I would like to answer a couple of questions. Most people are very surprised to learn that we are in zone 6 since we are so far north. We're only at about 2,200 feet in elevation and we enjoy a Southwest prevailing wind. With the Southwest prevailing wind we get warm air from the Pacific Ocean that eases through our area most of the year in the form of low pressure fronts. Unfortunately we sometimes get high pressure that dips down from the North and at the same time we are blessed because for some reason we only get the edge of those cold fronts that stay to the Eastern side of the continental Divide. It's usually anywhere from 10 to 30 degrees colder on the other side of the Rockies than it is here in Northern Idaho. This zone 6 goes all the way up into Canada a few miles as the warm air travels up our valley floor to the North.
I have learned a great deal about how elevation can and does affect temperatures. From what I understand, for every 1,000 feet in elevation you are above sea level it is like being 300 miles further North than your actual geographical location. I believe it too. We used to have a home about 18 miles out of town that was right at the foot of the Cabinet Mountain range. That was before I got really ill. Our elevation was 2,850 feet above sea level. It was uncanny driving back and forth from home to town. In the spring the snow was gone here in town at 2,200 feet in elevation and the spring flowers were already blooming while we had a foot of snow on the ground at our home. Yikes! Winter came earlier and spring came later every year. Ingrid, my wife, would grow flowers only to have the deer come along and nibble the blossoms off of as soon as they showed their beauty. I had to get creative with fencing. lol
Anyway, we're in zone 6 and we have a mild four seasons in one of the most gorgeous places in the world to live. Unfortunately my health issues are making it more and more difficult to deal with winter weather even though it's nothing like the weather is no where near as severe as it was in Wisconsin where I grew up. No thank you!
I do plan to try some dwarf irises and intermediate sizes too. I have to say that Hollywood Star that Paul has showed off with is very appealing. I have this inner desire to take pollen from a very black bearded iris and pollinate something like that and visa-verse to see what comes from the seeds. That's a pretty lofty and lengthy goal for a person in my condition but I have to have something to keep my mind occupied and hope for the future. Otherwise my day to day dealing with constant pain and fatigue isn't very encouraging so to speak. That's putting it mildly.
Speaking of which, while I am awake I better get more done outside or it won't get done. I have got to have some pretty flowers this coming spring. :-D
Thank you all again. I appreciate your help and input. Have a wonderful day.
Sincerely,
David
