Gardening in Homer, Alaska: Raised Beds for Short Seasons

With summer highs averaging only 68°F, Gabriela Husmann and Konrad Schaad needed beds that warm quickly. They built 2-ft-tall beds with large rocks that absorb daytime heat and radiate it at night. The upper bed holds perennials: red-and-white columbines, purple campanulas, blue delphiniums, yellow and orange Iceland poppies. The lower bed holds annuals: yellow and orange nemesias, pink godetias.