I can understand the term "bake at 40c". In summer this zone endures much time in that temperature zone and during that time, our humidity is very high. It does make excellent tropical plant conditions.
This winter our low was -5c (22f) and sometimes we see lower temperatures. On rare occasion it will stay below freezing for up to a week. No longer tropical conditions for my plants.
I am fortunate to have a greenhouse to store them in proper conditions but the plants and I look forward to the heat so I can move them outdoors again. That takes a lot of effort but I enjoy my plants as you do. I've seen your lovely collections on other threads.
We also often see similar wild temperature swings. It will be hot and humid in the morning and frosty by evening but I don't have the pleasure of hills or mountains here as you do.
