TAHOE/TRUCKEE — Of the many challenges that face Sierra
gardeners — heavy snow, cold temperatures, extreme temperature
fluctuations, summer frosts, absent topsoil, low humidity and
more — the most destructive may be winter drought and freeze
drying.In other winters similar to this one, where there has
been little snow or rain and the temperatures are very low, many
landscape plants and even native plants have suffered.“When we
finally charged the lines and ran the irrigation system for a
couple of hours last Friday, people were actually pointing and
laughing as they pulled off I-80,” said Eric Larusson. “It
really is no laughing matter. We have been spot watering here
and there on the warm days ever since the daytime temps have
been in the mid 40s and above. The plants are dormant; they’re
not dead yet. They can dry out and die without significant
natural precipitation or supplemental watering.”Brent Thrams of
Acanthus Studio, a respected landscape architect and planner
with many projects to his credit in Tru