Climate/Weather

The Central Valley of California is one of five Mediterranean climates found around the world. The other four regions are the Mediterranean basin, southern and southwestern Australia, the West Cape of South Africa and central Chile. Plants from any of these 5 regions have similar adaptations that allow them to thrive here. Once established, most Mediterranean-type plants survive with little water and low humidity. The Plant List contains a majority of California native and Mediterranean plants. (To access the Plant List, return to the Home Menu.) For more information see:

Central Valley Climate Zones – What zone are you in?

Creating a Fresno-Friendly Garden

What is a Mediterranean Climate?

Gardening in a Mediterranean Climate

Detailed Definition of Mediterranean Climate

Mediterranean Plants online

The following are useful weather facts and tips:

Fresno area precipitation averages between 10 to 11" a year. Visit the Fresno Climate Data Book for more information: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/hnx/fatmain.php
In winter south-facing walls and patios absorb heat during the day and radiate the heat at night, warming nearby plants. In summer it is the west facing walls and windows that are impacted by the heat.
Provide shade for west-facing windows by planting deciduous trees or trellises. A mature tree can reduce summer air-conditioning costs up to 40 percent.
Paved areas and air conditioners should be shaded to provide further energy savings.
A cold, dry wind can damage unprotected plants causing stunted or slow growth, as well as turning leaf edges brown. During times of prolonged frost or hard freezes in may be necessary to either cover certain plants or move close to the house if they are in pots.
Create sheltered garden areas for protection regardless of wind direction.

Weather/climate terms:

Aspect: The direction a garden faces (north, south, east, or west).
Climate consists of records of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, air quality measurements and other meteorological phenomena of a specified region over long time periods, such as 30 year averages. Weather represents the current conditions at present or over short periods of up to two weeks.
Evapotranspiration (ET) is a term used to describe the sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the Earth's land surface to the atmosphere. Evaporation accounts for the movement of water to the air from sources such as the soil, canopy interception, and water bodies. Transpiration accounts for the movement of water within a plant and the subsequent loss of water as vapor through stomata in its leaves. (source: Wikipedia)
Exposure: The direction of a garden with respect to weather. For example, the garden has a northern exposure if it is exposed to cold north wind with occasional frost.
Grade (also called slope, incline, gradient, pitch or rise) of a physical feature, topographic landform or constructed element, refers to the amount of inclination of that surface to the horizontal. (source: Wikipedia)
Microclimate: A small area with uniform climate located within a larger area. Hills, hollows, and structures can create microclimates.
Weather is the measurement of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, air quality, and other meteorological phenomena of an area and represents the current conditions at present or over short periods of up to two weeks. Climate is the measure of the same factors that are represented by longer time periods, such as 30 year averages.