Here’s a good illustration of how different micro-climates can be!

This is a picture of the thermometer outside my office window.

That reads a VERY balmy 13C.

This is the actual temperature, in a screen shot from my phone, which is getting readings from a weather station maybe 5 miles from us.

These were taken moments apart, shortly before 12:30.  It is now about 1:45, and the thermometer outside is reading 21C, while the weather station is reading -9C.

These little pockets of warmer temperatures are why my mother had been able to grow things that were rated for zone 5, when we live in a zone 3.  Or zone 2B, if I were to go by my Veseys catalog, which conveniently includes our hardiness zone right next to my name and address.

Granted, my mother also had two green thumbs.  Even when she was downright brutal with her plants, when it came to transplanting, tending, or even just weeding, they absolutely thrived.

These are the sorts of things we need to keep in mind when we get around to planting around our yard.  What can grow on the East side of the house (more shade, wind tunnel) is going to be very different from the West side (more sheltered, mix of sun and shade).  The main garden, to the more exposed North, is going to be very different from anything we try to plant in the more sheltered South yard.

I’ve started up a list of things we might consider planting.  I want to focus on things that produce trees, but I also want to encourage pollinators.  I’ve made up a list of flowering plants that both attract pollinators and deter deer.  I may love having the deer come and visit our living room window, but I don’t want them eating our garden!  I am thinking a border of pollinator friendly, deer deterring plants, around any areas of food plants we end up including.  My daughters and I will be making another list of vegetables.

Not for this year, I don’t think, but very likely next year, at least to start.

Any gardeners out there that have had to deal with things like this?  What sort of solutions have you come up with?

What sorts of things would you be considering, in a situation like ours?  Big yard, huge main garden area, many small garden areas, wildlife, and lots to clean up before we can start!

The Re-Farmer