grow them. Do you need a windbreak? They can help you do that successfully too. Do you want to enhance wildlife habitat with travel corridors, nesting sites, food, and escape cover? You can get the right plants at NDF.

The Nursery, located at 885 Eastlake Blvd., in east Washoe Valley, opens Thursday, May 9 through Saturday, May 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. After May 11, they will only be open on Thursdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through June.

For a plant list go to washoenursery@forestry.nv.gov. Prices of their larger sized stock are a 1-gallon is $9, a 2-gallon is $17.50, and a 5-gallon is $22.75. They do sell smaller stock as well. They will take your empty growing containers except for 6-packs, flats, or trays.

JoAnne Skelly is associate professor & extension Educator emerita at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Reach her at skellyj@unr.edu.