More on yard micro climates...WITH PICS.
This time of year shows the difference. In my cool shade of the backyard its 60f. Walk to the front yard and porch..bathed in sun. The porch thermometer at noon says 72f And it feels like it. Lately I've been getting some feedback from Haywardians vie email wondering how I get those tropicals to grow here. One was from an ex Miami fellow who sent me a pic of his greenhouse in the Hayward hills- even warmer then me. He said he spends a fortune heating it in winter. I had to tell him that most of what I saw grows just fine outdoors. As a matter of fact,the "Tahitian bridal veil" is near a weed!..Platycerium bifurcatum is very hardy..and so on with his Dendrobiums and so forth.
I tried to explain that you can grow Mango here if you know where to plant- again,full winter sun down to the ground,and best out of wind. And thats how I keep mine.
If I knew 20 years ago what I now know...and if the bay area's climate had also been so mild.. I would have a ridiculously subtropical garden by now.
One last..as most GBOP were singed last year, I see one in Hayward planted in a courtyard in an apartment complex and it looks like it is in Florida- never see's a frost and more green then GBOP getting bashed by all day sun and winds. Although it does gets sun. IT was inspiration for this post.
Heres Haywards version of Miami Vice: