Microclimates

Hecate and Mili in the Shade

Cats have good instincts when it comes to enjoying the garden, they might gravitate to the warm and sunny places or they can be adept at seeking out the cooler and shady spots. 

Hecate by the lower pond

Over recent weeks the summer temperatures have meant that Hecate and Mili have been found in the cooler corners. This might be in the micro climate of the underside of shady shrub or in the vicinity of the running water that feeds back into the lower pond.

The welcome cooling effect of a body of water has been exploited in warm climates for centuries. The evaporation and release of negative ions into the air cools and calms you. The thermal inertia of water - it takes a long time to heat up and cool down - means the pond has still to heat up while the rest of the patio is starting to bake. Although this is most noticeable with larger bodies of water, even modest sized water features do have an effect.

Alternatively, water will be radiating warmth after the rest of the garden has cooled. This is why putting buckets of water into cold greenhouses or conservatories will help to nudge the temperature gauge up that extra all-important degree or so at night during the early weeks of spring.

Mili by the Lower Pond

 So well done Hecate and Mili for having an instinctive understanding of microclimates!