Re: Zones
At 03:58 PM 9/26/1999 GMT, David Poole wrote:
>whilst USDA zones may prove applicable in
>continental type climates, they do not really apply to those with a
>strongly maritime climate. The debate about the validity of zones has
>erupted on many occasions here in the UK this year and the general
>consensus is that they cannot be applied here due to the extreme
>multiplicity of microclimates and very peculiar nature of our weather.
On Alpine-L, UK garden author/botanist/ecologist Dr. John Grimshaw called
the USDA zones "rubbish". We got quite a chuckle out of that when I the
privilege of meeting him. Zones are useful only as a gross
generalization. Sunset sure blew it with our zone here in Corvallis,
Oregon in the mid-Willamette Valley. Our mintemp is as low as -15F. The
maritime influence is sometimes mitigated here by the proximity of the
highest peak in the coast ranges, which alas, sometimes blocks the maritime
air during the most aggressive Polar air masses.
We get ~late frosts and as is the case with the UK, microclimate is a
factor of far greater importance than zones. I have sheltered areas in my
gardens that are nearly frost-free, but there are also fierce
"frost-pocket" areas as well where the soil heaves and popcorns.
The most adventuresome gardeners tend to take zones with a grain of
salt....Tony Avent's "I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it
at least three times" or words to that effect. I also recall a wonderfully
humorous slide talk by Heronswood Nursery's Dan Hinkley ("Gourmet Woodies
for the Pacific Northwest Garden" 1995 North American Rock Garden Society
Study Weekend) who gave countless examples of "breaking the rules" by
several USDA notches on both the high and the low end of his "zone".
What is more illuminating though for making inferences is to at least have
the geographic location. This is helpful in a general way to get oriented
to the person's situation.
Cheers, Louise
Only in quiet waters things mirror themselves undistorted. Only in a quiet
mind is adequate perception of the world.
--Hans Margolius
