USDA has issued a new zone hardiness map:

[hedgehog]

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html

This is the map we gardeners use to figure out what plants we can grow. Since I've lived here, I've gone from Zone 4 to Zone 6!

[ProdigalJunkMail]

1. still in 7 here... n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Thank you thank you thank you!

I have been waiting for 9 years for this to finally release!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The original contract to AHS was rejected (Bushie "global warming" denial). Then they decided to add more years of data and more data sites onto it. Then it was supposed to be down to a high level of granularity, etc. etc.

OMG I have been checking their site like every couple months or so since 2003 and checking Garden Web for Kim Kaplan's final announcement.

WAY TO GO DU and thank you so much hedgehog (I know you think I'm weird now...lol)!!!!!

[hedgehog]

5. Hey, I think I have the corner on weird!

[cthulu2016]

3. Wow... so is crepe myrtle now viable on Long Island?!

I think so. It used to be okay in Richmond but borderline in DC.

Also, check out how PR is so much hotter than HI.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. We have crape myrtle growing as trees here in the Philly area

and surrounding suburbs. There have recently been some hardier ones available but in general, they are no longer dying to the ground and are getting to full mature size.

They finally made all of Philly either 7a or 7b.