Tom's Garden

MY CLIMATE ZONE. Tom's Garden focuses on information specific to my region, a Mediterranean climate that is about USDA Zone 9B, or, more narrowly, Sunset Zone 16, a region identified in the Bay Area with the Berkeley hills (although I'm half-way up a south-facing slope in less fashionable nearby El Sobrante).
    Around the Mediterranean Sea the climate is characterized by mild, rainy winters and dry summers. The same pattern is found in mainly four other regions: Northern coastal California, central coastal Chile, the West Cape Province of South Africa, and western and southern Australia. All of these regions lie between the lattitudes of 30° and 45°. All of these regions are known for wine and fruit.
    According to Sunset, "Zone 16 is considered by many to be one of the finest gardening climates in California. It includes thermal belts, which means it gets more heat than areas right next to the coast (Zone 17), but warmer winters than those in Zone 15. It can grow more subtropicals than 15 with less danger of winter frost. It includes areas around the greater San Francisco Bay Area, and portions near the coast south to Santa Maria."
    For more, see my survey of the ecological biomes of the San Francisco Bay Area at my companion site, Frisco Vista.

ON THE SEASONS AND THE CALENDAR. Click here for some thoughts about seasonality, from my Book of Days.

PHOTOGRAPHY. I use only my own photography. The image at left is a photo taken March 2006 of a few things I had started in clay pots.

THE SWIMMING POOL GARDEN. In spring 2008 we converted our swimming pool into a garden. This is now our main garden area.

garden panorama 1
garden panorama 2
pool garden year 2
expanding the pool garden
pool garden after four months
pool garden after two weeks

THE PLANT FILES. Most plant posts are now going on my region-focused blog called Frisco Vista. These posts are not as rigorous in content as the ones posted directly here. Some day I will consolidate and systematize this!


	Gardening in the San Francisco Bay Area

home search sitemap blog daybook contact	MY CLIMATE ZONE. Tom's Garden focuses on information specific to my region, a Mediterranean climate that is about USDA Zone 9B, or, more narrowly, Sunset Zone 16, a region identified in the Bay Area with the Berkeley hills (although I'm half-way up a south-facing slope in less fashionable nearby El Sobrante). Around the Mediterranean Sea the climate is characterized by mild, rainy winters and dry summers. The same pattern is found in mainly four other regions: Northern coastal California, central coastal Chile, the West Cape Province of South Africa, and western and southern Australia. All of these regions lie between the lattitudes of 30° and 45°. All of these regions are known for wine and fruit. According to Sunset, "Zone 16 is considered by many to be one of the finest gardening climates in California. It includes thermal belts, which means it gets more heat than areas right next to the coast (Zone 17), but warmer winters than those in Zone 15. It can grow more subtropicals than 15 with less danger of winter frost. It includes areas around the greater San Francisco Bay Area, and portions near the coast south to Santa Maria." For more, see my survey of the ecological biomes of the San Francisco Bay Area at my companion site, Frisco Vista. ON THE SEASONS AND THE CALENDAR. Click here for some thoughts about seasonality, from my Book of Days. PHOTOGRAPHY. I use only my own photography. The image at left is a photo taken March 2006 of a few things I had started in clay pots. THE SWIMMING POOL GARDEN. In spring 2008 we converted our swimming pool into a garden. This is now our main garden area. garden panorama 1 garden panorama 2 pool garden year 2 expanding the pool garden pool garden after four months pool garden after two weeks THE PLANT FILES. Most plant posts are now going on my region-focused blog called Frisco Vista. These posts are not as rigorous in content as the ones posted directly here. Some day I will consolidate and systematize this! Lychnis chalcedonica (Maltese Cross) Matthiola incana “Perennial White Stock” Pieris japonica (Lily of the Valley Shrub) Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine) NEEDS UPDATING Verbascum bombyciferum 'arctic summer' Viola etain FAUNA Bees Butterflies Keeping cats out of the garden EDIBLE Granny Smith apples Thai hot peppers GENERAL American soil and stone Photo of my seed germinating station and of my potting tables RELATED Bouquets to Art Conservatory of Flowers Hearst Castle gardens Japanese garden, Portland Oregon Trees of San Francisco	* *
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