hello from the high desert

I'm anji and I'm in the inland Pacific Northwest- Spokane area. I've been lurking a long while and finally figured I'd post. it's hard to find good advice and ideas for this area, we're extreme cold then extreme heat, every year! plus dry all summer.

I've been gardening and growing on our spot in town for 6 years now. trying to get our solar sorted out, we do rainwater barrels, and I have a hoophouse and small heated greenhouse.

I'm a tattoo artist as the day job.

photo: something coming up from the frozen ground. it's been going back and forth between 20-40F for two weeks

Hi, Anji

Welcome to the forum!

I bet your picture of something coming up in frozen ground is a wildflower.  Only time will tell.

Let the forum know when you figure out what it is or post more pictures when it blooms if you have not figured out what it is.

Welcome Anji. As a fellow desert dweller, I applaud your efforts in trying conditions. My location is the top edge of the Mojave Desert just outside of Death Valley. While most people only think of heat when it comes to deserts, there is also the cold and wind of winters. Worst of all, perhaps, is a warm stretch in early spring, followed by a late cold snap that can severely affect that years growing. Do we enjoy the challenge, or are we just suckers for punishment? Haha..

I'm definitely mad at the cold snap every year. every year

I always look for plants that can take very cold, we are in zone 6, but those plants can't take extreme heat ... it gets up to 110ish F every summer. things just fry!

do other people need shade clothes AND a hoophouse

I’ve experienced summer days around 120 degrees F here.. nice and cool in comparison to down in Death Valley itself where it will be 130+ on those same days.. haha!