Dumb question about zones

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by WadeT, Jul 22, 2005.

  1. WadeT

    WadeT Active Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    Federal Way, WA - zone 8
    I'm trying to understand what actually criteria make a number specified to a certain area. For example, I've never been able to understand how come Douglas Firs are almost always listed zones 3-6. Here, near Seattle, we are zone 8 yet Douglas firs practically grow like weeds in a year on tilled up dirt. And, there are many large 80ft. Douglas Firs around my neighborhood including a large Western Hemlock(not sure what zone they are) in my back yard.

    Can someone explain this? :)

    Thanks!
     
  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    That would be a mistake.
     
  3. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    It was probably a specification for Rocky Mts Douglas-fir that you saw.

    Coast Douglas-fir grows in zones 7-9.
     
  4. WadeT

    WadeT Active Member 10 Years

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    Thanks Michael.

    I still find it strange how Seattle can be zone 8 as well as parts of Northern Texas - which is nothing like the PNW.

    Oh well. :)

    Thanks.
     
  5. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    USDA Hardiness Zones address average annual minimum termperatures only, not the whole climate.
     
  6. WadeT

    WadeT Active Member 10 Years

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    Okay, that makes sense. Told ya it was a dumb question. :)

    Thanks Ron.
     
  7. douglas

    douglas Active Member 10 Years

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    HI

    Do you know the ledgend of the mouse tails that hang out of the Douglas fir cones?

    Anyone??

    Regards Doug
     
  8. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    From zones to cones?
     
  9. douglas

    douglas Active Member 10 Years

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    Hey

    why not?? if the mouse tail helps people to id the douglas fir on this continent. Do zones really matter?

    Maybe being able to Id the tree will help, to Id the Zone

    The Story ( as I heard it)

    A long time ago
    when all things talked
    there was a very cold winter
    The mice had no where to go
    they talked to the great firs
    The firs opened thier cones
    and the mice climbed inn
    to keep warm, However against the agreement
    a mouse ate the seeds of the fir so the mighty fir closed it's cones
    traping the mice/ and that is why when you see a Douglas fir there are mice tails hanging out of the cones ;)

    Regards Doug
     
  10. douglas

    douglas Active Member 10 Years

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    Hi
    Zones to cones

    As far I can find there is no diffinitive book that states accurately what zones a garden may be in .Zonal listings are a genneral thing.

    Case in point in the lower mainland of B.C from vancouver to to Hope there are @37 zones ( the toughest area in North America to forcast whether)

    There fore in my opinion the best way to tell is to check the local flora
     
  11. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Natural distribution of wild plants is affected by multiple factors, winter climate being but one of them. Cultivated plants occur where they have been marketed successfully and struck a nerve with consumers. They are also subject to fashion, with some disappearing because they no longer appeal to popular taste, rather than because the local weather killed them off. Many others, which are known to have been sold recently in a particular area, may be very hard to spot from a sidewalk or car.

    Learning what may work on a particular site is learned from visiting nurseries, parks, public gardens and other private gardens in the same region, as well as reading about plants and gardening.
     

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