Welcome to the first guest blog of a brand new Western Gardener’s feature called Garden Clippings!

Amy Grisak is a garden writer who’s been playing in the dirt for nearly 30 years. She loves pushing the envelope on her Great Falls, Mont., garden where she grows fruits, vegetables and herbs for her husband and two young sons.

To keep track of Amy’s gardening adventures, please visit her blog called Living in Season. If you have questions on what’s eating your garden, post a note on her Pest Patrol blog at PlantersPlace.

“When my family moved to Great Falls, Mont., on the east side of the mountains a couple of years ago, its reputation for being a windy area preceded it. The relentless gales do not disappoint. I quickly had to learn how to protect my garden and tender seedlings from a force that causes neighbors to chain down their barbecue grills and sends trampolines flying.