Cozy Up, Little Bugs! The Quest for Perfect Winter Hideways!

Now that fall is upon us in southwestern Idaho, it's the perfect time to explore whether structures like bug snugs and butterfly houses truly support overwintering insects. While these habitats can be charming additions to your garden, their effectiveness in providing shelter for beneficial insects is worth examining.
In this region, insects have diverse overwintering strategies. Many butterflies and other beneficial insects overwinter as eggs, caterpillars (larvae), or chrysalises rather than as adults. For instance, monarch butterflies migrate to warmer areas to survive the winter, while others may find refuge in leaf litter or within protective layers of plants. Given this, the role of butterfly houses in supporting overwintering populations can be limited, particularly for species that do not remain as adults during colder months.

Bug snugs can offer more significant benefits. By providing cozy spaces filled with natural materials like dried leaves, straw, and twigs, bug snugs can create ideal microhabitats for overwintering insects, including solitary bees and ladybugs. These insects often seek out sheltered spots to hibernate, and well-constructed bug snugs can help meet that need.
Additionally, a bug snug is a great option for those with smaller yards. They can be designed to fit in compact spaces, making them ideal for urban gardens. Even in limited areas, bug snugs can contribute to local biodiversity by providing shelter for beneficial insects, which is especially important in densely populated regions. Creating a bug snug can also be a fun project for families, fostering interest in gardening and nature while teaching kids about the important roles insects play in our ecosystem.However, while bug snugs and butterfly houses may provide some shelter, they are not substitutes for natural habitats. Encouraging diverse environments in your garden is crucial. This includes planting native flora that supports the entire life cycle of butterflies and other beneficial insects. For example, host plants provide food for caterpillars, while nectar-rich flowers attract adult butterflies.
In southwestern Idaho, focusing on native plants, such as milkweed for monarchs or asters for late-season nectar, will create a more effective environment for insect populations. Allowing leaf litter to accumulate and avoiding excessive cleanup in the fall can also provide additional overwintering opportunities for insects, as many rely on this natural debris for protection.
In conclusion, while bug snugs may effectively support certain overwintering insects, butterfly houses might not be as beneficial for many butterfly species. By creating a diverse and supportive garden environment filled with native plants and natural shelters, you can enhance insect populations and foster biodiversity in your garden, ensuring a healthier ecosystem for years to come.

Time to put your garden to bed for the winter

 "Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter  lies a miracle  ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl.  And the anticipation nurtures our dream."                      -  Barbara Winkler

Some of you, at the end of the gardening season, are so ready to be done and put your tools away.  However, placing your garden to rest for the winter is planting the best seed for success in the next year.  Help your garden thrive, not just survive, with these few tips to get ready for next spring...  

Clean Up – Leave seeded flower stems for winter food and places for native bees to overwinter. If it’s healthy, not only are you allowing all of the remaining energy left in the plant to feed the roots, but you are also providing valuable habitat for many of our native pollinators. They will use these structures to overwinter, perhaps having already laid their larvae within the stems. Structures from grasses and other hollow-stemmed perennials are especially valuable. Old vines provide places for insects and diseases to hide. Throw away plants that are suspect for bugs and disease to avoid passing them on to the next season.  Designate an area for a compost pile if you don’t already have one.  Add what you can to the compost pile or leave as mulch on the soil.  

Soil Testing – This is a great time to get your soil analyzed because if you find out now that your soil needs amended, you can apply it in the fall so that it has all winter to work its way into the soil.  

Crimson Clover Cover Crop

Cover Crop – In some areas of your garden you might consider planting a cover crop.  They improve soil fertility, structure, water retention, and suppress annual winter weeds.  

Leaves – Rake fallen leaves into areas of the garden that do not have a cover crop.  Leaves can be used as a mulch in vegetable gardens, flower beds, and around shrubs and trees. Leaves rot very quickly and you will be surprised how many you can work into your soil.  Leaf mulch encourages beneficial earthworms, soil microbes, and overwintering bumblebees.  They are also a great compost addition. 

Tools – Clean up your tools before storing them.  A wire brush can help get the dirt off and oil can maintain the metal parts to keep from rusting.  

Garden Journaling – Keep adding notes to your journal so you can keep track of your successes or what you could have done better, what you might want to try again or simply remove from the list. 

Tend your crops in your cold frames - carrots, lettuce, spinach, etc. Easy Peasy! 

Now relax, close your eyes, dream about spring, and await those seed and gardening catalogs!  

Pumpkin Rescue: Creative Ways to Reuse or Recycle!

As Halloween and fall come to a close, many of us are left with an abundance of leftover pumpkins and seasonal decorations. Rather than throwing them away, consider innovative ways to preserve what you can eat and give the rest a new purpose. Here are some clever ideas that not only help reduce waste but also dispel common pumpkin myths along the way.

Preserve What You Can Eat

One of the most rewarding ways to utilize your pumpkins is by preserving them for future meals. Fresh pumpkin can be roasted, pureed, or made into soups, pies, and other delicious dishes. If you have leftover pumpkin flesh, consider freezing it in portions. Just scoop out the insides, blend, and store in airtight containers or freezer bags.

However, be cautious: only use pumpkins that are fresh and free from mold or decay. Moldy or unsafe pumpkins can pose health risks, so ensure that any pumpkin you plan to eat is in good condition before using it.

Composting Fun

If you have leftover pumpkins that are no longer fit for consumption, composting is an excellent option. Pumpkins are biodegradable and rich in nutrients that can enhance your garden soil. Simply chop them into smaller pieces to expedite the composting process. Myth alert: Many people worry that adding pumpkins to compost will attract pests. In reality, balancing your compost with greens and browns can help prevent pest issues while creating nutrient-rich soil.

Feed Our Animal Friends

Consider donating your pumpkins to local farms or animal sanctuaries. Pigs, goats, and chickens relish pumpkin as a tasty and nutritious treat. Myth buster: There’s a common misconception that feeding animals pumpkin will make them sick. However, as long as the pumpkins are fresh and mold-free, they can be a healthy snack for livestock.

Get Crafty

Before you toss out your seasonal decor, think about how you can upcycle those pumpkins! Transform them into charming planters, candle holders, or fun bird feeders. Hollow out the pumpkins, carve a design, and fill them with soil and seeds. Myth-buster: Some believe that you can’t plant pumpkin seeds after Halloween. Not true! You can clean and dry the seeds from your pumpkins and plant them next year.

Recycling

Boise residents are encouraged to place their pumpkins in their compost carts this season. The city’s Compost Facility appreciates pumpkins during this time, as the extra moisture and nutrients help break down leaves. Check with your local waste management or agricultural offices for recycling efforts available in your area.

Natural Decorations

To maintain the cozy fall ambiance, consider using natural decorations like dried flowers or pinecones that can also be composted later. These elements enhance your home’s warmth without adding to landfill waste. 

By embracing these creative solutions for leftover pumpkins and fall decor, you not only reduce waste but also enhance your culinary and gardening experiences. So, before you toss that pumpkin, remember: every gourd deserves a second chance!

Frost to Hard Freeze: A Gardener’s Guide to Surviving the Fall Chill

As the chill of autumn settles in, it’s crucial to understand the differences between frost, freeze, and hard freeze to protect your precious plants.

Frost: Frost appears when water vapor in the air deposits as ice on solid surfaces. This typically happens when temperatures dip between 33°F and 36°F, especially with light winds. While frost may only cause minor damage, it’s important to note that if the air is dry or the winds are strong, frost can be unpredictable. Mark Longstroth from Michigan State University Extension explains, “A frost is when you see a visible layer of ice, while a freeze is simply when temperatures drop below freezing.” Sometimes, you might even spot frost while the air remains above freezing due to colder surfaces, like your car or roof.

Freeze: A freeze occurs when temperatures drop to 32°F or lower. This can lead to significant damage for many unprotected plants, especially if the freeze lingers for several hours. 

Hard Freeze: When temperatures plunge to 28°F or lower for a few hours, we experience a hard freeze. Unfortunately, this often means the end for many plants and seasonal vegetation.

Black Frost: This occurs when temperatures drop low enough to freeze plants without visible frost. Frozen plants can take on a sad, water-soaked black appearance as they perish.

Wind Freeze: A cold air mass can sweep in, causing temperatures to plummet, even with winds at play.

For gardeners who want to extend the life of their garden, here are some simple actions you can take:

1. Cover your plants. Use frost fabric, sheets, or plastic to shield your plants.

2. Water wisely by giving your plants a drink with warm water to help them stay resilient.

3. Let water run at a gentle trickle for a few days to maintain moisture—just don’t overdo it!
4. Wrap young tree trunks to help insulate them against cold temperatures, preventing freeze damage and maintaining healthier bark during harsh winter conditions.
5. Overwinter potted plants by moving them indoors to a cool, bright location or using a cold frame for protection. Insulate pots with mulch or wraps, group them together for a microclimate, and remember to adjust your watering schedule to prevent rot during the colder months.

For specific timing, check the Idaho Average First Frost Date Map for accurate information tailored to your county.

By taking these steps, you can help your plants brave the chilly weather and thrive until spring returns. Protect your green friends, and enjoy a flourishing garden year-round!

Frogs and Toads in Our Backyard Ecosystems

Have you ever noticed frogs and toads in your garden? Has their population on your property increased or decreased over the years? Frogs and toads play an important role in many ecosystems. Gardeners can take steps to build habitat for frogs which will not only benefit their garden but other species as well.

Frogs control pest populations that carry disease and damage crops. As tadpoles, frogs feed on mosquito larvae. When they develop into frogs, they eat mosquitos and other flying pests. Frogs are considered a keystone species which means they consume many other things, are consumed by other things in the food web, or are linked to other species in various ways. Mammals, birds, insects, and invertebrates are linked to each other within the ecosystem food web by frogs. 

Declining numbers of frogs can adversely affect the food web but home gardeners can take steps to protect their habitats by making simple modifications to their property and garden areas. For example, planting low-lying shrubs or plants will allow frogs to feed while being protected. Leaving native plants on stream banks and protecting wetland areas will improve and, in some cases, increase their available habitat. Also consider making brush piles for amphibians to hide in and installing fishless ponds where amphibians can mate, lay eggs, and develop.

Limiting animal and human access to flowing or contained bodies of water and the surrounding wet habitat, called riparian zones, can also support frog populations. Livestock can contribute to the loss of stream or pondside habitat, so keeping them away can be of great benefit. Cats or other pets who prey on frogs can be kept indoors, especially at night when frogs are feeding. Human-caused pollution on a large scale also affects the ability of frogs to thrive. Environmental temperature changes affect their ability to absorb oxygen and maintain mortality rates in reproduction.

Frogs, toads and other amphibians often indicate the overall health of an ecosystem. If frogs are present, it's likely many factors including pollution, interspecies predation, oxygen levels, etc., are in balance. When amphibians disappear, it's time to figure out what's wrong. Protecting frog and toad habitat will benefit your garden and make a difference to many species in the ecosystem.

Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Marmalades - Yummy!

Fresh, spreadable fruit in the form of jam, jelly, preserves,
or marmalade, might possibly be summer's sweetest reward. The best part is that they are easy to make and can be enjoyed long after you put your garden to bed. So, what is the difference between each of these spreadable options? 

Before we dive in, it helps to know that there are two main factors that turn fruit into a thick, spreadable texture: heat (from cooking) and pectin. When fruit is heated, it will lose liquid, causing the fruit to reduce to a firmer state. Pectin is naturally-occurring in fruit and happens to also make fruit thicken when cooked. However, not all fruit contains enough pectin to reach a firm texture, so many spreadable fruit recipes call for additional pectin.

Jelly:
Jelly is the firmest and clearest of the sweet, spreadable options. The fruit is cooked and strained so only the juice ends up in the final product. Jelly is so firm that you could turn the jar over and slide the jelly out in one solid piece.

Jam:
Jam is a chunkier version of jelly. Jam has more fruit pieces and is slightly looser in texture. Chopped or pureed fruit is cooked with sugar, so pieces of fruit end up in the final product. Jams are not clear and not solid like their jelly cousin. Here's a video for strawberry freezer jam!

Preserves:
Preserves are like jam but contain more and bigger pieces of fruit. Preserves have the least gel-like consistency. They are great for serving with cheeses and meat dishes.

Marmalade:
Marmalade is a preserve, but it is made only with citrus. The whole fruit, rind and all, create a bitter-sweet spreadable delight. Lemon, orange, and grapefruit make great marmalades. Marmalades are aromatic with complex flavors and oils from the citrus peels.

Jam, jelly, preserves, and marmalade start out almost the same, but take different forms depending on how they are processed. Whether you like your fruit a spreadable solid, with small pieces of fruit, with large pieces of fruit, or you want the complex flavors of citrus, there is always something good you can choose to put on your toast. 

“Leave the Leaves” vs. Fall Cleanup

Leave the Leaves vs. Fall Cleanup - Is It Contradictory?

Each fall, gardeners in Southwest Idaho face the same choice: clear out leaves, stalks, and seed heads—or leave them in place for wildlife. At first glance, the advice seems to conflict. In practice, both approaches are grounded in science. The key is knowing what to remove and what to keep.

Why Cleanup Still Matters

Some plant debris harbors pests and pathogens that overwinter in our climate. Powdery mildew can persist on cucurbits and peonies; tomato blight can linger in stems and fallen fruit; rust fungi hang on in hollyhock stalks. Insects like squash bugs and grasshoppers survive in crop debris or soil. If this material remains, it becomes a ready source of infection or infestation in spring. Removing diseased or infested debris in fall reduces inoculum and pest pressure for the following season.

What about composting? 

Most plant pathogens are inactivated at sustained hot-compost temperatures around 131–140°F for several days. However, many weed seeds and tougher pathogens need higher and longer exposure—often 150–160°F with thorough turning so all materials pass through the hot core. If your backyard pile doesn’t reliably reach and hold those temps, it’s safest to bag diseased plants and noxious weeds rather than compost them.

Why We Also “Leave the Leaves”

At the same time, many beneficial insects and birds depend on fall’s “messiness.” Research and field observations show that native bees and other insects overwinter in hollow or pithy stems and within leaf litter. Seed heads from plants like coneflower, rudbeckia, and native grasses feed birds through winter. Decomposing leaves improve soil structure and organic matter—especially helpful in our typically lean, alkaline Intermountain soils.

Finding the Balance

Think “tidy where you must, messy where you can.”

Remove: Blight-infected tomato vines, mildew-covered cucurbits, rusted stalks, and obviously infested material. Dispose rather than compost unless your pile truly runs hot and is turned.

Leave: Healthy seed heads and stems for winter structure, food, and habitat. A thin layer of leaves beneath shrubs, trees, and perennials helps insulate soil and shelter beneficials.

Modify: Clear leaves from lawns and hardscapes to prevent turf smothering and slick surfaces, but keep some in beds and wild corners.

Local Timing Tips

Wait for dormancy before major cutback—typically late October into November. Leaves retained under woody plants conserve soil moisture through our dry winters. In early spring, cut back the stems you left standing before new growth begins; by then, most overwintering insects have emerged.

Takeaway

“Leave the Leaves” and fall cleanup aren’t opposites—they’re complementary. Remove the problem material; keep the habitat. That balance supports pollinators, birds, soil life, and a healthier garden next season.

Resources:

https://blog.nwf.org/2024/09/how-fallen-leaves-support-moths-and-butterflies

https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/fall-leave-leaves

https://www.nwf.org/Home/Latest-News/Press-Releases/2025/9-16-2025-Leave-the-Leaves-Survey