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Post by brian on Apr 1, 2006 9:07:49 GMT -5
I had an idea for an amateur research research project next winter that I wanted to bounce off of readers at this site. Plant hardiness zones in Canada are developed from quite a complex equation that relates everything from air temperature to snow cover and even maximum 30 year wind gust (for tree survival, I presume). For herbaceous CPs outdoors (given the right soil and water) the criteria is more likely soil temperature at the surface as it is moderated by snow cover and/or mulch. Provided the winter bud or rootstock has not endured a killing freeze the air temperature becomes unimportant. It just happens that I have three functioning Hobo Loggers plus software and data port. These are temperature recording data loggers about the size of a match box. Sometime in the late fall they could be sealed in ziplock bags or waterproof jars and planted just below soil surface. In the spring they could be retrieved and downloaded to compare actual soil temperatures with air temperatures from the nearest Environment Canada station. Participants would augment the data with a list of what they tried to grow, what survived and how well. Other useful data would be any microclimate effects (eg close the heated building, extra snow drifting due to hedge or barriers) plus artificial protection such as mulch or adding snow. Do you think this data would be helpful? Would there be any volunteers I could send one or two to? (Wish I had more loggers!)
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Post by Syble on Apr 1, 2006 10:44:09 GMT -5
Sounds like a great project to me! Sign me up! I'm in the southern most tip of ontario! Thanks, Sib
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Post by brian on Apr 1, 2006 13:39:48 GMT -5
Great! Thanks, Sybil. I think your area is close enough in both climate (and possibly unreliable snow cover) to Niagara that it should be a good representation of Banana Belt Ontario. Plus, I imagine you have quite an outdoor collection. The second logger definitely goes to Bancroft (zone 2 with heavy reliable snowfall) unless of course this winter has wiped out my Carolinian stuff. If I get no more volunteers I'll poke the third in my little water garden shelf planter here in Niagara. Although, it would be nice to hear from growers either in Quebec or the high BC elevations..
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Post by tom on Apr 1, 2006 14:01:24 GMT -5
Wow, nice initiative, I would like to offer you my help, but having no CP outside for the moment, I think it will lack a bit of data regarding this... although few comparisions could been made, but more on a supposition side.
It could lead to a very nice database though, for example, Montreal island has a milder climate than Quebec city, which is milder than Rimouski (where the word wind chilling factor take its full meaning), both 3 are along St.Lawrence river...(note that its only an example, replace the names with the city you want) but then it could be interesting to compare these with more inlands location, all across Canada...
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Post by brian on Apr 1, 2006 14:34:04 GMT -5
After seeing Dom 1234's list I was thinking of drafting him into the program.. I'll try to send him an e-mail.
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Post by dom1234 on Apr 4, 2006 18:25:21 GMT -5
Only two weeks or three to wait and you will have the result!
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Post by brian on Apr 5, 2006 15:28:21 GMT -5
I shall be patient! I posted an offer to purpman as well, but I just may be able to acquire one more hobo for this project..
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Post by Rick Hillier on Apr 11, 2006 9:21:24 GMT -5
Hi Brian,
I am located in Kitchener, Ontario and have had a bog garden in my back yard for several years now containing all of the North American sarracenia, several dionaea forms, P. vulgaris, D. rotundifolia, anglica, intermedia and linearis.
Over the winter, I typically dump about a foot of pine needles over the garden, but this year, I used hay (I covered the garden with burlap first).
One winter, the garden survived nighttime lows that approached -40 for nearly a month straight.
Once again, everything looks healthy and ready to go.
If you are still looking for data for your project (I guess it would have to wait until next year), I would be willing to help you out.
>>> Rick <<<
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Post by brian on Apr 15, 2006 15:00:27 GMT -5
If Dom1234 declines then you will be next on my list for one of the 3 loggers.
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Post by dom1234 on May 15, 2006 18:05:58 GMT -5
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Post by brian on May 16, 2006 11:36:20 GMT -5
Wow! Great work Dom1234! Congratulations on the survivors that overwintered.
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Post by brian on Oct 31, 2006 16:19:30 GMT -5
Rick, you should have the logger by now. Did you receive it and my PM? Mabudon, yours is ready too if you are still interested.
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Post by Rick Hillier on Nov 1, 2006 9:34:58 GMT -5
Got the purolator notice on Monday evening. Yesterday being Hallowe'en, I had to get my magic stuff setup for the kids.
Shall pick the unit up this evening.
>>> Rick <<<
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Post by mabudon on Nov 1, 2006 9:47:55 GMT -5
Yeah, Brian, I'm good for it too, whenever is convenient for you is good for me, too!
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Post by brian on Nov 1, 2006 16:34:06 GMT -5
OK all, just remember to plant the jar in or as close as possible to the bog, lid down and foil up, top flush with the soil surface. We'll retrieve sometime in May. Helpful notes would be what you have now, what you end up with next summer and if possible snow cover notes over the winter. I'll get air temperatures for your sites from the net. Mabudon, I can drop by tomorrow at 11 am, let me know if you're busy. Thankyou both for your help!
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