Simple illustration of a microclimate

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?

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,

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.

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")

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...

Hi, I live in a 7a type zone. And alone in the past ten years climate has shifted dramatically. Last snow is later in spring, last frost is later too, but the warm autumns last longer as well.

My first learning was - forget the human calendar. Just because it says spring on the calendar, doesnt mean it is spring. So I shifted my planting schedule according to natures changed rythm

Next was, that overall temperatures increased , we just went through half a month of high temperatures like never before. And this has happened a lot more in past years. So my learning was to change the crops I am planting. I moved to artichokes, mediterranean pumpkin sorts, eggplants etc. Because now they thrive in my zone as well.

What I am trying to say, as stated also here in an earlier post. Look at the long term weather patterns, see when nature is ready for spring or winter. Adjust to nature in terms of timing and adjust your gardening in terms of changing climate.

Then, i fully agree, you can still get a kick in the butt because that specific year everything is out of wack. But in general you will be more in synch with nature, and you will have more joy and pride in your harvests.