Warm Greetings from Cold Vermont

Hello shade gardeners! 3 below zero here in Marshfield with a guarantee
of 10 below by morning. We've been at less than 32 degrees since New
Years Day. We are used to this but I know that 10 above in Georgia is
not welcomed. Today in 1857 it was 38 below and the high for the day
reached -17. You see, we are making progress!

In recent years we have seen many reports of people pushing the zone
limits and being very successful with plants that just weren't supposed
to survive. I'm wondering if there are any stories out there of plants
that have been successful in zones 4 or 3 that were billed as 5 or
above? Each year I want to give the Arum italicum a try in my lower
shade garden. I never want to  part with $15 to try a few but really
should. Same holds true with some of the Cyclamens--hederofolium may be
the name of one. I'm not familiar with any but do enjoy seeing their
pictures in catalogs. If they were successful here I'd want
hundreds.....a dream.

So, on a cold night in lots of places, any thoughts on pushing the
limits? Perhaps instances where the original zone classification was
clearly wrong?

George Africa
Vermont Flower Farm
256 Peacham Pond Road
Marshfield VT 05658-8099
Tel. 802-426-3505
FAX 802-426-3706
Zone 4
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