There is a "Xeriscape" badge for arid gardening. There are badges for "Oregon" and for "Pacific North West", but no "WA" badge. The PNW badge is several evergreen trees, so it COULD be used to represent "The Evergreen State" ... but the high desert doesn't have many toweirng pines, I think.
It gives me an idea for some new feature like "How does your garden grow?" Something more expressive than the USDA Hardiness Zone.
It would have to include at least things like these:
low (or high, or frequent) rainfall
excessive summer heat heat is a limiting condition
winter low temp is a limiting condition: (USDA Hardiness)
can grow many crops or plants right through the winter
length of frost-free growing season (days above freezing)
length of tomatoe growing season (days above 50 degrees)
degree days
high winds cause problems
sandy soil
heavy clay soil
alkaline soil
acid soil
At first I thoguht that could be done as a series of badges, but I think it's better suited to a list of text phrases like entries in the Plant Database.
I start a speculation thread in the Site Talk forum.
