Re: Re: What exactly is a mediterranean climate anyway?

I sometimes feel that the fog belt parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and coastal areas are also distinctly different to most typical Mediterranean climate zones, as we generally do not get any summer heat at all, and have much in common with high elevation tropical montane climates such as the Himalayas, Andes and southeast Asia.  The one distinguishing characteristic is that we don't get rain in the dry season, but fog drip from trees can make it seem as if it is raining in summer, and definitely accumulates enough moisture in the soil to allow active summer growth of plants below the canopy.

As far as determining what plants will do well in a particular area outside of their habitat, cold and heat tolerance are just one factor, it is also helpful to look at summer versus winter rainfall, or year round rainfall patterns.  Some plants that have reversed rainfall seasons adapt readily to a Mediterranean climate with some supplemental summer irrigation provided; many don't.  I've found that many plants from South Africa's Eastern Cape Province are actually quite drought tolerant in coastal California conditions, possibly due to the great variation in rainfall and seasons from year to year.  Such variability in climate has self selected some tough plants that are easy to grow in gardens.

From: "margn@internode.on.net" <margn@internode.on.net>
To: calidox@otenet.gr; Gordon Walker <grwalker@club-internet.fr>
Cc: margn@internode.on.net; Medit-Plants <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>; Otter Point <otterpt@shaw.ca>
Sent: Fri, January 14, 2011 1:58:29 AM
Subject: Re: Re: What exactly is a mediterranean climate anyway?

I will be very interested to follow this thread with anyone who wants too. My own situation at present is that we are experiencing an extremely mild summer with some good rainfalls. BUT we are also experiencing a very extreme weather event, as are others on Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales - not to mention the USa, Europe and UK. Climate Change is happening but now we need to track the fine details and extremes.  cheers, Trevor N.

On Fri 14/01/11 5:59 PM , Gordon Walker grwalker@club-internet.fr sent:
On 19/06/2010 07:38, Cali Doxiadis wrote:
I agree with Trevor. The most general definition of "wet winter dry summer" is enough.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 5:57 AM
Subject: Re: What exactly is a mediterranean climate anyway?

I wouldn't like to see 'us' get too tied up in this matter of defining things more tightly. Alpine gardeners and rock gardeners have much the same problems: are we talking about gardens over 3000 ft or 4000ft; what about the Moroccan Atlas, the Altai Mtns etc. It woiuld be counter productive if we got tied up in knots as some old rose enthusiasts have right down to arguing about HM petals each rose should have to be 'correct''. The first thing we should do is enjoy what we do and be confident to work in the broad parameters while at the same time undertsnading out our own settings and conditions. It is all a fun adventure.

 

cheers

 

Trevor N.



On Fri 18/06/10 8:38 AM , "Otter Point" otterpt@shaw.ca sent:

If Mediterranean climate is defined as climatic condition in which the
summers are normally dry, warm to hot and sunny and winters are mild
with the maximum rainfall taking place during this time of the year this
does not say that temperatures are warm/hot enough to ripen dates.

Is there a distinction between a 'hot' Mediterranean climate and a
'warm' Mediterranean climate?

I live on the central east coast of Vancouver Island which has
relatively mild weather with most precipitation in the winter and long,
dry summers. It is known as a Mediterranean climate.

Diane Pertson
____________

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Mace" <mikemace@att.net>
To: "'Medit-Plants'" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 2:03 PM
Subject: RE: What exactly is a mediterranean climate anyway?


>I just wanted to thank everybody for their replies and thoughts on the
> definition of a Mediterranean climate. I think the examples we're
> talking
> about reinforce the idea that the definition of "mediterranean" is
> very
> flexible. As Pamela pointed out, central Spain has a very different
> climate, but every official "mediterranean" climate map I've seen
> includes
> it. But if central Spain is mediterranean, it's hard to argue that
> central
> Oregon isn't.
>
> And then there are the date palms, which in California grow best in
> areas
> that are officially classified as (non-mediterranean) low desert.
>
> I'd like to see us eventually develop a standard classification of
> various
> mediterranean climates that would work around the world. That would
> help us
> quickly determine what plants are likely to have a chance in our own
> climates.
>
> Mike
> San Jose, CA
>

I live near Narbonne in France. The climate is mediterranaen but too cool to grow dates.
I believe the figure of merit is the number of degree-days above 22° Celsius. How many I cannot remember but Narbonne does not have enough by a wide margin!


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