I would go for it Rick, I think your location is looking even more encouraging, since it is really a zone 7 and not too wet, I'm guessing. Here in NM, pomegranate does very well throughout the middle and lower Rio Grande Valley, with no protection, and no obvious dieback. Most of this area is in zones 7 and 8, but single digits are not that uncommon, especially where cold air settles in the lowest part of the valley. Some of these areas have reached record lows of -19F! I believe this was in the 1970's, but I would be surprised if there aren't at least some tender plants surviving from before that time. There are some very old pomegranate and fig trees in Albuquerque. I'm experimenting with some pomegranates here in my zone6/7 area and so far so good. I'll be able to say more when/if I get fruit. I started with hardwood cuttings which take very easily, so I think this is a plant that is very condusive to experimentation, since it is easily propagated, and grows well with a mimimum of care. Siting in a warm microclimate is definitely very helpful, as others have already mentioned. Good luck

Thanks so much! I think many of the previous posters trickled away when Gardenweb became Houzz. I did prefer it before, but it still works! Eboone, can you direct me to instructions on winter protection? There's little I wouldn't do for my figs! Gary, my plants were in pots from 2011 until fall 2017 due to moving around a lot. Sal's did fine, Both Hardy Chicago did fine until I planted it in the ground (one of 2 died which I can't explain, but the remaining one is doing fabulously.) In my last real home in Maryland (also 7A), I had Sal's in the ground and Celeste. Sal's was amazing, despite significant die-back in the winters I had plenty of amazing figs. Celeste grew large but never produced figs before I moved away. My deceased plants this spring are one HC, Conadria (which was given to me and had never thrived), and a Brown Turkey, also a gift, and also didn't like my handling. I have been pinching the fruit babies for the last 6 years because I didn't want the trees wasting energy, but they died back anyway. This year, Sal's and Hardy Chicago are producing figs, especially HC, but I'm still pinching many in the hopes the plants will stabilize and produce good crops next year. I've have had 2-3 Celestes die on me since 2011. I keep trying, because I've heard such good things about Celeste, thinking they just don't like being in pots. The one I bought and planted in the ground last year is alive....but I can't really comment beyond that. My Violette de Bordeau has struggled in the pot....most springs I thought it was dead but it rallied. I've had it for 4-5-6 years? It was one of the first I planted in the ground last year in the hope of saving it. It came back much stronger this spring. Still nothing like Hardy Chicago or Sal's, but at least I think I don't worry about it dying anymore. LSU purple was new last year, and it survived---barely. Eboone, thanks for the suggestions! I'll start looking around! By the way, can either of you tell me when is the season to make cuttings? I used to root them in damp paper towels with good success, but I don't remember what time of year I did it, and the last batch I tried did very poorly.... Thanks so much! Ann

I'm very new to peonies and so I have no real advice, but I did have a similar experience last year. I planted new bare roots in early December in my zone 5 garden after buying some from an end-of-season sale. The ground was nearly frozen! They grew reasonably well this spring and even bloomed! I'll have to move them again this November - we're having a new patio put in and the contractor is 2 months behind due to the rainy summer we had. The peony bed is going to be dug up and moved so I'll have to move all the plants into a new spot. I'm hoping they'll be fine! Congratulations on the new perfect house!

HU5….......4, Are you planning to provide winter protection for your Celeste? Celeste is a Southern variety. Your winter is too harsh on an unprotected tree for it to thrive for you. Even Chicago Hardy will need winter protection in your zone. Alternatively, your Celeste, depending on its size, may be grown pot cultured. If you can get the majority of its root mass into a pot, I would suggest pot culture. In my case, a 15 gallon pot is too large to move easily. I find 10 gallon pots to work best for me. One last point.....Does the Celeste grow and fruit in the zone 7 garden of the current owner? A 5 year old fig tree should be producing a crop. How does the current owner get the Celeste through the winter? Moses