Gardening in the San Lorenzo Valley: Sunny Ridges vs. Shaded Canyons
TThe San Lorenzo Valley isn't one growing zone. It's two completely different worlds separated by elevation, sun exposure, and tree canopy.
If you live on a sunny ridge above the tree line in Boulder Creek, you're gardening in a hot, dry, Mediterranean-like climate where tomatoes thrive through Thanksgiving. If you live in a shaded canyon in Felton under dense redwoods, you're gardening in a cool, moist microclimate where lettuce grows through summer and tomatoes struggle.
The temperature difference between these two areas (sometimes just a mile apart) can be 10-15 degrees on a summer day. That's the difference between success and failure for many crops.
| Feature | Sunny ridges and chaparral | Under redwoods and shaded canyons |
|---|---|---|
| Typical summer highs | Often 80s–90s (hotter in heat waves) | About 10–15°F cooler than nearby sunny slopes |
| Sun | 8+ hours (full sun) | 2–6 hours (dappled shade) |
| Soil | Rocky / decomposed granite or clay; generally well-drained | Often acidic with high organic matter; tends to stay moist |
| Best crops | Tomatoes, peppers, melons, corn, Mediterranean herbs, stone fruit | Lettuce and greens through summer, shade-tolerant herbs, cool-season crops, blueberries |
| Biggest challenges | Heat stress, fast bolting, higher irrigation demand | Low light, disease pressure, and soil pH that can be too acidic for some vegetables |
The Two San Lorenzo Valley Microclimates
Sunny Ridges and Chaparral (Above Tree Line)
Where: Boulder Creek mountains, Ben Lomond sunny exposures, south-facing chaparral slopes, sandstone ridge areas, neighborhoods above dense tree canopy
Summer Temperatures: Days often reach the 80s-90s, occasionally touching 100°F in heat waves, with nights in the 40s-50s (30-degree swings)
Winter Temperatures: 50s-60s days, 30s-40s nights
Sun Exposure: Full sun, 8+ hours daily
Vegetation: Manzanita, chaparral, oaks, madrone with open canopy
Soil: Well-drained, rocky, decomposed granite or clay
This is hot, dry, sunny gardening with a long season. One of the best growing climates in Santa Cruz County for heat-loving crops.
Under Redwoods and Shaded Canyons (Below Tree Line)
Where: Felton, Ben Lomond valleys, Boulder Creek canyons, dense redwood neighborhoods, north-facing slopes
Summer Temperatures: 75-85°F days (10-15°F cooler than sunny areas nearby)
Winter Temperatures: 40s-50s days, 30s-40s nights
Sun Exposure: Dappled to full shade, 2-6 hours direct sun
Vegetation: Dense redwood forest, ferns, understory plants
Soil: Acidic (pH 5.5-6.5), high organic matter, moist
This is cool, moist, shaded gardening with a shorter warm-season.
| Crop type | Sunny ridge verdict | Under redwoods verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Star crop; most varieties perform well with an extended season | Only in 6–8+ hours of sun; choose early varieties |
| Lettuce and salad greens | Great fall through spring; bolt fast in summer heat | Signature crop; can grow through much of summer |
| Peppers and eggplant | Excellent; heat-loving and productive | Usually not worth it without a hot, sunny clearing |
| Melons | Thrive in your heat | Need too much sun and sustained warmth |
| Blueberries | Can do well with irrigation; prefers acidic soil | Ideal; naturally acidic soil and part shade are a good match |
| Cool-season crops | Excellent fall through spring | Extended season; often a specialty in shaded gardens |
If You're on Sunny Ridges and Chaparral
What Thrives
You have one of the best growing climates in Santa Cruz County for heat-loving crops.
Tomatoes: All varieties, and your extended season is incredible
Early varieties planted in April produce through November
Late varieties planted in June or July produce into November (even Thanksgiving)
Try: Sungold, Big Beef, Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Early Girl
Heat-loving crops:
Melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon love your heat)
Eggplant (thrives in your conditions)
Hot peppers (jalapeño, serrano, habanero with excellent production)
Sweet peppers (bell peppers do great)
Okra (rare to see in Santa Cruz County, but you can grow it)
The "Three Sisters":
Corn (grows tall and strong in your heat)
Beans (bush and pole varieties; succession plant through August)
Squash (summer and winter varieties thrive)
Mediterranean crops:
Basil (loves your heat)
Rosemary (thrives year-round)
Oregano, thyme, sage (all perennial and happy)
Lavender (perfect conditions)
Cool-season crops in winter:
Lettuce, arugula, spinach (fall through spring)
Kale, chard, collards (year-round possible with your sun)
Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower planted in August for winter harvest)
Stone fruits:
Peaches, plums, apricots (check chill hours for variety; you get 400-600)
Persimmons (Asian and American varieties)
What Struggles
Spring lettuce and greens (bolt quickly in May and June heat)
Crops that need stable temperatures (your big swings can stress some plants)
Shallow-rooted crops without mulch and deep watering
Growing Strategies for Sunny Areas
Embrace your extended season:
Plant tomatoes in April, harvest through October and November
Succession plant fast-maturing tomatoes in June or July for fall harvest
Plant beans and corn through mid-July
Winter gardening is excellent; your sun keeps things growing
Manage summer heat:
Mulch heavily (4-6 inches) for moisture retention
Deep watering 2-3 times per week minimum in summer
Drip irrigation is essential; don't rely on sprinklers
Afternoon shade for transplanted brassicas in July and August
Wind breaks if you're exposed (ridges can be windy)
Soil building:
Add compost heavily every season
Use cover crops in winter (fava beans are excellent)
Mulch with wood chips between beds
Succession planting:
Beans every 2-3 weeks through August
Corn every 2-3 weeks through mid-July
Cool-season crops in fall (August and September) for winter harvest
Recommended Varieties for Sunny Areas
Tomatoes (you can grow any variety):
Sungold: sweet cherry, produces until frost
Big Beef: large slicing, heat-tolerant
Cherokee Purple: heirloom, excellent flavor
San Marzano: paste tomato for sauce
Early Girl: fast, reliable
Peppers:
California Wonder: sweet bell
Jimmy Nardello: sweet Italian frying pepper
Jalapeño: classic hot
Shishito: mild, productive
Squash:
Romanesco zucchini: prolific
Butternut winter squash: stores well
Delicata: sweet, thin skin
If You're Under Redwoods or In Canyons
What Thrives
Shade-tolerant greens:
Lettuce (all varieties, and you can grow it through summer)
Arugula loves your cool shade
Spinach is happy in your conditions
Chard grows year-round
Asian greens like bok choy, tatsoi, and mizuna do well
Mâche (corn salad) is perfect for shade
Herbs:
Parsley (biennial) loves shade
Cilantro won't bolt as quickly as in sunny areas
Chervil loves cool shade
Mint thrives in moisture
Cool-season crops:
Kale is possible year-round
Broccoli works with 4-6 hours of sun
Cabbage grows with adequate sun
Peas thrive in spring and fall
Berries (if you have some sun):
Strawberries tolerate part shade
Blueberries need acidic soil, which you have
Huckleberries are native understory berries that thrive
Potential warm-season crops (if you have 6+ hours of sun in a clearing):
Tomatoes grow more slowly, so choose early varieties
Beans tolerate part shade reasonably well
Summer squash needs sun but can work
What Struggles
Tomatoes struggle unless you have a sunny clearing with 6-8 hours of direct sun
Peppers need heat and sun you don't have
Melons need heat and sun
Corn needs full sun
Eggplant needs heat
Growing Strategies for Shaded Areas
Embrace the shade:
You have the best conditions in the county for lettuce and greens. Summer lettuce is nearly impossible elsewhere but easy for you. Your extended cool-season growing is a huge advantage.
Map your sun:
Find spots with 4-6 hours of sun where you can grow many crops
Note whether you get morning sun versus afternoon sun
Track seasonal sun changes between summer and winter angles
Identify your sunniest clearing (6-8 hours means tomatoes are possible)
Manage moisture:
Your soil stays moist longer, so you need less watering
Watch for overwatering since your conditions can promote root rot
Humidity can promote fungal issues, so space plants for air flow
Slugs love your conditions; use beer traps or iron phosphate bait
Manage your soil:
Most vegetables prefer pH 6.0-7.0
Add lime or wood ash to raise pH
Test soil annually
The good news: you have excellent organic matter and soil structure
Maximize your advantages:
Plant cool-season crops when sunny areas can't (summer)
Extend spring greens 4-6 weeks longer than sunny areas
Start fall crops earlier (August lettuce works great)
Your stable temperatures mean predictable growth
Recommended Varieties for Shaded Areas
Lettuce (your specialty):
Buttercrunch: heat-resistant and shade-tolerant
Red Sails: loose-leaf variety that grows anywhere
Tom Thumb: compact and good for small spaces
Merlot: beautiful red and bolt-resistant
Greens:
Red Russian kale: cold-hardy and shade-tolerant
Bright Lights chard: colorful and vigorous
Tatsoi: Asian green that loves cool conditions
Herbs:
Italian Flat Leaf parsley: biennial that thrives
Standard cilantro: won't bolt as fast in your conditions
Spearmint: loves moisture
If you have a sunny clearing (6+ hours):
Early Girl tomato: fast-maturing
Stupice: cold-tolerant and early
Oregon Spring: bred specifically for cool summers
Frost Patterns in the San Lorenzo Valley
Cold air pools in valley bottoms, making frost patterns highly variable across the San Lorenzo Valley:
Ridges: Frost is rare, mostly frost-free
Valley bottoms: Frost is likely because cold air sinks
Felton: Frost is possible in valley areas
Boulder Creek valleys: Frost pockets exist
Ben Lomond: Variable conditions with ridges frost-free and valleys frost-prone
Frost protection strategies:
Use row covers for tender crops
Plant frost-sensitive crops on slopes where cold air drains downhill
Ridges have an advantage because they're warmer at night due to air drainage
Rainfall Patterns
All of the San Lorenzo Valley gets significant rain, more than coastal areas. Winter rains fall from November through April. Summers are bone dry.
Shaded areas:
Retain moisture longer
Benefit from fog drip that adds moisture
Need less watering overall
Sunny ridges:
Dry out faster
Need consistent irrigation
Don't benefit from fog drip
Wildlife Challenges
Deer are a major issue everywhere in the San Lorenzo Valley. Fencing is essential (8 feet minimum). Deer-resistant plants help but nothing is truly deer-proof. Deer are most problematic in redwood areas where they travel through forests.
Gophers are everywhere. Use wire baskets for valuable plants. Consider trapping programs. Build raised beds with hardware cloth on the bottom.
Local Resources for San Lorenzo Valley Gardeners
Nurseries and Supplies
Mountain Feed and Farm Supply (9550 Highway 9, Ben Lomond) carries seeds, plants, soils, and homestead supplies. They also offer classes on gardening and food preservation.
San Lorenzo Garden Center (808 River Street, Santa Cruz) has a full selection of plants, tools, and amendments.
Scarborough Gardens (33 El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley) is convenient for Scotts Valley and SLV gardeners.
Seeds
Renee's Garden Seeds is based in Felton and specializes in varieties suited to our climate.
Felton Branch Library (6121 Gushee Street) hosts the Felton Seed Lending Library, offering free seeds adapted to local conditions.
Education and Community
UC Master Gardeners of Monterey Bay offer classes, garden tours, and a help line for troubleshooting.
Felton Farmers Market (Tuesday afternoons, seasonal, 120 Russell Avenue) often has plant starts and local gardening advice.
Frequently Asked Questions About San Lorenzo Valley Gardening
Can I grow tomatoes under redwoods?
Only if you have a clearing with 6-8 hours of direct sun. Tomatoes need heat and full sun to produce well. Under dense redwood canopy with less than 6 hours of sun, tomatoes grow leggy, produce few flowers, and ripen slowly if at all. Choose the sunniest spot on your property, ideally a south-facing clearing. If you don't have adequate sun, focus on greens and cool-season crops instead.
Why is my soil so acidic?
Redwood needles and duff decompose into acidic organic matter, lowering soil pH to 5.5-6.5. Most vegetables prefer pH 6.0-7.0. Test your soil annually and add agricultural lime or wood ash to raise pH gradually. Don't overlime in one application. Add 5 pounds of lime per 100 square feet and retest in a few months. The good news is your acidic soil is perfect for blueberries.
How do I deal with the huge temperature swings on sunny ridges?
Thirty-degree swings between day and night stress some plants. Mulch heavily (4-6 inches) to moderate soil temperature. Water deeply to keep roots cool. Provide afternoon shade for heat-sensitive crops like lettuce. Choose heat-tolerant varieties. The swings actually benefit some crops like tomatoes, which develop better flavor with warm days and cool nights.
What's the best crop for shaded areas?
Lettuce and salad greens are your specialty. While sunny areas can't grow lettuce in summer (it bolts immediately), you can harvest fresh salads from spring through fall. Buttercrunch, Red Sails, and other loose-leaf varieties are particularly shade-tolerant. You can also grow excellent spinach, arugula, Asian greens, chard, kale, and herbs like parsley and cilantro.
When should I plant tomatoes on a sunny ridge?
Plant transplants in April once soil warms to 60°F. Your warm conditions allow earlier planting than coastal areas. For a fall harvest, plant a second round of fast-maturing varieties (Early Girl, Stupice) in June or early July. These produce into November. Protect from occasional late spring frosts with row covers or plant against a south-facing wall.
How do I protect my garden from deer?
Eight-foot fencing is the only reliable solution. Deer can jump 6-foot fences easily. Use welded wire, deer netting, or metal fencing. Electric fencing also works. For unfenced gardens, deer-resistant plants (rosemary, lavender, sage) help but aren't foolproof. Deer are particularly problematic in wooded areas where they travel through forest corridors.
Do I need to water as much in shaded areas?
No. Shade reduces evaporation significantly, and fog drip adds moisture in redwood areas. You may need to water only every 3-4 days in summer rather than daily. However, watch for overwatering, which causes root rot and fungal problems. Check soil moisture before watering. Shaded soil that never dries out can be as problematic as drought-stressed soil.
What fruit trees grow well in the San Lorenzo Valley?
On sunny ridges, stone fruits like peaches, plums, and apricots thrive (choose low-chill varieties requiring 400-600 hours). Persimmons, figs, and citrus (in protected spots) also work. In shaded areas, options are limited. Blueberries love the acidic soil and tolerate part shade. Native huckleberries grow in forest understory. Apple and pear trees need more sun than most shaded properties provide.
Free Gardening Resources
Download these free guides for San Lorenzo Valley gardening:
Know Your Microclimate Worksheet — Map your sun exposure, frost patterns, and growing conditions to identify your specific microclimate.
Seasonal Planting Calendar — Month-by-month guide to what to plant, adjusted for San Lorenzo Valley timing.
Tomato Variety Selector — Find the best tomato varieties for your specific conditions, from fog-tolerant to heat-loving.
Gopher Control Guide — Practical strategies for managing gophers, a universal challenge in the San Lorenzo Valley.
Additional Resources
Garden Your Zone
The San Lorenzo Valley's diversity is its strength. Whether you're gardening in hot chaparral or cool redwood forest, understanding your specific microclimate lets you grow what thrives instead of fighting what struggles.
Sunny ridge gardeners: Embrace your heat and extended season. Grow the tomatoes, peppers, and melons that coastal gardeners envy. Harvest fresh produce through Thanksgiving.
Shaded canyon gardeners: Embrace your cool, stable conditions and extended cool-season growing. Be the only one with fresh lettuce in August. Focus on greens, herbs, and the crops that love your unique environment.
Both can have abundant, productive gardens. Just different ones.
What Thrives
Shade-tolerant greens: Lettuce (all varieties, and you can grow it through summer). Arugula loves your cool shade. Spinach is happy in your conditions. Chard grows year-round. Asian greens like bok choy, tatsoi, and mizuna do well. Mâche (corn salad) is perfect for shade.
Herbs: Parsley (biennial) loves shade. Cilantro won't bolt as quickly as in sunny areas. Chervil loves cool shade. Mint thrives in moisture.
Cool-season crops: Kale is possible year-round. Broccoli works with 4 to 6 hours of sun. Cabbage grows with adequate sun. Peas thrive in spring and fall.
Berries (if you have some sun): Strawberries tolerate part shade. Blueberries need acidic soil, which you have. Huckleberries are native understory berries that thrive.
Potential warm-season crops (if you have 6 or more hours of sun in a clearing): Tomatoes grow more slowly, so choose early varieties. Beans tolerate part shade reasonably well. Summer squash needs sun but can work.
What Struggles
Tomatoes struggle unless you have a sunny clearing with 6 to 8 hours of direct sun. Peppers need heat and sun you don't have. Melons need heat and sun. Corn needs full sun. Eggplant needs heat.
Growing Strategies for Shaded Areas
Embrace the shade. You have the best conditions in the county for lettuce and greens. Summer lettuce is nearly impossible elsewhere but easy for you. Your extended cool-season growing is a huge advantage.
Map your sun. Find spots with 4 to 6 hours of sun where you can grow many crops. Note whether you get morning sun versus afternoon sun. Track seasonal sun changes between summer and winter angles. Identify your sunniest clearing (6 to 8 hours means tomatoes are possible).
Manage moisture. Your soil stays moist longer, so you need less watering. Watch for overwatering since you have better drainage than sunny areas. Humidity can promote fungal issues, so space plants for air flow. Slugs love your conditions, so use beer traps or iron phosphate bait.
Manage your soil. Your soil is acidic (pH 5.5 to 6.5) from redwood needles. Most vegetables prefer pH 6.0 to 7.0. Add lime or wood ash to raise pH. Test soil annually. The good news is you have excellent organic matter and soil structure.
Maximize your advantages. Plant cool-season crops when sunny areas can't (summer). Extend spring greens 4 to 6 weeks longer than sunny areas. Start fall crops earlier (August lettuce works great). Your stable temperatures mean predictable growth.
Recommended Varieties for Shaded Areas
Lettuce (your specialty): Buttercrunch is heat-resistant and shade-tolerant. Red Sails is a loose-leaf variety that grows anywhere. Tom Thumb is compact and good for small spaces. Merlot is beautiful red and bolt-resistant.
Greens: Red Russian kale is cold-hardy and shade-tolerant. Bright Lights chard is colorful and vigorous. Tatsoi is an Asian green that loves cool conditions.
Herbs: Italian Flat Leaf parsley is a biennial that thrives. Standard cilantro won't bolt as fast in your conditions. Spearmint loves moisture.
If you have a sunny clearing (6 or more hours): Early Girl tomato is fast-maturing. Stupice is cold-tolerant and early. Oregon Spring was bred specifically for cool summers.
Frost Patterns in the San Lorenzo Valley
Ridges: Frost is rare, mostly frost-free.
Valley bottoms: Frost is likely because cold air sinks.
Felton: Frost is possible in valley areas.
Boulder Creek valleys: Frost pockets exist.
Ben Lomond: Variable conditions with ridges frost-free and valleys frost-prone.
Frost protection strategies: Use row covers for tender crops. Plant frost-sensitive crops on slopes where cold air drains downhill. Ridges have an advantage because they're warmer at night due to air drainage.
Rainfall Patterns
All of the San Lorenzo Valley gets significant rain, more than coastal areas. Winter rains fall from November through April. Summers are bone dry.
Shaded areas retain moisture longer, benefit from fog drip that adds moisture, and need less watering overall.
Sunny ridges dry out faster, need consistent irrigation, and don't benefit from fog drip.
Wildlife Challenges
Deer are a major issue everywhere in the San Lorenzo Valley. Fencing is essential (8 feet minimum). Deer-resistant plants help but nothing is truly deer-proof. Deer are most problematic in redwood areas where they travel through forests.
Gophers are everywhere. Use wire baskets for valuable plants. Consider trapping programs. Build raised beds with hardware cloth on the bottom.
Local Resources for San Lorenzo Valley Gardeners
Nurseries and Supplies:
Mountain Feed & Farm Supply (9550 Highway 9, Ben Lomond) carries seeds, plants, soils, and homestead supplies. They also offer classes on gardening and food preservation.
San Lorenzo Garden Center (808 River Street, Santa Cruz) has a full selection of plants, tools, and amendments.
Scarborough Gardens (33 El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley) is convenient for Scotts Valley and SLV gardeners.
Seeds:
Renee's Garden Seeds is based in Felton and specializes in varieties suited to our climate.
The Felton Seed Lending Library at the Felton Branch Library (6121 Gushee Street) offers free seeds adapted to local conditions.
Education and Community:
UC Master Gardeners of Monterey Bay offer classes, garden tours, and a help line for troubleshooting.
The Felton Farmers Market (Tuesday afternoons, seasonal, 120 Russell Avenue) often has plant starts and local gardening advice.
Frequently Asked Questions About San Lorenzo Valley Gardening
Can I grow tomatoes under redwoods?
Only if you have a clearing with 6 to 8 hours of direct sun. Tomatoes need heat and full sun to produce well. Under dense redwood canopy with less than 6 hours of sun, tomatoes grow leggy, produce few flowers, and ripen slowly if at all. Choose the sunniest spot on your property, ideally a south-facing clearing. If you don't have adequate sun, focus on greens and cool-season crops instead.
Why is my soil so acidic?
Redwood needles and duff decompose into acidic organic matter, lowering soil pH to 5.5 to 6.5. Most vegetables prefer pH 6.0 to 7.0. Test your soil annually and add agricultural lime or wood ash to raise pH gradually. Don't overlime in one application. Add 5 pounds of lime per 100 square feet and retest in a few months. The good news is your acidic soil is perfect for blueberries.
How do I deal with the huge temperature swings on sunny ridges?
Thirty-degree swings between day and night stress some plants. Mulch heavily (4 to 6 inches) to moderate soil temperature. Water deeply to keep roots cool. Provide afternoon shade for heat-sensitive crops like lettuce. Choose heat-tolerant varieties. The swings actually benefit some crops like tomatoes, which develop better flavor with warm days and cool nights.
What's the best crop for shaded areas?
Lettuce and salad greens are your specialty. While sunny areas can't grow lettuce in summer (it bolts immediately), you can harvest fresh salads from spring through fall. Buttercrunch, Red Sails, and other loose-leaf varieties are particularly shade-tolerant. You can also grow excellent spinach, arugula, Asian greens, chard, kale, and herbs like parsley and cilantro.
When should I plant tomatoes on a sunny ridge?
Plant transplants in April once soil warms to 60°F. Your warm conditions allow earlier planting than coastal areas. For a fall harvest, plant a second round of fast-maturing varieties (Early Girl, Stupice) in June or early July. These produce into November. Protect from occasional late spring frosts with row covers or plant against a south-facing wall.
How do I protect my garden from deer?
Eight-foot fencing is the only reliable solution. Deer can jump 6-foot fences easily. Use welded wire, deer netting, or metal fencing. Electric fencing also works. For unfenced gardens, deer-resistant plants (rosemary, lavender, sage) help but aren't foolproof. Deer are particularly problematic in wooded areas where they travel through forest corridors.
Do I need to water as much in shaded areas?
No. Shade reduces evaporation significantly, and fog drip adds moisture in redwood areas. You may need to water only every 3 to 4 days in summer rather than daily. However, watch for overwatering, which causes root rot and fungal problems. Check soil moisture before watering. Shaded soil that never dries out can be as problematic as drought-stressed soil.
What fruit trees grow well in the San Lorenzo Valley?
On sunny ridges, stone fruits like peaches, plums, and apricots thrive (choose low-chill varieties requiring 400 to 600 hours). Persimmons, figs, and citrus (in protected spots) also work. In shaded areas, options are limited. Blueberries love the acidic soil and tolerate part shade. Native huckleberries grow in forest understory. Apple and pear trees need more sun than most shaded properties provide.
Free Gardening Resources
Know Your Microclimate Worksheet — Map your sun exposure, frost patterns, and growing conditions to identify your specific microclimate.
Seasonal Planting Calendar — Month-by-month guide to what to plant, adjusted for San Lorenzo Valley timing.
Tomato Variety Selector — Find the best tomato varieties for your specific conditions, from fog-tolerant to heat-loving.
Gopher Control Guide — Practical strategies for managing gophers, a universal challenge in the San Lorenzo Valley.
Garden Your Zone
The San Lorenzo Valley's diversity is its strength. Whether you're gardening in hot chaparral or cool redwood forest, understanding your specific microclimate lets you grow what thrives instead of fighting what struggles.
Sunny ridge gardeners: embrace your heat and extended season. Grow the tomatoes, peppers, and melons that coastal gardeners envy. Harvest fresh produce through Thanksgiving.
Shaded canyon gardeners: embrace your cool, stable conditions and extended cool-season growing. Be the only one with fresh lettuce in August. Focus on greens, herbs, and the crops that love your unique environment.
Both can have abundant, productive gardens. Just different ones.
