dirtdorphins said:So we have high pH around here (mine is 8 to 8.3 or even higher-...). Our water is also very alkaline.
Same here. I wouldn't say it's caused many real problems in growing plants here though (excluding those that specifically need low pH, e.g. ericaceous plants, as said), other than early-season chlorosis in rugosa roses. I'd say the dryness of the climate... and my reluctance to coddle plants that need a lot of water, or create special environments for them... have been the main drawbacks to what I can grow successfully here, even a greater limitation for the things I want to grow than the fact that this is zone 3. In my experience, it's been worth just giving it a try to grow the plant of interest, ignoring the "popular wisdom" about it, whether that be about zone hardiness or the narrow range of "required" conditions that one often sees ascribed to various plants. Plants are often amazingly adaptable, and also, the written info about them is often limited in scope and includes many untested assumptions. Actually, once you get into alpine plants, you'll find the information about them is often very limited - which is good in its own way, in that there is nothing there to discourage you!
