Thanks for the reminder, I added mine :)

I like the rantful Nancy. So, for those not listing their zone, are they playing zone defense?

This post was edited by cactusmcharris on Fri, Aug 15, 14 at 17:23

Sorry; I thought I had added my zone to my post when I made my topic!

Also I wasn't aware I could also put it in my profile, so thanks for that info!

LOL, Jeff! They must be....and they're GOOD at it! :)

D and I, thank you!

Nancy

Why does my zone show on some posts but not others?

It appears Nancy Drew a line in the sand...;-)

Whenever folks are asked to provide their zone I always add that your state is also helpful as zone 6 Utah varies from zone 6 Ohio.

tj

Should we remind the suxs what zone there in too ?

Thanks! I haven't heard a Nancy Drew joke in almost 25 years!
:P

Nancy

Zone 42 here.

Good reminder, Nancy...

It's also incredibly useful to give some idea of location. I think this is most important for the "warmer" zones.

For example Miami, San Francisco and Phoenix (parts) are zone 10. Miami is nearly tropical, warm and humid. Phoenix is extremely hot and dry. San Francisco is cool and foggy. A completely different set of plants thrive in all three places. Just giving the USDA zone doesn't help much when it comes to zones 9-10.

Of course just specifying California zone 10 is not enough. Some such locations have average highs in the low 60s in August, others average almost 50 degrees warmer.

Below are two examples what "zone 10" looks like, just in the state of California.

I don't mean to confuse the newbies. However, particularly for people in zone 9 and 10, additional mention of a state is crucial. For those in California some extra information, such as Sunset zone, city, zip code, etc. is appropriate.

Any thoughts on including elevation too ? 1000 feet in any zone 7 is different than 400 feet in any zone 7

I think the point is to give whatever minimal information that defines one's climate. Gardenweb gives us very little space, so it needs to be kept simple.

The goal is to allow others to understand what plants will grow in one's area.

If someone said they lived in Virginia, zone 7, 1000 ft, would others (let's say people in VA) conclude that they had a significantly different climate, and could grow a completely different set of plants than someone nearby at 400 ft? I suspect "zone 7 VA" conveys the necessary info.

However, the climate in zone 7 VA is radically different from zone 7 WA. And within Washington state, climates as diverse as rainy Olympia, incredibly snowy areas of the Cascade Mountains, and parts of dry Eastern WA are all zone 7. Additional information beyond just the state is appropriate in WA. For example: Zone 7 WA Sunset zone 4 or zone 7 Olympia WA.

Again, the goal should be to avoid confusion, and it needs be kept simple. Zone, state, and additional info if necessary (Sunset zone or city or zip code, etc.).

Exactly, Mark, exactly! :)

I used to work in a nursery and, while not exactly the same thing as growing zones, when asked where a certain plant that needed "help" was located at a person's house, on average, 3 out of 10 customers would answer along the lines of "under my kitchen window". The answer I was looking for was north, south, east or west!

Nancy

Another point would be: Photos...lots and lots of photos, the more the better (up to 3 or 4 at least)...and please don't post fuzzy shots that hurt our eyes, or shots posted sideways.

There are ways to fix them...use them.