Well, I'm going to chime in just to make all of you that are suffering in the heat feel just a little bit better.
It's the 5th of June and the highest temp we've had so far is 64 degrees. But that was just one day. Most of our days have been in the mid 40's. Right now, at 11:30 in the morning, it's only 45 degrees. We had over 10 inches of rain by the middle of May and we're headed for another record for June as it's rained every day since the 1st. My daughter left for camp this morning with a winter jacket on and raingear over that. We never put away winter hats and gloves.
We can't grow tomatoes without a serious greenhouse because it doesn't get warm enough and forget about peppers, cucumbers and any sort of melon. The wonderful, sweet water melon everyone mentions? Ours are shipped from the lower 48 and we're lucky of they are halfway ripe when they get here.
Flower gardens are pretty much a joke, although lots of us try - the moisture just rots everything. There is no such thing as pastureland, a bale of timothy hay sells for $23.00 (yes, that's per bale - you don't want to know what the per ton cost is) and all livestock has to be fed year round.
HOWEVER: When the sun comes out and shines on the lush green hills its the most beautiful place in the world. We have fresh halibut, salmon and crab year round and once you've seen a brown bear up close you will never forget it.
I guess my point is that there is no perfect place. But they each have their redeeming qualities. I envy each of you the deep heat and overflowing gardens but I'm not ready to trade for it yet!
