[Fioli]

Also, what is the difference here in using こちら as opposed to ここ besides maybe politeness?

It's not the thing about politeness.
If u use the spoken form, it becomes こっち. Haven't heard こちら or あちら？

こちら　<-> あちら
here, this side <-> there, other side

ここ is like... a spot...like your room, your house. こちら is bigger area... like your region, your country, your side...

これは僕の最初の投稿です。　一緒に楽しく喋りましょうね！　え～と、 ここはもう深夜になりましたので、明日もっと喋りますね。　

I figured that either one would be okay.

You can use ここ too. I think こちら better. But in either case, you need to change it to は from に。That was the point.

X　「ここにもう深夜に」
O　「ここはもう深夜に」

　不自然というより、これについては「間違い」です。

By the way, you have some really nice flower pictures on your website.

ありがとうございます！