This thread began as a means to discuss the issue of Sunset zones. The secondary motive was for me to try to explore the notion that elevation is a factor to RMG but not the only factor. Over the course of looking at climate data, I discovered that annual precipitation and the time of its occurrence may be a defining feature for the RMG region. Aridity cannot be the only determinate or wed all be over in the Southwest Gardening forum. Previous and somewhat naively, I had thought that these evergreen mountains here and there indicated that there were areas with rather high rainfall amounts - what hadn't quite sunk in was that while that is true, these areas were all at elevations where gardening becomes impossible. I began wondering if a particular native plant species was representative of the broad RMG region. I'm no expert on native plants so this was a fun exercise even if it doesn't appear to be absolutely successful (perhaps, an impossibility). It seemed to me that the Arrowleaf Balsamroot was most broadly representative. I'm hoping that other gardeners are giving this some thought and will comment. By way of encouragement, my question now is - what the heck is this plant whose image is used here on GardenWeb to represent Rocky Mountain Gardening: Steve

I'm close to Yosemite. I go there every year and love it more every time I go. It was hard to not go this summer and choose Yellowstone instead but I'm glad I did. The river was at peak and so the falls were spectacular. It's the size of it that astounds me. The dedication of some of the people following wolves.........stop if you see them set up with the scopes. You need good equipment to see far out into the area where they are. The buffalo just get next to the road and watch you go by. I saw bison, elk, deer, pronghorn, otter, trout, eagle sitting in a dead tree, bear eating daisies, marmots, swans, geese, and chipmunks plus something kids called whistle pigs ( prairie dogs?). I got bitten by mosquitoes and itched for days so keep your flip flops for inside instead of walking about as I did. I don't know how people wore shorts and didn't get covered with bites. Ice cream is everywhere but fresh fruits and veggies are harder to find. The central area in Canyon had a good food court with reasonable prices. Their grocery selection was better than anywhere else but still limited. I'm used to yosemite's good grocery store and deli. Tetons had a fantastic market at colter bay where the boat launch is. Organics and a hot ready made counter at reasonable prices. There is a good market in town outside of mammoth hot springs in Montana we found. I was sitting on a bench eating cheerios and nectarines and a former employee asked me if i worked there because i ate like a park employee. Well no wonder.....that's about as healthy as the choices are in the store. 2.50 for canned corn or green beans at lake or Roosevelt. Bring your own or overpay for the few options they have ( tuna, Campbell's soup, beef stew, ramen,beans,oatmeal.) There is no shortage of yogurt, ice cream, cheese, Oscar Meyer lunch meat, bread and packaged muffins. The same supplier and the same food throughout. The same eggs and frozen breakfast potatoes are at the little grills as well as the big lodge and hotel dining rooms. If trader Joe's was there, it would be packed. We liked the lake hotel dining room ( beautiful! ) , the canyon central food court (good value) and my sister liked the grill at old faithful next to the gas station (friendly) and the unlimited breakfast buffet at the restaurant overlooking the clear blue lake. That grill at old faithful has park employees laughing and catching a late bite just before closing. The park folks know where the good food is. Fishermen probably get the best meal with the fresh trout they catch. My favorite meal was in Tetons at Dornans where they have a bbq feast with all the sides served from big kettles over wood flames. You eat outside on the grass with a view of the mountains. Ill try for some pictures tomorrow.

We all had a wonderful time. Thanks for all the tips! We visited Kent, Columbus, and Sandusky in Ohio, Presque Isle in PA, and Niagara Falls and Corning in NY. Zoombezi Bay (Columbus) and Cedar Point (Sandusky) water parks were huge hits with the kids. Everyone liked Jolly Donut, and we also found a great pizza restaurant, Brick Oven Pizza, with standard pies for the kids and grownup pies for the adults. We stayed at Cedar Point's budget hotel but agreed that if we go again, we would like to stay at either the camping resort or the Hotel Breakers. The beach at Cedar Point is pretty nice too. In Kent we toured the shooting site. There is a series of explanation plaques of what happened in chronological order. However, the plaques are not in geographical order and there is no walking path. Get a good map before you go and be prepared to zoom all over a common and around a building. The campus has not changed that much since the shootings so it really drives home how shocking the shootings were. Next time, we'll do Presque Isle differently. We camped as the most COVID- and kid-friendly lodging option. Lampe Campground is extremely clean and quiet but has no shade or wind protection. Our tent almost collapsed on us! Luckily, the Watkins Glen KOA made up for the Presque Isle tent disaster. Two pools, a bouncy pillow, mini golf, and lots of kids to play with. We visited the Corning Museum of Glass, which was AMAZING. If you go, be sure to book yourself in for a make-your-own-glass-project workshop!

Elmer, I am one of those people who love snowy and cold weather. I used to love going outside after a snowstorm to shovel snow off my sidewalks. With my back I can't do that now unfortunately. I also love being near the water in the winter. I like watching the ice breakers or listening to freighters as they plow through the ice. Love the sound of the ice breaking up. Some of the most beautiful winter scenery is at Point Pelee as the ice from Lake Erie is pushed up along the shoreline. Summers can be horrendous with the humidity but we get used to it. My cousin who moved here 2 years ago from Toronto can't stand the humidity. Along with living near the water there comes the yearly migration of fish flies or shad flies. Stinky creatures who live to die. I love having 4 seasons and sometimes we can experience them all in one week.