Kareen Erbe of Broken Ground Permaculture collects vibrant orange edible nasturtiums from her greenhouse. Photo: Sara Gilman
By July, Montana gardens are fully awake. The sun glimmers over the valley with brute strength. Thick storm clouds swiftly pass through, dropping sudden bursts of rain and hail. All kinds of critters—the good, the bad, and the ugly—weave through the plants. The transition from spring to summer now calls for active stewardship.
Caiseal Orsini, co-owner of Bozeman’s Hillside Nursery, reminds gardeners that the Montana climate doesn’t follow a seasonal script. This year, especially, has shown us how unpredictable our environment has become. “The key,” she says, “is paying attention to the elements and adjusting gently.”
AIR
This element is so much more than empty space. It’s an undeniable force of nature; a movement that carries pollen, scent, spores, and insects. Flowers release their aromas into the breeze, signaling to aerial voyagers, who help carry on the plant’s story. In the summer, much of the garden activity arrives through the wind in the form of insects.
Orsini doesn’t see insects as invaders, but rather as indicators. Aphids, which can appear nearly overnight, are just a part of the ecological rhythm. Their presence signals an imbalance, not a failure. Many insect species, including aphids, will lay eggs in the fall that hatch in the spring. Applying dormant oil before bud break can reduce early-season populations. Once aphids have established themselves, Orsini recommends spraying a mild soapy solution directly onto affected leaves as needed.
While pests can rapidly appear, many insect allies also move through Montana’s skies in summer. Horticulturist Abiya Saeed of Montana State University Extension notes that this area supports dozens of native bee species.
“Montana is a bee haven,” she says. Over 32 bumblebee species call this region home. Growing native plants will help support these local pollinators, and a list of suggested species can be found online by searching for “Native Plants for Montana’s Home Gardens,” published by MSU Extension. Through intentional plantings—a form of conservation biological control—Saeed says gardeners can invite beneficial bugs into the space and reduce the number of pests.
Permaculture specialist Kareen Erbe echoes this systems-based thinking. She says native flowers, diverse planting, and healthy soil can encourage predators like ladybugs and lacewings to settle and build stable populations. Erbe runs Broken Ground Permaculture and teaches gardeners about caring for the Earth and growing their own food.
“In many ways, the ‘culture’ in our agriculture has been lost,” Erbe says. She hopes her work can help tie the community back into the story of our food.
FIRE AND WATER
The sun’s energy is incredibly productive and powerful; it needs careful consideration. Montana averages about 300 days of sunshine a year. At this elevation, the sun carries a lot of intensity. When growing plants, Orsini says placement is protection. The southwestern sun can beat down heavily, so it’s important to notice if it becomes overbearing on your plants and to utilize shading structures whenever needed.
One common mistake Erbe sees in the summer is shallow, frequent watering. Instead, she recommends deep watering at the base of the plants, early or late in the day. This encourages roots to chase moisture downward, building resilience during drought or heat waves.
Overhead sprinklers may cool leaves briefly, but they also waste water—an important consideration in a region where it’s limited and valuable during the heat of summer. Drip systems, soaker hoses, or hand watering are the best methods to deliver water where it matters most. For those unsure about their irrigation efficiency, the City of Bozeman offers free sprinkler system assessments, where trained auditors evaluate your setup and suggest simple methods to reduce water use.
Trees and shrubs require special attention. Orsini recommends using tree bags or supplemental slow watering to help establish strong root systems so they can handle prolonged sun exposure.
Orsini and Erbe encourage gardeners to think creatively about capturing and storing rainwater. Rain barrels, swales, and rain gardens can slow runoff and guide water to areas where it’s needed most. Erbe also emphasizes a focus on soil moisture rather than constant watering through the use of mulch, which helps lock in moisture, insulates the soil, and creates habitat for beneficial insects.
Sun fuels growth; water sustains it. This yin-yang relationship is crucial to consider when actively observing and stewarding your space. Balance is key.
EARTH
Soil is the soul and foundation of the ecosystem itself. It’s a living and breathing system. To keep that system healthy, organic matter is essential.
Companies like Happy Trash Can and Yes Compost are local operations that function in a closed-loop system. Here’s how it works: The companies pick up organic waste from members of the community and steward a system that allows that waste to break down, turning it into nutrient-dense organic matter. Supporting these operations helps strengthen local businesses while recycling nutrients back into the community. Kitchen scraps and yard waste become future fertility rather than landfill contributions. What feeds us eventually returns to feed the soil.
For those who are interested in composting on their own but are unsure where to start, Kris Fitzgerald, owner of Woods Rose Market in Livingston, suggests a new method that’s on the rise: bokashi. This strategy makes use of a mixture of microorganisms that ferment food scraps. The decomposition smells more like fermentation than rotting, and it’s a quick process.
In the end, nothing in the garden stands alone. Beneath every plant, there is an entire web of life: The soil is the soul that holds it all together.
BALANCING THE ELEMENTS
This growing season, cultivate a mindset of working alongside the climate instead of conquering it. Observe. Listen. Respond with intention.
Air brings movement, reminding us that change is constant and inevitable. Fire fuels growth and carries incredible strength. Water balances the sun’s intensity but is in limited supply. Earth synthesizes it all quietly, steadily, with systems working in miraculous ways.
Under Montana’s Big Sky, we can’t force resilience. It’s cultivated by harmonizing with the seasons and the elements.
PLANT A TREE IN MEMORY OF ELAINE INGHAM
Microbiologist Elaine Ingham [1952–2026] was a pivotal figure in soil science and understanding the soil food web. Her work transformed the way the entire world looks at soil, moving us from the idea of just “dirt” to understanding it as an entire living ecosystem. Her research on the soil food web helped introduce the idea that plants drive the system and that soil is the foundation of it all.
Ingham passed away in February but her legacy will carry on through practices such as no-till agriculture, carbon stewardship, and compost-based systems.
To honor her life’s work, her family encourages planting a tree or supporting soil education programs. Beneath every thriving garden is a web of life that she’s helped the world learn to see.
