I felt like I was reading about Spokane! We also get 16” of annual rainfall, mostly as snow. And 30-40 deg temp swings in 24 hours. We aren’t as high elevation as you, but 2000’ full sun here is NOT the same as full sun at sea level and plants will scorch (I have to plant tomatoes in part sun). All the more reason why my front yard is adorned in natives. Thank you for capturing the benefits of native plant gardening so well!
I'm in Wyoming. Around 6500 feet, the high winds, the hail, and the clay soil...it's a challenge. I'm finally getting the hang of it though. Good luck and hope all us Rocky Mountain gardeners can share lessons learned.
Hello! Love this topic - I think often about climate forward gardening here too! I’m up the road from you in Fort Collins- also trained as a CO MG. Looking forward to reading more from you !
Missouri here - our weather is probably not as crazy as yours, but we are having more extremes. Dry for weeks and then torrential rains. Natives are definitely the way to go! Once they are established, you hardly have to water unless it's a severe drought.
Isn’t that the best!! I went to grad school in St. Louis. No time for gardening then, but I lived in the back house of a woman who grew the most magnificent peonies!! It’s where I fell in love with them.
Gardening in southern Minnesota here--very similar weather whiplash to what you describe (just this week we hit almost 60 deg on Monday then had a blizzard and 11" of snow on Wednesday). In addition to my kitchen gardening in raised beds (I LOVE Vego Garden products) my front lawn has been slowly but surely transforming into pollinator habitat. It's really important to consider what "native" plants are actually native to your location to effectively provide sustenance for local pollinators. Minnesota has a grant program called Lawns to Legumes that I participated in last season and I learned a great deal from that. An added benefit is that neighbors and random passers-by often stop to chat about gardening when I'm outside, so there's the community building aspect as well.
I'm so glad that I found your account! I live in Boulder and am getting a lot out of your posts--in many ways. Any chance you'll be at the Landscaping With Colorado Native Plants conference tomorrow? Perhaps we'll meet IRL : ) !
OMG! I missed these comments! Sadly, I couldn’t be there — too many mom things to do this weekend. But maybe we will run into each other soon! Thank you for the compliment!!
Although the East Coast is certainly not as “whiplashed” as you, we are certainly experiencing unusual weather patterns that make gardening unpredictable at best…
Your post is wonderfully done, and much appreciated. I look forward to reading all about your 2025 adventures ✅
I felt like I was reading about Spokane! We also get 16” of annual rainfall, mostly as snow. And 30-40 deg temp swings in 24 hours. We aren’t as high elevation as you, but 2000’ full sun here is NOT the same as full sun at sea level and plants will scorch (I have to plant tomatoes in part sun). All the more reason why my front yard is adorned in natives. Thank you for capturing the benefits of native plant gardening so well!
We have LOTS in common!! Mountains make for wild weather! ❤️
I'm in Wyoming. Around 6500 feet, the high winds, the hail, and the clay soil...it's a challenge. I'm finally getting the hang of it though. Good luck and hope all us Rocky Mountain gardeners can share lessons learned.
Yes!! The winds and hail… argh! Do you use season extenders? I find them so helpful!!
Lots of frost cloth! Not enough room for a formal green house or tunnel.
Frost cloth can be a miracle!!
Hello! Love this topic - I think often about climate forward gardening here too! I’m up the road from you in Fort Collins- also trained as a CO MG. Looking forward to reading more from you !
Waving to you!! Somehow I missed all of these comments. I have to check my settings!
What a beautiful introduction! Your respect for your gardening context shines through.
Thank you, Tanja! What a lovely compliment!
Missouri here - our weather is probably not as crazy as yours, but we are having more extremes. Dry for weeks and then torrential rains. Natives are definitely the way to go! Once they are established, you hardly have to water unless it's a severe drought.
Isn’t that the best!! I went to grad school in St. Louis. No time for gardening then, but I lived in the back house of a woman who grew the most magnificent peonies!! It’s where I fell in love with them.
Gardening in southern Minnesota here--very similar weather whiplash to what you describe (just this week we hit almost 60 deg on Monday then had a blizzard and 11" of snow on Wednesday). In addition to my kitchen gardening in raised beds (I LOVE Vego Garden products) my front lawn has been slowly but surely transforming into pollinator habitat. It's really important to consider what "native" plants are actually native to your location to effectively provide sustenance for local pollinators. Minnesota has a grant program called Lawns to Legumes that I participated in last season and I learned a great deal from that. An added benefit is that neighbors and random passers-by often stop to chat about gardening when I'm outside, so there's the community building aspect as well.
I have read about Lawns to Legumes! Super cool! I actually first gardened for real in MN!! And I would move back in a heartbeat. You betcha!
I'm so glad that I found your account! I live in Boulder and am getting a lot out of your posts--in many ways. Any chance you'll be at the Landscaping With Colorado Native Plants conference tomorrow? Perhaps we'll meet IRL : ) !
OMG! I missed these comments! Sadly, I couldn’t be there — too many mom things to do this weekend. But maybe we will run into each other soon! Thank you for the compliment!!
Weekend things are so tough with family commitments, I agree. It was a great gathering though!
Finding that balance is tricky some times! Hopefully next year!
Many thanks for sharing!
Although the East Coast is certainly not as “whiplashed” as you, we are certainly experiencing unusual weather patterns that make gardening unpredictable at best…
Your post is wonderfully done, and much appreciated. I look forward to reading all about your 2025 adventures ✅
Thank you, John! So lovely to be connected!