Re: rainfall

 I applaud that nursery for giving rainfall requirments, although I think 
most folks have a problem with generalized Charts because they do not give very 
detailed or accurate information for most areas.  I don't know how valuable 
this is in other parts of the country, but here in Texas,  rainfall is a topic 
that is very critical and much discussed.  The chart says that there are only 3 
zones for the entire state of Texas??  WOW.  There is an "official" Rainfall 
chart for Texas that shows that Houston itself has at least 5 different zones.  
I live in far west Houston (outside the city limits), actually on the border 
of Harris (Houston) and Fort Bend Counties.  I live no more than 30 miles from 
down town Houston.  From my area to downtown are three zones.  According to 
the Texas Rainfall chart my area gets 8 inches less rain per year than down 
town.  This is very visible in the plants that I can grow vs. those that are 
grown down town, or parts east.  Although some folks lump my area as the far 
eastern part of South Central Texas, this would be inaccurate too, considering that 
we are more humid and get much more rain than San Antonio which is also in 
South Central. Therefore, I grow many plants that my mom in SA is unable to.

Thus, I am a firm believer that rainfall requirements are very helpful when 
choosing plants, especially here in Texas.  Zones are helpful, but rainfall 
amounts narrow the field even more.
Too bad this info isn't added to the description on plants along with the 
zones.  

Noreen
zone 9
Texas Gulf Coast

In a message dated 12/5/2003 8:44:26 PM Central Standard Time, 
gardenchat-owner@hort.net writes:
I just received the new High Country Gardens catalogue. On pg 37 they
> have a rainfall map. Perhaps you've seen one elsewhere, but I haven't
> and I find it very interesting. They show 6 zones in which the rainfall
> differs by 10 inch increments. In addition, they code all their plants
> to indicate somewhat, how much rainfall they can handle. This is why I
> don't do well with Penstemons and Salvias. I'm in the 30-40 inches per
> year zone. Marge and Gene are in the 40-50 inches rainfall zone. Texas
> and OK span 3 zones from west to east. Jim is, of course, in the 50-60+
> zone.

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