Re: zone map with cities

**"* C* <d*@sympatico.ca>**

Hi again Marge,
As we all know, temperature alone is not sufficient. However, even within
that one parameter little things like relative humidity can affect the
survivability of the plant. However, I don't want to belabour that point
because it seems that we on this list got into this discussion just a short
time ago.
I am curious about using plant indicators for hardiness maps and was hoping
someone on this list has experience with it. It seems that there are two
variables that aren't being taken into account.
One is the plant itself. Is the Amelanchier canadensisof today, for example,
the same as 30 or even 20 years ago? Have the plant breeding boffins
improved it sufficiently that it might survive in harsher climates? Do we
run the chance of altering a zone based on lab work instead of environmental
changes?
The second, a bit more difficult to nail down, would be the growing medium
in which our indicator plants are growing. (And any care they might be
receiving that would augment their survival.) For example, its all well and
good to plant native indicators but can we plant them in their "native"
soil?  Does such a medium exist in suburban, or even rural North America?
Somedays it just good to be a plantsperson and not have to worry overly much
about science, eh?
Dan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt@hort.net>
 . . .
> As far as I know, the US map only deals with average minimum low
> temperatures - has no relation to any plant indicators.  Heck, that
> would mean someone who actually knew something about plants was
> involved...perish the thought:-)

_______________________________________________
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