Browsing 2015 offerings of various plant vendors on line, I've been considering new plants to try, and the accompanying laments about the plants I find so stunning, that won't grow here at all. The Lupines, the Delphiniums, so many Rose cultivars, Ranunculus, tuberous Begonias; the list goes on and on. Here in central Kentucky, the weather is such a roll of the dice. Winter can be long and cold, may or may not be snowy, or could be quite mild, but is likely to be some combination thereof. Spring comes eventually, but we really never know when. In 2013 Daffodils were in full bloom in February, in 2014 peak bloom was mid to late April. Terms like "Dogwood winter", "Blackberry winter", and "Indian summer" are common around here, as winter is known to commonly revisit during those bloom times. Once spring truly arrives, this is a truly beautiful region, horticulturally speaking, and many garden plants thrive. However, just like spring, the arrival of summer is very random, as are summer weather conditions any given year. Some years, mild spring temps give way to summer heat at the end of May, while other years, mild weather persists until July. Summer drought is not uncommon here, but we see the occasional wet summer too. Sometimes hot, humid, and wet, with all the fungal diseases that come along with those conditions, or sometimes cool and moist, and the accompanying rot issues. And both of those are better than the all too common, dry, thirsty summer, when it's a struggle to provide enough water for survival.
And even with the challenges, I still do it, and still love it. Gardening always presents unique challenges to the gardener, and dealing with them is rewarding and part of the enjoyment. Gripes aside, I'm very thankful for all the good conditions offered here. Rich, well drained, moisture retentive, clay-loam soil, that is full of earthworms, a fairly long growing season, reliable sun, and supportive of a diverse array of flora- I really can't complain, LOL.
What gives you zone envy? What's the toughest part about gardening in your area? What do you want to grow, that refuses to thrive in your climate?
