Denny's Soapbox

In a recent A.P. article that appeared in the January 26th morning Enquirer titled “New Plant Zones Reflect Warming”, the article referred to the updating of the U.S.D.A Cold Hardiness Zones affecting all of our living plants across the United States. The article went on to say that this change was a result of global warming that is now allowing some trees and shrubs once hardy to just areas to our south to now be doable in northern areas of the country (giant fig tree growing in the Boston area). Before you go to the internet and order a Coconut Palm tree from southern Florida, let’s do a little weather recall of the last 50 years (I was there!). The 1960’s were considered average for its time. In fact the new weather zone being introduced by the U.S.D.A. is the same map that was in existence in the 1960’s. Such plant varieties as Japanese Holly, Mountain and Cherry Laurel, Large Leaf Pyracantha and Southern Magnolia were all being field grown in local nurseries around our Tri-State. Then enter the cold and frigid mid to late 1970’s and early 1980’s. (The Freezer Bowl at Riverfront in January 1982 and the freeze over of the Ohio River in January 1977 to name two) most of the fore mentioned plants growing in the field froze to the ground or lower. Our industry could not give away Ilex ‘Hetzi’, Laurels, and many varieties of Azaleas that were supposed to be cold hardy. There was no mention of global warming then nor should there be now. I’ve nicknamed this geographic area that we call home “Yo-Yo Ville” because of its ever changing temps any season of the year, especially mid-March through mid-October. We can see a 60° change in the weather in 36 to 48 hours. Examine the new low temperature range of the new U.S.D.A Zone map and you will discover that the government only raised our existing lowest temps by 5 degrees. There’s not much difference between -5 and -10 for average low temperature. Check out the Farmer’s Almanac for the past 100 years and you’ll see temperatures, both hot and cold, all over the place. As we approach another growing season, I recommend that you keep purchasing trees, shrubs and perennials that have proven their livability through both mild and extreme cold winter conditions. I would also add summer tolerance for heat, drought, and excessive moisture for plant performance too. Just think of the term average. To be an average temperature of 0°, you have to have temps of -10° to balance those years of +10°

They all need to sleep. All living plants need a yearly rest period for their survival. This period occurs during the short day light periods of the year. Some of those same plants need cool to cold weather to rest. This group of plants also produce their own anti-freeze to keep them alive during that period. Other plant families need a warm climate to rest as they produce no anti-freeze. That is why here we have Maple trees for shade and Florida has Palm trees to break the sun.

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Contact Denny McKeown, owner of Bloomin Garden Centre in Blue Ash, at www.bloomingarden.com