Zone upgrade

The USDA recently updated their zone chart. Per the web site, I moved up from an 8a to 8b. I don't really pay any attention to zones, but I think my sister will be happy to know she upgraded from a 5 to 6a. She's been pushing it anyway but this will open up all sorts of new plants for her to kill.

LOL -- Surely I've slipped from 8b to 4a this winter!

Interesting. And you both make it funny!

I think they are full of it. I'm sticking with zone 7. All the zone 8 plants die here.

bone, where did you find it? I've been looking for it all afternoon.

Doug

Let me see if I can figure out how to post a link, see if this works:

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

I first found it on (I think) Garden Rant. Then, I googled New USDA Zone Map and I think that's how I found it. Sometimes I can't remember the convoluted ways I've happened onto things....

The gist is most folks have upgraded a half zone.

From the looks of it I need to move to Puerto Rico! Lows in the 60's and 70's......

Doug

This really works well for those of us that are in Zone Denial!

Denial Plus?

First time I ever played golf was in Gig Harbor!!

At Canterwood?

According to the map, I am still in zone 8b. However I have come to think that is true only along the waterfront, not inland and up the hill. Even a small rise in elevation here makes a big difference. I lost most of my zone 8 plants last year, and believe I am really in zone 7. Perhaps this is because I am exposed to a fair amount of wind.

It is good to acknowledge and respect your own micro-climate.

I don't remember the name of the golf course. I do remember it was quite hilly and a private club I think. This would have been around 1977-1978. I played with some of the guys from Fitzgerald Ford in Gig Harbor. The Sales Manger was Wayne Fischer. Kevin Fitzgerald owned the dealership.
(amazing I still remember all that!!!)

Doug

Must have been Canterwood. I got to play it once. Shot 100. For me that was good.

still 8b here

The Gig Harbor Golf club is just down the street and is mostly up hill. Only the fit and the tough play there!!

Gosh I don't remember the course. I do remember one hole where the tee box was elevated and the green was down in a valley. Probably a Par 4....
Back then it was more about drinking and less about golf! Especially the first time.

I still miss the area, usually on rainy cool days!!!

Doug

There is Madrona also. I didn't know about Gig Harbor Golf Club. And Hello Azorina.
I was born in Indiana so I know your country postmandug.

Hey, can ya see the Pyramids from there, in Zone De Nile?

This link takes me more directly to the very zoomable USDA map - I enter my ZIP code first and then zoom out or in:
http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx

And these, together, let you find your first & last freeze/frost dates for 10%, 50% and 90% likelihood of killing seedlings:

First, figure out the name of some USDA weather stations near you, probsably searching by city, ZIP code or state.
Then look for those station names in the "Frost" page:
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/stationlocator.html

http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/climatenormals/climatenormals.pl?directive=prod_select2&prodtype=CLIM2001&subrnum=

Funny guy!
And helpful.