Where in the world is our advice coming from?

I was thinking about the time zone issue when I posted the “Fall To Do List” topic….

that’s a good idea Scott.

Hardiness Zones is probably the way to go.
I’m in a Zone 6a area supposedly.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Great idea Scott. I’m on the edge of 6a and 6b literally 6a on the north facing areas and 6b in the protected south facing areas. I can even get some plants that are supposedly limited to 7a on the south side. It’s amazing what a small difference can make. The Cape is a consistant 6b with lots of moisture. Garden’s almost grow on there own down there.

I’ve changed my signature to comply.

-- Bob, Carver MA USA, Zone 6b, Annual Rainfall 48" http://capecodbaychallenge.org

The closest I could get to my Hardiness zone was 10, near San Francisco. The temperature can be 30 degrees high where I am opposed to San Francisco. I will research in one of my gardening books and post later.

-- Central Valley California

I found an easy link here at the National Gardening Association website. I knew my area was close to 2 zones and this site helped me figure that out. You just enter your zipcode and it tells you your zone. You can also zoom in a little. I found other sites that allowed zipcode searches, but often got wacky results.

-- Hosta la vista baby -- The Hosta Queen (hardiness zone 7A, but so close to 6B!)

and that makes me a 5a/b .. I’m on the line.
The other site I looked at put our area in the “6” zones.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Thanks Karen, I am in 7a.

-- Central Valley California

woohoo. 5A…. it’s like I moved a little south, but I still have sun where we like to play, and shade everywhere I want to garden… my challenge for the winter, where to plant all the veg I want, and not have it trampled by errant children and wayward bocce balls.

Great link Karen. Thanks.

-- southern NH. - smack dab in the middle of 5a and 5b - with lots of shade and full sun, in all the wrong places.

Great idea … just went over and changed my “tag line”.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

we were at a local big box store and I couldn’t resist picking up a couple gardening magazines as we stood waiting in line at the checkout. The one magazine, Canadian Gardening, has an article about hardiness zones.

Did you know…

that the Canadian Hardiness map and the American hardiness map aren’t interchangeable?
For the Canadian Hardiness zone, produced by Natural Resources Canada) “plant survival data and climatic information such as minimum winter temperatures, length of frost-free days and maximum wind speed are used to difine its nine (0 through 8) zone, which are subdivided into colder (a) and (warmer (b) regions.” see canadiangardening.com/zones.shtml

“The hardiness zones of the USDA map, on the other hand, are based only on average annual minimum temperatures. The map is devided into 11 zones (1 to 11), eight of which are subdivided into colder (a) and warmer (b) areas. (The USDA hardiness zone map is found at usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.thml.)

The two zones can differ as much as 2 zones.
Info from Canadian Gardening Winter 2008 issue. canadiangardening.com

and that is why I first listed my area as 6a … and now I know!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Yes…..I noticed that the US and Canadian hardiness zones are completely different, and certain US sites list last frost dates for zones, that doesn’t apply here. My zone 5b for example was listed as having last frost dates between mid march and early april.

That is not true

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

definitely not true these past years—while we have been having milder winters, our last frosts can come in late May.

It’s getting really hard to know when to plant. A couple years ago, I could have had everything in the garden at the first of April. Then last year (or one year.. can’t remember exactly), everything planted on May 2-4 weekend… and boom… frost.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

When in doubt, it’s always safer to put stuff outside after May 2-4 weekend.

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

yup.. and pray that Mother Nature isn’t saving her last cold spell for the end of the month.

my American friends asked me, once, “what is a May 2 – 4” :)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Just think of long weekend, cottage and a pack of beer :-)

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

OK, what is May 2-4?

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

A little bit of history for our cousins eh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Day

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

well, it’s not a lumberJock term (about a 2×4)
:)

May (month of May)
2-4 (# 24)
pronounced “2” “4” referring to a case of beer.
First long weekend of the year when you can go outside in summer-like weather.

Here, in our region many of our young people go to Long Point (Lake Erie) for their “summer celebration”

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

OHHHHHHHHH …

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Sheesh…crazy Canucks need a warm weekend to drink a case of beer… LOL!

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

ROTFLOL!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Hey…better than drinking starbucks eh :-)

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

Good point!!!! LOL!!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Maybe hubby and I should move … our birthdays are May 2nd and 3rd … heck of a weekend don’t ya think? LOL

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Windsor is close to you guys….but we demand you have your passports :-)

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

But in their Parody of the 12 Day’s of Christmas, Don’t Doug and Bob MacKenzie say 6-Packs of 2-fer, not 2-4?

Which i took to mean 6 packs of 2 for the price of one.

You’ve opened up a new mystery while revealing quite a bit about neighbors to the (Great White) north, eh?

-- southern NH. - smack dab in the middle of 5a and 5b - with lots of shade and full sun, in all the wrong places.

I’ll have to go ask Doug and Bob what they meant :)

We all know each other up here in Canuck land, right?? And Doug and Bob are our national heroes I guess :)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Yeah….the prime minister is practically a mate of mine, we have a pint down my local together :-)

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

Well, with a national population of 32000, you’re bound to run into familiar faces!

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

Another smart yank…..32k you say???? :-)

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

Oh, sorry…what is that in metric? ;-)

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

Well, I have been going back and forth trying to find my “zone”
Canadian says 5a, American says 3b , and as we are surrounded by trees I do not believe that either of them is right.
As well, we have a lot of “micro-zone” because of different elevation of some part of our land.

So, I will carry on as I have : “Hit and Hope!”

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

We never like simplicity, do we—two different zone descriptions. The Canadian zone takes into consideration a lot more factors. But then the number gets confusing because most people envision the American version and so the numbers are “mis-information”. Until this discussion started I didn’t know there was a difference.

So I’m a 5-ish. (give or take a number or letter).

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Added a blog post with a link to look up your U.S. hardiness zone (sorry folks outside U.S.). More info here: http://gardentenders.com/members/gardenmentor/blog/55

-- GardenMentor, Seattle, WA (zone 8/9), www.gardenmentors.com & www.gardenhelp.org

A nother thread backing up the other one I posted

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

We seem to have seen most members garden pics, which tells us that you are serious gardeners, enjoy it and don’t mind to share your tips with others.

Those members that haven’t shown a single picture of their garden, is there any reason why you don’t want to share that with fellow members on here? Am sure others are thinking the same

Personally….I think when people come on here, making small talk and not showing what us exactly they have planted or plan to sow in the future, they are just here for other reason apart from gardening. We have pretty much seen seen everyone’s garden apart from a couple that joined recently

Please prove me wrong

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

Really….so it won’t happen to be Zone 5b then, like your posted zone on GardenBuddies where you are known as “Willow” and Canadiangardening ( where you go as “Bluewillow )? Any serious gardener will definitely know their zone, unless of course they are a complete Croc.

Sounds like you have something to hide from the people here

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

I guess that called for a post edit

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

people join online communities for many reasons….. to each their own, just like the different types of gardens out there.
Personally, I don’t mind if someone doesn’t post pictures of their gardens. Maybe they don’t even have one but wish they did. There are many ways to enjoy this site, the friendships and the gardens.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I agree Ms D. A lot of us have big gardens, or small gardens with a lot of flowers/veg.
As well, some people will readily help and share their knowledge, others are shy about it.
And some dream about :”One day…”

No matter what, I do believe it is important to always keep the door open: the answer to one question from one individual might be the answer somebody else was looking for.
So…any question, comment about gardening is welcome because “I” might learn something new!!!

And, yes, I do enjoy the friendships I have built at this site!!!

And honestly, I find the slurs quite offending and putting off!

If I was interested in aggressive attitude, I just would have to watch the news!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Hey bullseye could you add your garden to your profile page?

-- wjl - 5a Indiana

Nativeplant…..if there is one thing I have done since joining this forum, it’s introducing myself properly, didn’t go attacking people with my first 5 posts, and shared pictures more than normal with everyone here.

I am sure most will agree, and my pics are there for all to see in various threads. You don’t even have to look far to find them. I made it clear am new to gardening ( last spring being my 1st year in the new house ), and since then I have posted pictures like you won’t believe.

My winter sowing under growlights are also in numerous threads. So I think that pretty much speaks for itself really, and shows that am not a Croc, that is just here to make small talk, look at what others have to share, without showing my garden ( whatever little there is ).

It’s kind of like a non-parent, trying to give parental advice. They might be shy to have kids, but there is no way they can ever know what it’s like to have kids, and therefore advice that is needed.

Anyhoo…Canada blooms is starting soon in Toronto, anyone going?

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

I must agree there are reasons why folks don’t post pics.I just got my first camera a few years ago,and even today,I am not good at using it.Although my GH’s are “workers”, they are not picture perfect,so I tend to only take shots of sections of plants growing inside.It always seems that I have forgot to move the hose,or remove the weed bucket or tools or something looks like crap because it didn’t get deadheaded,and my garden pics don’t look good.I take more close-up pics for that reason.Summer is a very busy time for me as I work seasonal Apr-Oct,and combined with all I have to do here,picture taking is at the end of the list.
I would really hate to think that we cannot share our gardens through words.We all love what we do and like to share.I just hope that this oasis(forum) does not turn into those other forums,with the name calling and the pack of wolves approach where they just run people off.
I can’t speak for others,but I am here for a GOOD time and a LONG time.
With that said,what was the topic again? lol

-- Southwestern Ontario Canada Zone5b

lol the topic: where is everyone from—a really good idea for the signatures.
(It really helps when someone is talking about planting and you wonder if you are late.. then you realize that they are in another part of the world!!! haha)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Debbie….that was exactly my point, and what I was getting at.

Talar you did claim to know me from elsewhere before in your previous posts, from another garden forum, so you obviously have been gardening for a while.

Also you mentioned GardenBuddies in a reply to Scottb’s aerogarden hydroponics. You sure made an entry here, by going right at me didn’t ya? People only have to look at your response to my thread about pruning and transplant, to know why my attitude towards you has been like this.

Even though you decided to call me a name that isn’t mine, your response in the link below, begs to differ that you are a gardening newbie

http://gardentenders.com/topics/92

Anyway…welcome to the forum

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

over at LumberJocks we’ve asked that emotionally charged debates be done through private messages rather than in the open forums. .. What we’ve found is that when the topic is “woodworking” conversations are wonderful and helpful.. when they get off topic, well, things can get a little touchy and not helpful to woodworking or the site.

This might be a good practice for GardenTenders as well

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Agree!!
Let’s garden!!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Ok, this thread has been sufficiently derailed…. ;)

Lets keep it neighborly…

-- southern NH. - smack dab in the middle of 5a and 5b - with lots of shade and full sun, in all the wrong places.

Looks like I am 4b, I could be 5a…...?

looking outside right now, I might as well be in a 0a…..........chilly out there

-- Central northish Ontario

hahah same here! well probably not too cold but we have lots of white stuff coming down from the sky. It is SOOOO beautiful

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Beautiful to look at, but makes it hard to walk in the woods!
And lots of shoveling!

As well, on the news last night they were saying that we usually get 40% of the snow fall in March!!

So….keep your snow shovels out!!! or your showblowers, cause it will be coming down some more before our friend Spring gets here!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

I shake my head when I hear people around here saying “tired of winter” and then are surprised to hear that it is going to snow again – it’s still February! Winter is not over yet.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Winter is not over yet.
Far from it: another 40% of our total yearly downfall is still not here

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

I’ve abandoned several other sites after being typographically attacked, sometimes on several different threads, like I was being stalked or something. It doesn’t bother me, it’s just a waste of my time. I’m on forums for a reason. To trade info, not to provide a soapbox for some maroon ( yes, it’s a bugs bunny reference.)

Where’s our advice coming from? Well, as has been pointed out, zones can be confusing. Nobody wants to explain their entire situation every time they ask a question. It might be a pain to research every response by checking profiles to see if it would work for you…......

ah…o.k. ... I don’t have an answer.

-- arborial reconfiguration specialist......Zone out....(USA 5)

Sorry Catspaw… this question made more sense when first posted. In the early days we were talking about what we were growing, and not knowing if the advice was coming from Hawaii or Canada – and would it work for “me” at home.

Since that time we’ve added our Zones and/or rough geographic location to the posts and its been a big help.

Dig the bugs bunny ref!

-- southern NH. - smack dab in the middle of 5a and 5b - with lots of shade and full sun, in all the wrong places.

wares dat dang wabbit ?

Elmer Fudd

-- Central northish Ontario

I’m a 5B! I’m a 5B!!

See ya Elmer.

-- One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade; Chinese Proverb - Zone 5B

Yes I agree zones can be a problem. I am Canadian Zone 5b but at the same time I probably have the shortest growing season being that our actual “safe” last frost date is June 20th and you can bet to have frost again by October therfore I have a very short growing season so while my summer temps may be good I have a very short growing season.

Also, Not everyone wants to post their exact location due to privacy issues so I guess the best alternative is in your signature post your zone and your country and your last frost date:

5b Canada, LFD06-20

How does that sound for a compromise :)

Going to change my signature now…

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

well, i guess if we all lived in one tiny little spot it would be easy. then i would insist on being king of my own realm. and people would have to pay me tributes of deer meat and wenches serving me meade…...hey wait a minute…that doesn’t sound too bad.

[if you’re waiting for an apology for the wenches remark forget about it….a joke….smile when you say that…..the older i get the less p.c. i am…..i am what i am and that’s all that i am…popeye reference.]

-- arborial reconfiguration specialist......Zone out....(USA 5)

good idea XplO…

Catspaw, you can have all my honey wine. Surprisingly, not a big fan. You’re on your own for the rest. ;)

-- southern NH. - smack dab in the middle of 5a and 5b - with lots of shade and full sun, in all the wrong places.

hahaha I take the term in the humour it was intended… :)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

in the zone now

if you are in the 5 zone

with an “A”

better then a “B”, in a 4 zone

I just dont get all the fuss, if it dont grow in your garden, pass it on North or South

either way, sooner or later the plant will win and thus we will too

-- Central northish Ontario

that’s true Greenthumb – why not try it.
Someone posted that they grew cotton…. (who said that, anyway?) .. just give it a try. What’s it cost? A couple dollars for seeds.
I really never thought of it that way before.

(but it is nice to see where people are located. My memory refuses to keep all the information available for me… and it’s nice if there is someone nearby and seeds can be hand-delivered).

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Exactly my point Debs. It’s no good someone somewhere dishing out info, without me knowing where they are in the world, or what zone.

No one is asking for your home address, just your location, and zone. That way people can see if the info they are getting, will work for them. Also it’s good to see how a certain plant or tree has done in someone else’s garden picture wise, rather than them just telling you by word of mouth.

Some might hate to admit it, but the old cliche’ ” a picture tells a 1k words”, or something along those lines

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

This grows in 5A and 5B

the mock orange tree about to bloom, what a heavenly scent. It was planted by our late aunt and taken from her fathers farm…...........both her and tree are sadly missed.

Made this at the last house and stupid me forgot to grab it when we moved. I got the idea from a Lee Valley catalogue, and like the photo I planted lillies, and a clematis. I asked the new owner if I could take the plants but he insisted that he was an avid gardener…..........BS. Sadly the gardens are so neglected you wouldnt even know they were there. Last year I stopped at this copper mailbox (that he painted black?) and fed the clematis through the post as it was just liying on the ground.

And the place I lived at with my just me and my daughter had the nicest balcony, covered, big and private yet a view of the lake. I did planters the whole way around that screamed flowers. The neighbors would walk by and give compliments not even knowing I was laying in the hammock

-- Central northish Ontario

you see the little tree in the second picture?............a mulberry?

They grow like umbrellas, branches droop to the ground. Albeit I moved (again) I have one here too and instead of letting the tree droop to the ground which every one does I started pruning it in such a way to get the tree to grow UP, not down. Its been three years now but its slowly working. My intent is to make it grow up and over the sidewalk to creat an entrance, a green gateway/bridge so to speak.

Its my second attempt as in the last house I trimmed/pruned the tree, gave it a hair cut that killed it. This time I ammuch more patient

-- Central northish Ontario

Really nice photos Greenthumb of 5A/5B flowers! :-) Your front porch is very inviting with the various containers going up the steps. I really like that look … had baskets going up my front steps filled with petunias.

Flowers all look so full and healthy!!! Man, seeing these photos just makes me miss summer all that much more!!!

Wishing I had photos to share, but just didn’t take any last summer (except the 2 posted in my project). Guess we were too busy with taking photos of our newest little “flower”, our granddaughter. :-)

Again Greenthumb … n-i-c-e flowers!!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

It is minus 30 degrees C outside…..........hard to believe spring is a month away

-- Central northish Ontario

oh the stories!!! Sad ones; glorious ones; informative ones—I just can’t get enough. Keep writing everyone :)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Ive travelled a fair bit of the world, seen most of the USA and Canada. Not being a real fan of the cold unless I am on a set of skies I gotta say two things.

I think the long frozen winter that covers most of Canada once a year makes Canadians more tolerant, less aggresive in nature, more polite. When I sit in the hot sun for too long I get cranky, my patience seems to wane. I wonder if those who sit in the hot sun for centuries, I wonder if thats the reason they so aggresive and advisarial.

secondly

The Georgian Bay area of Lake Huron is definitly, bar none, one of the prettiest places on this planet in the late spring, summer, and fall. From the Bruce Pennisula and across to the North Shore including Manitouland Island and all the way around the Bay….......always changing, pristine clear waters, always beautiful…....even in the winter.

-- Central northish Ontario

this is my all-time favourite picture, taken at Singing Sands Provincial Park.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Oh Wow … that is quite a picture!!!! Can see why it would be a favorite.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Parry Sound is my favourite place to go.
During my childhood years we always asked to go to Oastler Lake Provincial Park.
Rick and I now stay at a resort area up there, in a one bedroom little cabin by a lake.. oh it is so wonderful.

At Oastler there is a rock that lines one edge of the little cove. I love sitting on it and watching sunrise.

Here is a poem I wrote following a very powerful experience.

Standing on the rock, overlooking the morning waters,
a blanket of fog covers the lake and all that surrounds it~
hiding all its treasures and wonders from my eye.
The gentle touch of the pre-dawn waters caresses the shore
and the soothing sound reaches my ear, touching my soul.
A warm morning breeze, so light and tantalizing
brushes my face with the morning mist,
and runs its fingers through my hair.
The first hint of morning light stretches itself atop the trees
casting a glistening ‘Good Morning’ to all below.
I stand looking at all that has has been placed before me
and I feel like the Creator admiring His work ~
I know that it is good.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life…...
And now I understand.

Boy—the mention of the Georgian Bay area really triggered something for me today. Thank you (and sorry to have taken over this conversation to fill my own needs.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

First of all no apology needed … I’m learning that threads sometimes have “minds” of their owns and that is part of what makes GT such a special place. I believe the majority of us are finding that this is more than just a gardening site. The fact that we CAN share bits of who we are and where we have been is wonderful.

It is a very moving and touching poem Deb. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Well Msd,
I agree with GranT. Very moving and touching!
Happy to see that you are an artist as well in something other than gardening!

Lots of talents on this site! And we are lucky that we can all share and appreciate in the beauty!

Thank You MsD

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

hmmm my rock pictures won’t show up..I’ll have to try another method… always have a backup plan. That’s my philosophy

(thanks for the kind words Grandma T & Eklectic)

ok.. maybe I got it this time.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

yah.. a rock formation :)
and there’s a little dip right where I’m standing in the picture that fits my body perfectly. I have spent many mornings sleeping there, snuggled up in my sleeping bag.

The Singing Sands pix is indeed sand. And I have it enlarged to a small poster size- my daughter has it at the moment.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Okay …awesome rock formation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

phew.. that was close… now I guess I should re-write my poem!!

(I do appreciate the information)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

beautiful poem which brought back memories of my own

Thanks

-- Central northish Ontario

I grew up on Cape Cod, and have moved off the cape a short distance to North Dartmouth (all in Massachusetts). It is zone 7 here because of the jet stream and gulf stream—otherwise we’d be much colder and probably 2 zones lower! It does make our winter warmer, but does not shorten them any.

Hi TreeFarmer, your are close by!
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

I was going to ask which zone is warmer, 5A or 5B?

I am taking by what I am reading here 5A is warmer cause I am also handy 6 and I do have a micro climate spot that is 6 so I was told by the guy who owns the nursery just down from me

So I am in 5A then???

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

I think you are a real Tender: all zone mixed up!!

I have 5, 5a, 5b,and 6 because we are in the forest on 3 sides, fields across the other side and then where it is protected it is warmer and I can grow different plants or at least they grow differently at different pace so…
personally, I am not overly worried about the “Zone”. Just nice to know where people are!

This is obviously my own opinion!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

5-6’ish is me.
SW Ontario.. I just try to keep things within that range and cross my fingers.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I am protected by forest on 3 sides too an still a lot of pines along the front road side

So I think I must areas that are 5 ish to 6 also. 12 min from me is the Atlantic and I know along the shore is 6a or 6

lol,lol as long as the plants grow is all I care, lol,lol

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

hmmmmm, 12 minutes from the Atlantic … nice!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b