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Simple illustration of a microclimate

 
gardener
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Location: Japan, zone 9a/b, annual rainfall 2550mm, avg temp 1.5-32 C
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I believe this picture illustrates a microclimate, though some more experienced permies might offer other explanations that are more suitable.

This is urtica of some type. The plants in the foreground have frost damage while the plants in the back near the concrete retaining wall are still vigorous. The wall stores a lot of heat, behind it is solid earth.

Anyone else have obvious illustrations of microclimates?
IMG_20211204_102524505_HDR.jpg
[Thumbnail for IMG_20211204_102524505_HDR.jpg]
 
pollinator
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Hello,

I see heat capacity of concrete, with moisture holding in the concrete pores I think its about 4 percent of voids by the photo, maybe a little more.

I also see light reflecting off the concrete providing some level of heat,
 
gardener
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I only have the one example right now, but anyone else can feel free to post their examples here.

The frost is kinda hard to see in the beginning of this video, since it was mostly melted. For anyone who doesn't want to watch it, it ends with the volunteer tomato seedlings about twenty or thirty feet away. They're technically inside, but there's no south wall so... microclimate.

It's not as cool as a lemon tree in Montana, but pretty cool for a happy accident.

 
steward
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T Melville, thanks for sharing.

For others wanting to know more about microclimates this book might be of interest:

https://permies.com/t/138107/Permaculture-Ideal-Microclimate-Aleksandar-Stevanovic

(Just bumping from "Zero Replies")
 
steward and tree herder
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We recently had an unusual (for us) snow fall and I took a picture of part of my drivebank planting.
This is a south facing slope that I cut back with a drystone retaining wall. I have planted some mediterranean herbs there (rosemary, sage, lavender, marjoram) which would be OK with our winter temperatures and the salt wind, but not out winter wet; constant moisture means the roots would rot. These were planted in 2019, so if they get through this winter that will be 4 years. I've planted a little bay tree there now too and am hopeful this will do OK despite the salt winds.
The rocks should help against frost as well - you can maybe see how the snow has shrunk away from the wall a little already. This is where I plant plants that are really a bit borderline for me, but it's mainly the improved drainage that is key to survival (elsewhere the rocks might be more significant as heat sinks). I might try some Murtilo (Mytus Ugni) again here...
DSCN4212-(2).JPG
South facing dry stone wall in snowfall Skye
South facing dry stone wall in snowfall Skye
 
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