Re: zone map with cities

**"* T* <m*@hort.net>**

From: Marty Wingate <martywin@earthlink.net>
Also, I would be interested in hearing more feedback about the new
zone 
map that Daryl mentioned, and also the inconsistencies that Stephen 
mentioned.  Zone maps are handy tools that we refer readers to 
regularly, but I'd like to be able to also include realistic
cautions.
----------

Well, FWIW, I think zone maps are only a starting tool in the search
for information about whether you will be able to successfully grow
any plant.  They are highly inaccurate and don't take micro-climates,
rainfall, soil and other important issues into consideration.  For
instance, the USDA hardiness map puts parts of the Mid-Atlantic and
the PNW in the same zones, along with areas in the center of our land
mass.  Ridiculous.  Completely different climates, rainfall patterns,
heat and humidity.  The revised version, removing the a & b
designations is worse than the original one.  At least that gave
people the idea that there were some differences in areas designated
with the same zone.  

That said, for the novice gardener, they at least point out plants
that are highly unlikely to survive for them.  But the danger is what
has happened - gardeners relying too heavily upon a zone designation
for a plant and being disappointed when the durn thing turns up its
toes and croaks. 

While I always use them when I write about plants - if I can find
what I consider a relatively reliable source giving the zone
designation, I think it's most important to note the provenance of
the plant, if you can, and try to, over time, make your readers aware
that just because some nursery has put a zone number on a particular
plant does not mean they will be able to grow it successfully *or*
that they will not.  

If you look around, you'll find an incredibly wide range of zones for
any given plant, so when that happens, if you have no personal
experience with said plant, all you can do is give that range or
throw a dart at it and pick the winner.

The heat map from AHS is, IMO, about totally useless in the real
world.  They could have done so much better. Since they did not, it
would have been best if they'd canned the whole idea.  It's not just
heat but humidity and particularly hot, humid nights that make the
difference between life and death for many plants.  That heat zone
map only deals with the number of days above a certain temperature,
if I am not mistaken....useless information.

So, caveat emptor IMO when you deal with zone designations and
readers need to be told this.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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