Re: issue with proposed hardiness zone map at AHS site

**M* H* <m*@mac.com>**

What are the temperature records in your area for this period? We have
not had a "typical" winter based on the 1990 map in Minneapolis in
years. We have been classified zone 4a which would have you believe our
winter minimum to be -30. In the last 9 years (the length of time I
have lived in this zone) We have reached that minimum only twice, and
then they were only spikes. For at least 4 of those 9 years the minimum
has been equivalent to zone 6a. The new map puts us in zone 5 which is
certainly more accurate than zone 4a was. The shape of the bubble
including the Twin Cities also helps when explaining the phenomena that
can affect these numbers to inexperienced gardeners.
I hope the wait for the new map won't be long.
Mary Henry
M&M Horticultural Communications
Minneapolis, MN
On Feb 20, 2004, at 7:39 AM, gardenwriters-request@lists.ibiblio.org
wrote:

If you think those maps are bad, take a look at the new map proposed
by the AHS:
http://www.ahs.org/publications/usda_hardiness_zone_map.htm
It ignores many years of records to focus on 1986-2002, *and *dumps
the "a" and "b" designations.

I'm technically in zone 7a by the old map, microclimatically in 6b,
and the new map puts me in 8. Ridiculous!
Daryl

_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters
GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters
Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos
Post gardening questions/threads to
"Organic-Gardening" <organic-gardening@lists.ibiblio.org>
For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters