OT: Zone

>The owner felt that his garden was Zone 6 - whereas this region is
>normally considered Zone 4B or lower. It just goes to show the power of
>microclimatic differences!   I would imagine that in winter the two
>areas would be very close and very cold.
>
Ian, this matter of microclimates confuses me. I realize growing conditions
arise from a complex interraction of altitude, proximity to weather makers
such as forests, oceans and air currents, geologic substrata and so forth,
but are there standard conditions that apply? Is there a clear and concise
explanation of how geography affects growing conditions? Does altitude mean
colder or hotter temps? Also, it makes sense to me that lower places might
stay moist longer than high places, but is that also true in Death Valley?
The Virundi Mountains?
And do those standards apply when I'm analyzing a one-city-block back yard?

I can understand that a garden on a prominence might have cooler winters
than one in a valley, but shouldn't it also have harsher summers,
especially if the prominence is a mountain? You'd be that much closer to
the sun, right? When we exercised in the Rockies, there was always
significant sunburn; people were urged to slather on sunscreen because
there wasn't as much atmosphere to block the rays up high as down low. Of
course, it was also cooler up high than down low.
But our Kentucky friend talks about his "frost pocket" being prone to
colder cold than his neighbors' plots on level land. As I understand this,
the frost pocket gets colder and then heats up erratically. But I might
misunderstand.

As I understand and use the term "microclimates" now - at this stage of my
ignorance - it's a vague way of explaining that you ought to study the
different corners of your yard before planting. But I want it to come with
a system of predictions and explanations. Is there one? Please educate me.

celia
storey@aristotle.net
Little Rock, Arkansas
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