Re: Selection

**"* B* <l*@msn.com>**

I conceptualize hardiness ratings, regardless of the effective date of the USDA zone map, the same way I do ski trail conditions.  When a ski resort/report tells me the trails are rated excellent, I take that down a notch.  The same holds true for plants, especially new introductions: when I get a "trial" plant that is supposedly rated as zone 6 and put that in my zone 6 garden, even in what I would say is a very warm area that is a solid zone 6, I'm never convinced of its hardiness.  I admit to a good deal of zone envy and I've observed more than a lot of zone "pushing."  Maybe we should just call it wishful thinking.  It truly is just a guide, per Jo Ellen.

Lorraine 

Lorraine Ballato 
16 Mudry Farm Rd 
Brookfield CT 06804 
(203)740-8636

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: jo ellen meyers sharp<h*@sbcglobal.net> 
  To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum<g*@lists.ibiblio.org> 
  Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 9:05 AM
  Subject: Re: [GWL] Selection

  One of my big problems w/the big boxes (Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Home 
  Depot), is that they are southern- based corporations and send us 
  northern gardeners tons of out-of-zone plants. I can't tell you how 
  many times customers at the independent garden center where I work 
  come in to ask about a plant (yesterday, it as pampas grass) and why 
  it didn't make it through winter.

  There are as many plants rated Zone 6, even 7, in the big boxes here 
  as there are Zone 5, mixed in with climate appropriate stock without 
  any signage about their horticulture requirements. Usually, the clerk 
  are not much help in this area, either, since many don't know a 
  petunia from a ninebark. (I had one tell me about the "new 
  ninetrunks" once.)

  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know about the pending USDA map and the AHS map 
  that place me in Zone 6, but I don't believe it.

  At the least, plants rated Zone 6 may push the envelope and many 
  gardeners don't want that. They want the plant to do well. And, we 
  can complain about the hardiness zones all we want, but it is the 
  first quide most of us use in selecting plants. It dictates placement 
  in the landscape (microclimate) and gives us an idea of what to 
  expect. To the inexperienced gardener, pushing them into out-of-zone 
  plants only sets them up to fail. We want them to succeed.

  jems
  -- 
  Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
  Garden writer, speaker, author, photographer
  Region III Director Garden Writers Association
  Phone: (317) 251.3261
  Fax: (317) 251.8545
  E-mail: hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net<h*@sbcglobal.net>
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