Challenges Of Mountain Gardening

Reader Contribution by Bruce Mcelmurray

Often when writing about life in the mountains and living in a remote area I have mentioned that it is wise to be prepared for the unexpected. That is especially true in the springtime when the weather can change on a moments notice at the most unexpected times. For the past few weeks the temperatures have been in the 60’s and the snow had melted away and the wild grasses had started to turn green. My garden had been planted, seeds were in the ground. Nights were cool but not near freezing. Migrating birds had arrived and hummingbirds were swarming the feeders. All the signs of springtime were evident and were so prevalent that I had removed the snow thrower from the tractor and taken it in for repair believing that winter was finally over.

Be Prepared

Then on May 12, we had that sudden unexpected cold front with accompanying 26” of fresh wet snow. Garden boxes and flower beds were covered with a thick layer of heavy snow. Rhubarb plants that had started to unfold their leaves were under containers to protect them from the temperatures that dropped into the teens. Nothing makes the point better about remaining flexible than the sudden changes that happen during springtime in the mountains. The storm moved in suddenly and was gone just as suddenly two days later leaving over two feet of heavy wet water laden snow. When I was younger and in the Boy Scouts the motto was “Be prepared”. That especially applies when you are living in the mountains in the spring time.

Saving a Garden

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