Region Envy - where do you wish you could garden??

Lots of talk about zone envy, but region envy seems more appropriate to me. One zone covers many different regions, with widely varying growing conditions. So where in the country would you like to garden?

I think I would pick the Pacific NW. Seems everything does well there! Pretty reliable rainfall. Less sun but enough to get the job done. Not to mention the great natural areas!

What's your choice and why?

SC - there is 2 growing seasons and you dont have to put up with very much snow!

Turkey or Greece - just all the good stuff, spices, tulips, crocus, poppies - seems to originate over there. Of course this is just a knee-jerk reaction, not well-reasoned or rational.

Beautiful part of the world. Can't wait to visit. Mainly drought-tolerant stuff though.

North Carolina, specifically the SW Coastal area (Wilmington, and sourrounding areas!) Eventually I will be moving back down there, not sure when, but more than likely within the next 4-5 years! Paul and I are going to be taking a weekend type get away so he can finally "see" what I've been bragging about for the past 3 years. I believe that area is a z7/8...not sure exactly. Sun=check! Rain=check! Growing season longer than 3.5 months=check! Beaches, sun, historical community, theatrical community, lots of things to do, close to Myrtle Beach, and a summer that lasts from about April into September, and hardly any at all snow=CHECK!

I feel like moving now...lol.

*It's not so much envy as pre planning, I just can't imagine attempting to bring most of my DL's and Hostas wit me! That's going to require its own UHaul!

I'm still California dreamin'.

Hawaii so I can grow Plumerias, Orchids and all sorts of stuff right in the ground in my backyard. : ) Plus it is the most beautiful place I have ever been. An average of 80 degrees all year - I can deal with that.

I would also pick the Pacific Northwest. I just think it's so beautiful and lush there...I love all the mossy forests and ferns. I'm not much of a sun lover so I could deal with that. Now those super sized slugs they have, that's another story....

I'm with you Meredith79, Hawaii it's!

Wow - good public relations, Thom! Now you got me wanting to go. Lots of good choices. Nobody for Alaska?! 24 hours of sun.

True but don't they also get 24 hours of dark at the other end?

Sun/Dark - would not matter -40 would

Yes - 24 dark. Can't get everything!

Oh yeah lol -40 is definitely not cool for me.

Way TOO cool.

I would be a prisoner in my own habitat. I would not breath fresh air.

One place I'm not envious of is the desert SW, where I just got back from visiting. Even though they have some cool stuff out there, it's not for me. I felt thirsty the whole time I was there and I think it was purely psychological.

This message was edited Mar 29, 2009 2:06 PM

I think I would feel the same. Plus they have horrible water problems.

But what about sand fleas?

Yeah, my geologist brother was filling me in on that while I was there. I don't know how Las Vegas is able to function if that's the case...all those hotels and fountains, etc.

I've never had them.

The war among the western states over the Colorado river will intensify.

Sand fleas made me remember another bonus to Hawaii - they don't have them or mosquitoes. Aah heaven. Every where has it's down sides of course - some people get what they call island fever. I can see how too. The biggest island Hawaii only takes 8 hours to drive completely around. No escaping unless you have plane ticket or boat.

If there is a fight over the a river - I would just go fishing.

The NW does look good but I just want to go one zone higher (7) seems all the plants I'm interested in are hardy in zone 7.

The NW goes from 5 to 8.

But (for some reason) I was never interested in living there.

Commute to the garden?

lol

Thom, would you bring all that expensive dirt you just hauled and all those rocks?

If you had to haul it - it could break anyones back! Or pocket book - anyones Ughhh

Southern Appalachians, no question - the most botanically diverse region in the U.S. Similar zones to where I am now, and lots of snow in some places, because winter temperatures can get subzero, but a longer growing season with an earlier spring and a later winter. I like winter, I just wish it were a bit shorter, especially the late winter-early spring bit when temps range 20-40 and there's no snow & you can't really go hiking in the mud so there's nothing to do outdoors.

Edit: I also hate hot summers, and that's something Buffalo has going for it. Last year it was sunny, with light breeze, 75-80 pretty much every day from late June to early September. But the southern Appalachians have very mild summers too, if you get high enough.

This message was edited Mar 29, 2009 4:57 PM

Oh, I almost forgot - the Appalachians also have acidic soils! You can't grow azaleas in Buffalo with our clayish, limey soils - lady slippers, mountain laurels, & lots of other things tend to be scarce here too, outside of hemlock forests in the hilly areas. Good soil for trilliums though.

i have zone envy although i would not want to move from Red Sox Nation - don't hear too much talk about Seatle Mariner Nation

Wow - Buffalo summer temps were very nice.

Hawaii for me too for the exact same reason as Meredith........I want to see those plants (Orchids, Plumeria's, Hoya's ect..)
growing in the wild like violets and beach roses do here!

But I hear everything costs so much there; it all has to be imported, nothing can be mailed, no free shipping from Penney's . . .

But how much snow does Buffalo get?

I think I'd pick New Hampshire in the summer and south Florida in the winter. LOL!!!

After seeing all of Shelly's photos though, the Pacific NW looks pretty good too.

Hey Louise sounds like a good idea! ^_^