Give me my brain on a larger plate....think this is why I take the low road, plant what works and remember not to plant what didn't.

All you wrote reminds me of the Farmer's Almanac and why it was part of our gardening direction. Also, with memories of Utah and the sun hanging around an hour later than here in Colorado. Is that why I always had the best corn in Utah? Or was it the soil? Or that I could irrigate with "real" water?

Your mentioning the intensity of sun at higher altitudes was not something thought about. How much do you think this actually affects the growing? And does it warm the ground too at a higher degree?

And your greenhouse? It too is a complex of science depending upon all you brought to mind.

"Or that I could irrigate with "real" water?"

Does this mean you now irrigate with imaginary water?

hahahahaha

I've never tried that! Does it work?

I donÂt know enuf about the intensity of solar energy at different elevations to know how it effects growth. Seems like it could be hypothesized to be a factor based solely on the measurement of the light and temperature.

So, Sandy, why do you suppose that within a couple of blocks of your home - significant differences occur in bloom time for the Cherry trees?

d'S'

A genetic, inborn trend I've noticed over the past few years, but I now have an excuse to fully enjoy it. Waking up with the early dawn. These days, my daughter has to be in town at 6:45 (theoretically) to pull the insulating mats off the swimming pool to allow the swim team to splash and practice. I naturally wake up at 5:15, when its just getting light. I now have an excuse to just get up and potter around. I love it.

The other side of the calendar holds true as well, that early solstice get-em-up wanes come Oct.

We are, indeed, so much a part of all that is around us, and giving into that gives a sense of pleasure and peace.

Digit,

I live close to the base of the mountains, a couple of miles. And yes, the flowering cherries, bulbs, iris....all were blooming at different times within "blocks". While the flowering cherries had lost their blossoms for leaves around my neighborhood, a mile or less away they were just beginning to bloom. I kept driving around to take photos and continued to miss the full bloom period. Nothing seemd to be cooperating with me.

Why do I think the bloom period is different? Nothing scientific, but perhaps due to the mountain affect. Snow/rain can be predicted and it seems to skirt past this part of town. So, less water? Not that we don't get it, just less than other areas a couple miles away. Sunlight? I don't have an answer to any of this. Of course my curiosty remains.

I think we have had an odd couple of springs weather wise. Since I just moved here I don't know if the above is the norm. The news a couple of days ago did say our plants/trees were a bit confused this year. Too much water for some, specifically the xeriscape plants which need to be watched for root rot. Others taking off growth wise and taking over requiring more care of plants which now are in a different environment.

From last spring to now, the sunny area for my veg. garden is half shade...success may be on the iffy side. Even my patio which was full sun has no need for unbrellas since the trees are loaded with growth and bushes are bounding. On the other hand, I still need the umbrellas as there are double the number of birds around too and they like to muck up the furniture flying about.

AS for my "real" water. You guys just won't leave me alone...this mind wanders. Not "wonders", rambles off on trails of thought or not enough sleep hours.

It might be in part microclimates and part elevation. I know that the Denver-Boulder area is a Zone 6A surrounded by 5B, according to the latest hardiness zone map. Also, there are differences in elevation. Trees at lower elevation (even a couple or several hundred feet) in the 6A area would probably bloom a week or two earlier than trees at higher elevation in the 5B areas.

We get a fair amount of UV (something about holes in the ozone layer over the South Pole). One consequence seems to be that plants at higher levels (broadleaf weed species particularly - such as Hypochaeris and Leontodon) tend to have a purplish tinge compared with plants from lower altitudes. Gorse stays low, dense in structure, and shows windshear effects. Lower down it can easily grow to ten times the height and has a very loose structure in older plants.

Indigenous plants with a wide growth range are more stem than foliage, closer to the ground, and often have moss/lichen populations on the stems, as this is a moderately high rainfall area.

It may not be true of your hill/mountain systems but we get a lot of mist on the tops, or low cloud, when the lowland areas are dry. Dim and cold - with nasty little updrafts. (There's something about rain falling UNDER your chin that lets you know you're in a different space from home...)

I find it absolutely delightful to have someone on the opposite side of the Earth from my home join me in contemplating the solstice.

My provincial notion of New Zealand is that it is rather like BC's Vancouver Island but I'm sure that is terribly short-sighted. Maybe it is somewhat true of the South Island, eh?

But if New Zealand is on the opposite side of the sphere . . . doesn't that mean that rain falling the "normal" direction would be falling under my chin?

I hope you had a productive growing season, Vetivert8.

digitS'

Vetivert,

At very high altitude in the Rockies the plants have less color and grow very low to the ground. Just as you described.

I have been to your island twice and given the option would live there in a minute. The flora/fauna is beyond anything seen. You can travel many places with common plants and countryside seen in the US, but NZ is a magical place. My last trip was 6 years ago and wish for another trip that would take me on a walking tour for a month.

That last trip was to see the Gould at bay and Antartica history. Got to climb aboard, go behind the scenes to see the Antarctica collections.

NZ people are the friendliest in the world. I was treated like my being there was a gift to those met. How wonderful you are.