Posted by David MD zn 7 on 5/19/2008, 10:59 pm, in reply to "Re: David--someone let me know of your climate query...so I'll make a "guest" post"
72.45.31.34
Ian you know far more about Grevvies than I do, but my take on Canberra, having a record low of 14F, is that it is still a solid zn 9, just one that has a lot of frosts. Also compared to WA it is much closer to equator isn't it? So the more intense solar radiation might a) make the plants ripen better and b) make the temp come up faster from the freeze. It's like the old anecdote about how the brits can barely grow Cornus florida in their zn 9ish climate because the wood doesn't ripen. I've read a funny account of the first flowering of a dogwood in England, it was big news at the time like the blossoming of a Titan Arum or something. A source of wonder and amazement LOL.
Speaking of Cornus - i know it's off topic but I'm thrilled with my 'Venus' which is a clever cross of (C. nutallii X C. kousa) X C. kousa. HUGE flowers that seem to be developing slower than normal dogwood flowers so I expect the entire plant will appear to be in bloom for longer. Even hybrids of C. nutallii with C. florida don't grow on the East Coast. Bad aspect: fall color was ok but not as good as the native cornus. Could have just been the drought tho.
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