By the way, are Japanese beetles and late frosts an issue here? Please excuse my ignorance.

You're likely to get quite a few responces here regarding year round weather and growing conditions. There's basically 2 seasons, one dry, the other wet. Both of these seasons are shouldered by unsettled weather. The rainy season starts now and lasts thru the winter (high humidity) until about mid March. Short periodic cold snaps occur mostly during January. April & May are usually nice with some unsettled periods. Summers can be and usually are dry and sunny with low humidity. Over 86F days are not uncommon but most days are noticably less.
This info is basically true for areas west of the Cascades and can vary depending on exact locations. For specific regions there's plenty of GW'ers to help you out.

Cheers, Barrie.

Barrie's comments pretty much cover it. Rainfall in most areas of the PNW is not that much - I doubt it comes anywhere near what you may receive annually in Miami - it is just spread over a long period of time. It is often referred to here as drizzle or a heavy mist :-) And is accompanied by pretty much unrelenting gray skies for a good 4-5 months, giving rise to many problems with SAD or seasonal affective disorder.

The growing season lasts generally from April to October but with frosts occurring sometimes well into May. OTOH, the gardening season is a full 12 months, tempered only by the gardener's ability or inclination to work in inclement weather. I'm not sure how to define 'hard frosts' but the soil will never freeze more than just the top inch or two and often thaws with the heat of the day. Extended cold periods are rather uncommon but it can and often does drop into the upper teens for several days during most winters.

So far, knocking on wood, Japanese beetles are not found in this area. All the plants you list thrive in our climate, although most roses will suffer from an assortment of fungal problems throgh the growing season. Cottage style gardens abound - perhaps a simple way of describing the gardening climate of the PNW is to compare it to parts of Great Britain. English style cottage gardens do very well here, much like the pictures you see of the massed borders of the classic English gardens.

Personally, I think it is pretty much an ideal gardening climate. And we have no humidity issues (unless you count our damp winters) and no hurricanes!

You might enjoy looking at The Twelve Month Gardener, written by 5 gardeners from BC. I am very far from being a pro, and I love this book! Even though you are more knowledgeable than I it would give you a sense of what the gardener's year is like in this area. It's published by Whitecap Books.

You might want to be a little more specific than "The Pacific Northwest" because we usually use that term to cover all of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. In Western Washington, it's easy to see why the state's nickname is "The Evergreen State", and Seattle is called "The Emerald City". It is VERY green here. But the eastern part of the state has a lot of desert areas, as well.

For some basic climate data, start here:
http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/USWA0395_f.html

you can select other cities like Portland, Spokane, Boise, or even smaller places like Pendleton, Pullman, Coos Bay, or Humptulips to see the diversity of climates in this region. (In fact some people joke that their front yard and back yard are in different climate zones, but it's true.)

Also, be aware that some areas of the PNW have lingering high unemployment from events of the past couple years. You might consider having a job lined up (even if it's not in horticulture) before you head west.

Nope, no hurricanes, but we do have earthquakes, volcanoes, and the rare tsunami if you are on the coast.

Thank you both for your replies.

Lovethesummer -- I will look into what you recommended.

Pianojuggler -- Thank you for the advice on being more specific with what I am referring to. When I say "The Pacific Northwest", I was referring to the areas with mild climates, the long-lasting light rains, that are cooler during the summer. In addition, thank you for the tip on having a job ready. Would you please recommend an area where I might be able to work with floriculture?

Thanks again,

Arthur

I lived in Texas for 3 years recently. It was a treat to get back to our four seasons. I realized that 100 degrees there was the equivilent of 90 degrees here. Even my visits here in the fall with cool crisp foggy mornings and sunshine in the afternoons was a treat especially with the changing colors in the landscape. We have no crawling, poisonous creatures in the central regions and probably coastal.
Even though we have the rain it is what is necessary for our beautiful foliage. We are an outdoor enthusiast's dream. Most people have some desire to enjoy camping, boating, skiing both snow and water, hunting and fishing.
Golfing is a big sport and we dont run for cover when it rains, we get out our rain gear.
But we don't wear sunglasses year round. Grey is grey.
When you get along the coast regions here it is more rain. East of the Cascade mountain range becomes more desert.
Portland, Oregon in my area would be a nice metropolitan area located with an abundance of nursery industry nearby.

A matter of semantics really, but "northwest" generally refers to upper northwest corner of the US and can encompass Washington, Oregon, northern California, Idaho and western Montana. "Pacific" northwest is usually defined as western Washington, western Oregon and lower British Columbia and is sometimes referred to as "Cascadia" or that area west of the Cascades that shares similar soil and climate conditions and is contained within the Cascade watershed.

Yeah, we can get the periodic earthquake, but have yet to see any tsunami of any consequence after living my entire life in this region and erupting volcanos occur once in a blue moon, if that, and none of these rather unusual occurrences are the predictable, recurring seasonal events that hurricanes in Florida and environs seem to be.

Unemployment rates can be regionally specific, but overall WA state unemployment is pretty much in line with the national average, about 5.5%. Lots of jobs seem to be going begging in larger metropolitan areas, but more small towns or rural areas may be suffering a bit. And opportunities into the horticultural industry are always present, depending on your experience, skill level and motivation.

In grade school, we were taught the at the PNW was Oregon, Washington and Idaho. I would be willing to bet the majority of natives know it as such.

In gardening circles we know that it doesn't work that way, so it depends on your audience where the boundaries lie.

i'm familiar with the PNW of the willamette valley, oregon, which is a VERY rewarding gardening locale.

to get some idea of the plants you can grow here, you might want to visit the heronswood nursery site. they specialize in plants that are suited for our climate. you'll find that you can grow a surprisingly tropicalesque garden here, or an amazingly diverse native and woodland landscape. a friend of mine said that the PNW was the most satisfying place he'd ever lived (gardening wise), and he'd been in florida, texas and california. except for some very cold years, mulching adequately, planting in sheltered areas and bringing sensitive things inside will give you great results. my mom even planted a cane begonia outside in the corner of our patio and had it live for 3 years. under the porch of the last place i lived at, my landlady had an 8 foot brugmansia tree that lived quite happily outdoors all year long. (these are more exceptions than rules.)

because of the aforementioned grey weather and drizzle, mildew can sometimes be a problem, and you'll probably do a lot of shade gardening. slugs are also a pain. if you grow tomatos, the season can be agonizingly short sometimes if you don't start your plants early, indoors.

the area by woodburn/canby just south portland has quite a bit of agriculture, but i'm not familiar with just what type. terra nova nurseries is around there, i think, and they also have a fabulous list of what you can grow.

-ming

If you want you can even grow a palm or two to remind you of home. Here's a Butia capiata (Pindo palm) growing in my front garden. Most folks grow Windmill palms (Trachycarpus forunei).

Cheers, Barrie.
{{gwi:1093155}}

We really do have a 12 month growing season on the west side of the Cascade Mnts. I am in the southern Willamette Valley of western Oregon. There are many nurseries up and down the Willamette Valley and everything you listed will grow here.

Roses can be wonderful here and if you come up for a visit, you need to go to the rose test garden in Portland in season.

Bulb plants are great too. Tulips, irises, glads, all spring and summer bulbs are fabulous.

Veggies like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants can be grown here, (more easily than people think) but they do need to be started indoors or in a greenhouse. I do plant late varieties and most years have no problem, but I plant my own seed and know the microclimates of my garden.

If you love a long season of berries-all kinds, you'll appreciate it here. All cole crops do well here. Beans are an excellent crop in summer. In fact, kids used to make back to school money by picking beans. That was before more farmers started planting bush beans.

I'm more of a fanatic vegetable grower, but I love flowers too. I can't remember the name of the place, but there is a pretty big nursery to peruse and buy heirloom roses of all sorts. Can someone help me on this? May have been in St. Paul? I need to make the trip there too.

Well, now that I have added a bit of fuel to the fire, you might look up the nurseymen's associations for Oregon and Washington.

www.wsnla.org/public/home.shtml
www.oan.org

You might also look for the Cooperative Extension Offices in both states. I happen to live in a town with an actual extension office. They are very knowledgeable, active and helpful. Wondered if you might get a few leads that way. Oregon State University is the ag school for Oregon and Washington State University is the ag school for Washington. I was wondering if it would be helpful to look at their sites. Both are very active in the northwest.

Very best wishes to you,

Mary

Wow, there are sure a lot of PNW fans. I want to ad one more thing regarding your question of employment. We have many wholesalers including Briggs Nursery, near Yelm WA; a regional location for Monrovia in Dayton, Oregon (they have jobs posted along with the application form) and others...including large landscape firms. Retail sales in nurseries is seasonal so early spring application is recommended. In my research of a career change, I found that horticulture is generally low paying. I decided to keep my present job and start a nursery business on the side. Garden Gal

Hi There,
I think the name of that rose place in St Paul, OR is Heritage Roses.
Having moved here a couple of years ago from Seattle, I haven't visited it yet, but am told by a friend and fellow rose lover not to miss it. I have loved exploring little hidden away garden centers and family-run specialty nurseries since moving here. Gradually, I am fanning out my exploration in all directions!
Portland has similar climate to Seattle, but hotter spells in the summer (several days in the 90's a few hovering around 100 compared to Seattle's summer temp range of upper 70's to mid 80's). In both places, "summer" seems to start on July 5th. :) The traffic in Portland is not as intense as in Seattle, but it is an increasing problem.
Let us know what you decide, Floweryearth!

Hello again to all of you kind people,

I apologize for the delay, but Hurricane Wilma had me very busy (and without electricity). I thank you all for the bits of information you are providing, as they highly motivate me to leave... ewww -- "Miami."

I will try to look into nurseries and businesses that you have recommended as best as I can. Barrie, I thought it was funny that you mentioned that I could "grow a palm tree to remind me of home," because I have such zone envy of you that I would rather never see my yard full of cherry trees and magnolias!

Mary, thank you for your good wishes. Garden Gal, you are very right about horticulture being a low-paid profession. Some time ago I was aiming at being a pharmacist in order to have my financial future covered, but I soon realized that I had no interest in medicine and I would only have been in it for the $$$. Flowers have always made me happy, so somehow I will make my living with them. :) Zenzone, I had no idea that it could get so warm in Portland! but compared to here, I probably would never complain again if I only had to deal with an occasional heat wave. By the way, I think the Rose Nursery in St. Paul is Heirloom Roses. I bought my first English roses from them! :)

Where happiness abounds, may the flowers also abound!

Arthur

Arthur, I'm sure you would love it here. AS for the rain that everyone probably tells you about, well it really depends on where you live up here. on the extreme west coast of Washington or British Columbia it rains to beat the Band. However it is very mild, but the Summers are coolish and the Winters never really get all that cold. Days below 32 F. in the Winter are very few. In the San Juan Islands and here in the Southern Gulf Islands we only recieve approx. 30-34" inches of rain per year, and most of that comes in the Winter. The outer islands are even drier. Summers are pleasantly warm and Winters never that cold. There are lots of vineyards and Figs here. Lots of very interesting plants can be grown in this region. Cheers, Joe

Wow... it sounds like what I would consider the epitome of an ideal climate! It seems so perfect with the way the climate is mild, yet effective enough for all of the flowers I love:

irises, hydrangeas, lilies, perovskia, daisies, seaholly, sweet violets, globe thistle, old roses, jasmines, lilacs, peonies, delphiniums, foxglove, poppies, campanulas, cottage pinks, lavender, lamb's ears, hollyhocks, centranthus ruber, wisteria, stocks, wallflowers, sweet peas, hardy geraniums, and so on!

Some how I will make a way to get settled somewhere over there... I just need to get as far as I can now while I am in school (because I have a full scholarship).

Thanks again,

Arthur

Yes, you are quite right that the rose grower in St Paul is Heirloom, not Heritage. I was thinking the one while writing the other name! Yes, your plant list (at least the many that I grow in my yard) are all happy in the northwest.

Cool that you have a full scholarship somewhere. With 2 in college at my house and expenses mounting, I am impressed!

zen

living in So. Ca. and planning to move to bellingham, WA after the first of the year. concerned about the "wet, cloudy" days (months.) any other comments for a so. cal. person? what CAN'T you grow?

Bellingham and nearby areas of Whatcom county, can get colder than many of the other PNW regions during Arctic outflows in winter. Wind funnels out thru the Fraser Valley towards Bellingham dropping temps lower than areas to the south and north.
If you like Mexican food, visit Dos Padres in the old Fairhaven district. Hopefully they're still doing business.

Melodiek~
My parents live in not too far south of Bellingham in town called Mt Vernon. Don't miss the tulip festival there, it's breathtaking! Their weather is a bit more tempered than in B'ham, where there can be some nasty ice storms. Having had the pleasure of watching a soccer game up there one year when the sideways rain turned to ice.... well, let's just say you aren't thinking what to plant right about then!
There are some wonderful apple orchards in the town of Lynden, not far from Bellingham.

Wet and cloudy, yes it will be. But it really makes you appreciate the drop-dead gorgeous views over the sound when the sun comes out!!!

Melodiek, (if you're still reading along, sorry for being a latecomer) as a relatively
recent transplant from the land of smog and traffic, it's the more tender, tropical
types that you can't grow here. You'll be hard pressed to see a bougainvillea here
that compares to anything there, and the citrus trees aren't too successful either.
I guess people grow these and the other tropicals in greenhouses here. I don't think
I've seen an Oleander either. It's wonderful otherwise, so study up on your
Dahlias, Conifers, Peonies, Japanese Maples, etc.. and you'll feel like a
pig in slop in no time :-)

Arthur,

I'm a British gardener who moved to the Seattle area two and a half years ago. It would be fair to describe the climate of my city (Woodinville) as very similar to that of Britains maritime (south west)climate only a little warmer. Everything that grows well in the traditional English cottage garden thrives here.

SH

SH,
Form what I've gathered being in contact with UK gardeners, the PNW warms up quicker in spring and as you've pointed out, is warmer in summer. Also, the SW of Britain is a solid zone 9 and rarely dips below 20F. Some regions (Scilly Isles) hardly ever freezes.

Cheers, Barrie.

Barrie,

True enough, I'm relatively close to Puget Sound and though it does drop into the teens occasionally it hasn't been that often, at least not while I've lived here.

SH

Hi Art,

Just noticed your posting. I'm here in Vancouver, (WA) most recently from mid-California by way of several East Coast regions and most recently Phoenix.

Since I've been here (4.5 years now) I've re-coined a phrase (ala 'Field of Dreams') I think most identifies this area's plant/flower/crop growing attributes..."If you plant it, it will grow". Pretty amazing area for year round growing.

On my little third of an acre, I'm growing everything from Apricots and Cherries to tomatoes and peppers to camellies and Japanese maples. Bulbs go nuts up here and the roses just kick butt! You'll love it!

Have a look at Sunset Climate Zone maps and descriptions in Sunset WESTERN GARDEN BOOK.

Woodinville is apparently kind of a frost pocket, now-gone Garden Valley nursery on south-facing hillside north of Monroe freeway used to record some really low temperatures--much lower than would be usual for Seattle and other communities closer to Puget Sound. Compact ("Hogan") habit of cypress family conifers in/around Woodinville would also suggest it's a cold spot.