95°F
weather icon Clear

Local

Local Las Vegas Valley breaking news from Nevada's most reliable source. Read about the latest updates happening in your region at Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Wood mulch can cause collar rot

Question: I planted about 12 gardenias a couple of months ago, and they appear to be dying. I checked the soil, and it’s evenly damp. They have two, 2 gallon-per-hour emitters, and they were all being watered three times a week for 20 minutes.

Celebrate the season with ‘Hanukkah in Alaska’

If your kids need something new to read every Hanukkah, then stop your search right here. For family or for fun, “Hanukkah in Alaska” is a book your 3- to 6-year-old will want to see.

Verde Canyon rich in history

Verde Canyon Railroad operates in north central Arizona, headquartered in the town of Clarkdale. The town itself is a National Historic Landmark. Founded in 1912, it’s named for William Andrews Clark, the same man who founded Las Vegas in 1905. This planned community was built to provide housing and support services to the booming copper mining town of Jerome, a few miles away. Jerome was once the fourth-largest city in the Arizona Territory, boasting a peak population of 15,000 people in the 1920s.

Development of Summerlin Centre heralds community’s future

The adage “shop ‘til you drop” is old and hackneyed. Still, that’s the way it’s going to be a year from now when more than 125 retail operations known as The Shops at Summerlin are expected to be open for business. More than likely, it will be in advance of Black Friday 2014, and as one might expect, Christmas shoppers will indeed be falling over one another.

THE LATEST Local NEWS
Prune flowering shrubs just after a bloom

Question: When is it best to prune crape myrtle? I’ve heard before winter and again just before spring. The last two years, I trimmed back the branches (it is only about 5 feet tall) about one-third of the way in late February. What is right? We live in Aliante.

Taste best way to tell if lemon is ripe

Q. How do I determine the best time to pick lemons? Mine are yellow with some being very firm and others feeling “givey.” This has been a good year and my Meyer lemon “bush” will afford us lemon curd and juice for the next year.

New children’s book blends holiday traditions into heartwarming tale

You love getting presents — but do you know how much fun it is to give them? In the new book, “Boris and Stella and the Perfect Gift” by Dara Goldman, you’ll see that giving is sometimes better than getting.

Skincare counts for the golfers, too

“It’s like poking a hole in a Picasso.” — John Asay, Oct. 30, 2013.

Be gentle with au naturel trees

Question: This question is regarding our bottle tree. Should we trim and shape the tree? It has grown to a considerable height. The wind, appearance, and health of the tree are our concerns. Does the cracking on the trunk need addressing? And should I wrap the trunk in winter?

No need to fertilize bougainvillea in this climate at this time of year

Q . Before the first freeze in Las Vegas what should I feed my bougainvillea? I have three plants, all in the ground. They are 6 years old and I wrap their bases before the freeze. They always come back come March and bloom beautifully August through October.

Yosemite offers festive holiday flair with fewer crowds

Whether it’s to escape the holiday madness or to start a new holiday tradition, visiting one of our national parks over the next couple of months is an excellent getaway. One that provides lots of options to get outdoors and sooth the soul, yet also offers a festive holiday flair, is Yosemite National Park, Calif.

Non-desert trees in lawns require deep watering

Question: I had a 3-year-old mesquite tree in my front yard that just blew over in the wind today. The landscapers planted it in the grass without a drip system. I was told watering the lawn would be enough for the tree. Today, the landscapers told me it fell because of the roots being at the surface. Do you recommend putting in the drip line for a new tree?

Program keeps old drugs out of water system

Gather up those old prescription bottles lying around your medicine cabinet, or maybe stuck away in some drawer. Pack them into a plastic bag but do not remove the contents from the bottles. Then take them to the closest Metropolitan Police Department substation. For most Summerlin residents, that is the Northwest Area Command, 9850 W. Cheyenne Ave.