Dave Thomas captured this toenail moon on Aug. 29. By Saturday it will have ballooned into the Harvest Moon.
For the first time since November 2019, the Friends of the Douglas County Public Library invite the community to their Giant Fall Book Sale, Sept. 16-18 at the CVIC Hall, 1602 Esmeralda in Minden. Thousands of gently used books, audio books, DVDs, and CDs will be available at discount prices.
The Friends’ members-only preview sale happens 4-7 p.m. Sept. 16.
Anyone can join the Friends at the door and enjoy a 10 percent discount on purchases. The public sale opens on 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sept. 17 and continues 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sept. 18. Sunday is also half-price day.
Organizers are looking for volunteers to help with duties that include sale set-up and take-down, customer assistance and sales, and table organization throughout the event. Anyone interested in volunteering or learning more can contact Barb Wilson at 775-830-6153 or barbntot@gmail.com.
Book sale proceeds support the DCPL and its many programs that serve our community. For more information, call the Minden library branch at 775-782-9841.
Free pollinator garden workshops - RSVP required
We may be in the final few weeks of summer, but there’s still plenty sunshine and time left to work in the garden. Fall is an ideal time for in-ground planting of flowers, trees, and shrubs as the still-warm temperatures allow new root systems to establish before colder months arrive.
Starting Saturday, UNR Extension Master Gardeners of Douglas County offer a free four-part workshop titled, “Plant a Pollinator Garden in a Weekend.” Sessions will be held September 10, 17, 24 and October 1 from 10-11 a.m. at the Douglas County Community and Senior Center, 1323 Waterloo Lane in Gardnerville. Covered topics in order are: Garden Planning Basics, Butterfly Gardens, Hummingbird Gardens, and General Pollinator Gardens.
Space is limited and reservations are required for these workshops. Visit eventbrite.com/e/plant-a-pollinator-garden-in-a-weekend-workshop-tickets-397419320887 and scroll down to the red “Select a Date” tab to choose the event(s) you’d like to attend.
September skywatching
September’s full moon, commonly known as the Harvest Moon, reaches peak fullness early Saturday morning just before 3 a.m. The moon will appear full Thursday though Sunday, so be sure to look eastward after sunset to catch a glimpse of its magnificent glow.
Check out this video from NASA that details September skywatching tips, including the visibility of the planets Jupiter and Saturn this month: youtube.com/watch?v=xS3gwXeJFGc.
On Friday evening a couple of hours after the moon rises, Jupiter will be visible to the left of the moon and Saturn will be visible to the right; binoculars or a telescope will certainly enhance the view. Also, September 23 marks the autumnal equinox and the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Watch the video for an informative explanation and definition of the March and September equinoxes.
Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com.
