Many of you already know me from other fora..
Here in West Central Alberta (west of Red Deer) in the zone where Aspen Parkland (starting East of me about 20-30 miles, Aspen and grassland, Spruce and Willow in lower spots) meets Boreal Mixedwood Forest (Picea glauca and mariana, Populus tremuloides and balsamifera, numerous Salix, etc), and then Foothills Biome (same as previous, with Pinus added, etc) 20 miles west..
The foothills themselves start another 30-40miles farther on, and within 90mins driving or so, I can be in the front ranges of the Rockies....considerably more to get to the higher altitude routes...
Just living back here since 2007, and slowly working on outdoor gardens, which have to be coaxed if not wrestled from the 6 acres, much of which is naturally wooded, and the rest would be within a season or two if left to its own devices....