Wonky Winters and Wind Gusts: Why We’re Bracing for Spring with a Brand New Grow Tunnel

If you’ve lived in this corner of the world for more than a week, you know the old saying: If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. But even for us seasoned South Dakotans, this winter has been—for lack of a better word—wonky.

As I sit here in the nursery office, AKA the living room surrounded by dogs, looking out at the yard, I’m seeing a landscape that doesn’t quite know what year it is. We’ve swung from bitter, bone-chilling freezes to afternoons so mild you’d almost think about putting away the heavy parka. While the humans might appreciate a “break” from the sub-zero temps, for a backyard nursery owner, this “wonky” weather is a bit of a nail-biter.

The Rollercoaster of 2026

Plants love consistency. They like a deep sleep under a blanket of snow where the temperature stays a steady, predictable “cold.” This year, the rollercoaster has been in full swing. One day the ground is rock hard, and the next, the thaw is on. These temperature swings can “trick” our perennials and shrubs into thinking Spring is knocking on the door way too early. When a plant wakes up prematurely only to be hit by a sudden 40-degree drop the following night, it’s a recipe for stress.

And then, there’s the wind.

I don’t know about you, but it feels like 2026 has been the year of the “unending gale.” We’ve seen gusts that make you check twice to see if the shed is still anchored. For a nursery, wind is the ultimate thief. It steals moisture from the branches (winter desiccation) and batters the dormant buds we’ve been protecting all season. I’ve spent more than a few nights this winter out in the yard with a flashlight, re-securing tarps and making sure our potted stock hasn’t decided to take a flight into the neighbor’s yard.

Introducing: The Spring Game-Changer

But with all this “wonky” weather comes a silver lining. It forced us to adapt. It made us realize that if we want to provide you with the healthiest, sturdiest plants possible this year, we needed to up our game.

I am thrilled to announce that we are officially installing a new Grow Tunnel for the 2026 season!

For those who haven’t seen one in action, a grow tunnel (or high tunnel) is a bit like a greenhouse’s rugged, practical cousin. It’s a specialized structure that allows us to control the environment far better than we can in the open air. Although for the first year, it will likely just be covered in a shade cloth.

Why is this a big deal for you and your garden?

A “Buffer” Against the Winds: The tunnel acts as a giant windbreak. No more battered leaves or wind-burned stems. Our starts will grow up in a protected, calm environment, ensuring they hit your garden in peak physical condition.
Smoothing Out the Temperature Spikes: The tunnel helps us regulate those crazy temperature swings. We can keep the “wonky” heat out during those weirdly warm February days and trap the warmth when the frost tries to make a late-May comeback.
An Earlier Start to Spring: Because we can warm the soil and the air inside the tunnel faster than the surrounding ground, we can get a head start. This means bigger, more established tomatoes, peppers, and perennials ready for you the moment the ground is ready to receive them.

The Future is Growing

Despite the crazy winds and the confusing thermometer readings, the “nursery itch” is real. I’ve been spending my evenings surfing online for tips on lilacs and hydrangeas and printing benchcards and mapping out exactly what will go into the new tunnel first.

I’m focusing heavily this year on varieties that can handle our specific climate—plants that are “South Dakota Tough.” We’re talking about those resilient and sturdy native shrubs, weigelas, spireas and so many more.

Coming Soon to the Backyard

As we move through the rest of January and into February, keep an eye on this page. I’ll be sharing “behind the scenes” photos of the tunnel construction (assuming the wind lets us keep the plastic down long enough to bolt it!) and giving you a first look at the 2026 inventory list.

We’ll all survive another wonky winter together. Now, it’s almost time for the reward. Thank you for supporting this little backyard dream of mine. I can’t wait to show you what we’ve been growing.

Stay warm, stay anchored, and get your gardening gloves ready—Spring is closer than it looks!