For those who’ve been reading my column for some time, you know we have issues with wind. In the spring time it batters the newly planted seedlings, and it is a constant battle to protect them. Typically, by this time of the season, things are better. The plants are bigger, and we usually don’t have as much wind in the summer. Or, I should say, as strong of winds.

Well, there was nothing I could do last night. My husband was out of town for work, but he called me to let me know he saw a severe thunderstorm warning in our area. I was thankful for the heads up so I could grab the laundry off of the line, but I didn’t expect much. We’ve had several storm warnings this year without much result.

When it hit, it hit hard. The wind roared through the garden, and when I looked to the north all I saw was a big cloud of dust heading our way.

It reminded me of pictures from the Dust Bowl. Our dog was freaking out, and even the cat meowed to come inside. The wind was unbelievable. It flipped the boys’ play set, which has seen its share of severe storms without harm, and moved it about 15 feet. The tarps we’re using during the construction of the addition were wrapped around the sunflowers. If it wasn’t for them we’d undoubtedly have to retrieve them from the next county.

Thankfully, the house wrap my husband recently finished stayed in place (although quite a few of the staples popped out), and the shingles seemed to weather it okay. (The ones on the chicken coop lifted.) It was a wild ride for several hours.

But the garden is a bit more haggard this morning. The sunflowers on the north side of the gardens took the brunt of the wind. Some uprooted, others snapped, and some look like they’ve been through the ringer. Leaves are blacked and tattered. The corn…and pretty much anything over 2-feet tall… has a lean. I have a lot of cleaning up to do.

This has been the only place I’ve had to plant with the wind in mind. And it makes a distinct difference when I’m able to adequately protect the plants.

Take the raspberries, for instance. A friend gave me plants several years ago, and since I didn’t have any new gardens built I heeled them in along the privacy fence. The next year I planted more of the plants in a freshly built bed that was out in the open. The ones along the fence are 5-feet tall; the ones in the other bed are barely 2 ½ feet high. It’s that much of a difference. I’ve found even losing sunlight in favor of wind protection is more important. The tall raspberries are against the western fence so they’re in the shade a fair amount of time in the afternoon, but it certainly doesn’t affect the production or health of the plants.

The challenge is figuring out which way the wind blows. Most of it comes from the west, but that’s not always the case. As I said, last night it howled down out of the north. Winds from the east aren’t uncommon, although, as my friend says, “Nothing good comes from an eastern wind.” And during the winter, those warm, Southern winds are a welcomed relief to the bitter cold. I guess I’m just going to have to build a huge fence around all of the gardens and call it good!