Perfect Place to Live & Garden?

14 years ago

As much as I LOVE Minnesota, I find myself very annoyed by the 6 month long cold season and basically a 4-5 month growing season.

So, I've set out on what might be a lifelong journey... to find the perfect place to live. I LOVE Colorado and Utah's mountains and the dry air, but the low precip makes it a less-than-ideal situation for gardening... especially hosta.

I love the mild-ness of the temps in the pacific northwest, but I wonder if the wet winters would drive me bonkers.

So tell me, where can I move that has:

*hardiness zone of 5 or 6

*relatively low summer humidity (say 75% on average)

*lower temps in the summer.... generally in the high 70's for an average high.

*shorter winters, with some snow, but not months of it!

*not so cold winters. These stretches below 0Âº are tough!

Does such a place exist in the US?

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Comments (22)

cjb50
14 years ago
I think if a place like that existed..everyone would already live there
hosta_freak
14 years ago
North Carolina! While this winter has been an exception,the summers are mild,and here in the mountains,I've never seen it to get as high as 100 in the summer,nor below zero in the winter. Some snow,but none that you can't live with. Almost 2 months longer growing season,than Minnesota. Yes,I know hostas grow really well up there,but it's waay too cold for me! Just my two cents worth! Phil
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in ny zone5
14 years ago
Perhaps someone from coastal Massachusetts could comment. That is zone 6, and in the south zone 7. The ocean is cold in spring leading to tomatoes taking a long time to get going. I lived there only for 2 years and had no hostas then. Winters north of Boston were 10 F warmer than upstate NY, and summers were cooler. Cape Cod is mild with ocean and Bay all around it.
alyciaadamo
14 years ago
well I'm not sure about other states but you'll have to wipe out almost the entire New England area right off the list. At least the area of (Me,Ma,NH,Vt,& NY)! Good luck

When you find out let me know because I am really not liking these super short summers(our growing season tends to be more on the shorter side too here in Northern Maine!) I would have to put more restrictions for myself though-no poisonous spiders or snakes, small rural town, no scary wild animals(bears, coyotes and bob cats with the occasional cougar is enough for me!) and definitely need the fall foliage!

OK well I guess I'll stay right where I am. :)
swmogardens
14 years ago
I did a lot of research before moving to Springfield Mo. It is in the Ozarks and comes pretty close to your ideal location. I hear many people say it is their favorite place to live. It is like Mayberry RFD. My hostas will be coming up this month. I am never moving again.
hosta_freak
14 years ago
swmogardens,we do have Mt.Airy,where Andy Griffith is from! Lol! Also,in the east we have beaches,and in the middle of the state,the Piedmont,a little less hilly than here. Phil
gardenfanatic2003
14 years ago
Swmogardens, isn't Springfield humid? I live in the Kansas City area, and I've about had it with the summer humidity. Since you're even further south, I would think you'd have even more humidity. The Gulf air carries all that nasty humidity up here.

Melissa, I think you'd have to go completely off the continent - like New Zealand. Not too hot, not too cold, low humidity, close to the ocean, close to the mountains. Now that's MY perfect place!

Deanna
thisismelissa
Original Author
14 years ago
I think Deanna is right.
I have a website where I can compare different climate aspects of several cities at a time. And Springfield, to me, looks very HOT AND HUMID.

June-August afternoon humidity averages 87% !!! That's NUTS!
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
14 years ago
Melissa, I think you'd have to go completely off the continent - like New Zealand. Not too hot, not too cold, low humidity, close to the ocean, close to the mountains. Now that's MY perfect place!

Nah, y'all gotta take closer look at the Pacific Northwest.
donrawson
14 years ago
The perfect place to garden? Hmmmmm....I don't know....maybe ???
officewench
14 years ago
I'm in Canada, not the US but I can certainly relate to the frustration of long winters and short growing seasons. I can have frost any month of the year! My DH and I just bought a place in south-central Nova Scotia for our retirement and I'm already planning the garden I won't get to for about 15 years. Sigh. I'm so looking forward to zone 6.
gardenfanatic2003
14 years ago
Don,

LOL You may be right about that one!

Deanna
jaco42
14 years ago
Right where I am, that's what they make greenhouses and house plants for.
in ny zone5
14 years ago
Don is showing Europe too, and there is the Netherlands at the Channel, receiving warmth via the Gulf stream. That's a Goldilock weather there, not too hot, not too cold, not too dry, not too much rain. No wonder they are growing a lot of plants and spring bulbs for the US. Some years they had only a little snow dusting.
greenthumbz4mn
14 years ago
Don--are you aware that the Garden of Eden is in Iraq? Hmmmmm--think I'll stick with good old MN. There's nothing like a long winter vacation from gardening! However, I have read that N. CAR is a prime retirement location because of it's climate, etc. etc. So Phil, you'll never have to go looking for a new place to retire !!!! Mary
hosta_freak
14 years ago
I am retired,Mary! but I retired from Florida,and moved up here. Phil
ginny12
14 years ago
Do you know the American nursery industry began in Brooklyn and Queens? And that many of our most popular plants were introduced thru expert nurserymen in those two counties on Long Island? And that those areas have all the conditions you describe? Of course, a few people have discovered that so it may be a bit crowded.... There's always a drawback.
homersgarden
14 years ago
I am all for the Pacific Northwest. As a life long resident of the Portland area (who has traveled a lot) I can say it nothing beats it. Hostas are extraordinary here. The humidity is very low and the summers are fantastic. I live an hour and a half from the beach, forty-five minutes from mountains, a hour and half from the "high dessert" and twenty minutes from The Gorge (waterfalls, river, etc). Today it was 70 degrees. The weather is great from May-October. We do have some snow (it is a big event if it happens), but typically the weather in the winter isn't too cold. The rain can be an issue, but there is so much to do that it doesn't get too bad. Honestly most of us garden in it! TONS of garden centers, nurseries, etc. It is heaven!
kentstar
14 years ago
New Jersey! They don't call it the "Garden State" for nothing! Not as cold winters as here in Ohio but plenty of warm weather all summer long. There are multitudes of orchards there growing apples, blueberries, peaches, and of course the blueberries. I've seen beautiful gardens of hydrangeas too. Their soil must be somewhat acidy then, but most plants prefer of somewhat acidy soil anyways. I grew up in NJ and remember all the gorgeous gardens!
alyciaadamo
14 years ago
officewench zone 6 in Nova Scotia?
evermore_gw z 4/5 NB
14 years ago
I was hoping that hostarhodo might answer alyciaadamo since she lives on the south shore of Nova Scotia. But, yes indeed, southern Nova Scotia is zone 6, and it is a wonderful place for growing hostas with its moderate seaside climate.

Steve
hostarhodo
14 years ago
Evermore, you rang. Hello all, yes I am in South Western Nova Scotia. I have been busy outdoors weeding, and burning some brush before the end of the month. I am way ahead of myself this year. Being retired now I have no excuse. The spring flowers are starting to show. No sign of hosta yet, just as well, figure we will pay for this weather sometime in April. Weather man says it was warmer here than it was in Texas the other day. Sorry to hear that a lot of you still have snow and others had snow where there wasn't any in years. Just remember all the moisture will only do your plants good.

Best March in years. Snow all rained off weeks ago. We had 3 snowstorms that we had to plow. Not too many bitter cold days this year as in years past. Halifax, 2 hrs away had a lot more snow this year as did New Brunswick. It missed us a few times.

The humidity does get high for a few days every year, but not unbearable. The heat is tolerable, probably cool for some of you folks.

The last few springs have been very wet, lots of rain, no dry wells, they say this year will be a dry one.

Can't have it all. Seriously, yes we have great weather, you are all welcome to check us out.

When I first read your post I thought about posting, but I thought na a a you wouldn't believe me.

By the sea, by the sea, oh how happy we will be, me and my hosta.

Betty

Perfect Place to Live & Garden?

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