Yeah very interesting weather. Once again its been a very cool spring and early summer. We did hit 100's not too long ago but most days have been running under average. Its going to rain, which is very rare for California to see in summer.
- US_Marine

it is quite strange how the extremes are so extreme. what amazes me is how yesterday we had a record high of 106 and not just 4 months ago in February we had a record low of -22.
Sure makes it hard to figure out what to grow.

I skimmed through it and its interesting how climate change affected the past year. It was extremely hot the past summer and extremely cold and snowy.

If the cold winters and the natural disasters could be avoided warmer temps could be a good thing for people growing hardy palms. The zones are slowly getting warmer on older maps my area is a zone 6 on newer ones its a zone 7. Maybe it will be a zone 8 one day.

It was an interesting read. Definitely an eye opener but leaving out alot of variables and causes for the Earth's rise in temps. I agree the weather has been a little nuts the past year and a half. I hope it levels off and returns to a more normal pattern.

I read the article and it confirmed what many of us gardeners already knew--the weather has grown increasingly dramatic in recent years--record snow, cold, heat, wind, floods, and drought. I believe world climate is still in a state of flux and moving toward a new "normal". (Don't think anyone knows exactly what that will be like.) Yeah, you might be able to grow more palms in current zones 6-8 but they better be drought (and heat) tolerant. Not looking forward to regular and routine water restrictions as a way of life. What's happening in Texas and other southern areas in terms of extreme drought is just plain scary.

I think it would freak people out if we had a non winter
after the last 3 or 4 (-;....in my opinion we could see a
non event or the worst one yet.
It will be interesting to see what happens!

The weather has been seriously bi-polar lately!

I am not sure of whats going to happen. Its been 3 years since we hit single digits and that was a dry winter. The last two winters have had lows of 14 degrees, and lots of snow and rain. We may be getting warmer, but the climate is more drastic. I think this is going to hurt our gardens more, because they will not have a transition period which is what happen last Dec. I don't want to have the same thing happen here that happened in Texas.

It would be cool if my zone is getting warmer as well. Could be interesting. Its got me thinking, will it be warm enough to grow coconut palms?! lol. One made it into mid Feb here. With a warmer winter, and a lucky warm micro-climate it might be enough to pull it through. But getting warmer and less frost is worth it too.

I think you will be able to grow coconut palm.