Hello from the garden bench!
There is something about a Saturday morning in Weiser that just feels right. As I sit here with a cold Diet Coke in hand, looking out over the fields of Gray Day Flower Farm, I can’t help but reflect on the journey that brought me here. While many of you know me as your local baker or the person behind the quilted bags on your shoulder, my heart has always been rooted in the soil.
Being a Master Gardener here in Washington County is a special kind of joy. I was raised under the misty, gray skies of Seattle, but my roots in Weiser run deep—my mother grew up right here, and moving and starting Gray Day Flower Farm felt like coming home. The "Gray" in our name isn't just an aesthetic; it’s our name, now my heritage, as well as my favorite kind of gardening weather (hard to come by in Summer months in Wieser).
A Winter that Wasn't and a Spring that Is
We've had a bit of a "non-winter" this year, haven't we? While the Farmers' Almanac predicted "Chill, Snow, Repeat," Mother Nature had other plans for Southwest Idaho. We experienced one of the mildest winters on record, with temperatures often hovering in the 40s and 50s through January.
Now, we are in the thick of a very "interesting" Spring. We're seeing a "slow warm-up"—cool, damp mornings that linger a bit longer than we'd like, followed by bursts of unseasonable warmth. For my fellow gardeners, this means patience is our best tool. The soil is warming slowly, which can tempt us to plant our heat-lovers like tomatoes and peppers too early. Resist the urge! In the Intermountain West, that late April frost is always lurking.
The Buzz on Bug Pressure
A mild winter is a gift for our heating bills, but it comes with a price in the garden: Pest Pressure. Without those deep, sustained "hard freezes" to knock back overwintering populations, we are seeing insects awaken much earlier than usual. Here is what I'm keeping an eye on this year:
- Aphids and Mites: Expect them to show up on your tender new growth weeks ahead of schedule.
- Yellow Jackets & Wasps: Queen wasps didn't have the usual winter mortality rate. Be proactive with traps now before the colonies explode in July.
- Ants & Spiders: You've probably already noticed them moving indoors. The mild soil temperatures mean they never truly went into deep dormancy.
Looking Ahead: A Hot & Mixed Summer
According to the latest Farmers' Almanac forecast for Summer 2026, Weiser and the rest of Southwest Idaho are in for a "Hot and Mixed" season.
While the northern parts of the state might stay cooler, we can expect above-average temperatures in July and August. The "Mixed" part of the forecast suggests that while we will have our signature dry heat, we may see more localized "wetter" bursts than usual.
My Master Gardener Tip for the Summer: With the prediction of widespread heat, mulching is non-negotiable this year. Use 2–3 inches of organic mulch to keep those root temperatures stable. If the Almanac is right about the "wet bursts," keep a close eye on powdery mildew on your zinnias or squashes—humidity plus heat is a recipe for fungal issues.
Join Me in the Greenhouse
As I prepare for my May 15th Digital Magazine launch, I'll be sharing more "notes from the dirt" here in The Greenhouse Diary. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your first raised bed, remember: a gray day is just a blank canvas for a colorful garden.
Happy planting, Weiser!
— Tawnya
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