You are most likely on the cusp between Sunset zones 4&5, but I'm not sure I'd be too concerned one way or the other. Sunset is overly conservative in its hardiness ratings and while it can be a handy guide, it's hardly what I'd call a definitive resource :-) And the Sunset hardiness rating system tends to be far less widely accepted or acknowledged than the USDA zonal rating system. For one, very few growers bother to rate their plants with both zone systems.......the USDA info is predominate and is much more widely used and accepted. And remember that hardiness zones are just guidelines anyway - scores of local GW members have demonstrated the ability to grow plants here with great success that are generally considered outside of this zone. IMO, soil conditions and lack of summer heat play just as great a role in longterm plant success here as does winter cold. Unless you are up into the Cascade foothills (a bit of a stretch for the Maltby area) you are in USDA zone 8. And if you live on the lake (lakeshore property), that should have a moderating influence that will put you firmly into zone 8. Every garden has individual microclimates, so some protected areas may be warmer; others more exposed, colder. Deer problems seem to be an issue anywhere in a more suburban to rural setting, so planning ahead for that seems prudent. A gardening friend living in the Issaquah highlands also has to deal with elk wandering through her garden and while they may not do as much browsing damage as do the deer, their huge size and resultant trampling of plants has just as a great an impact. Even fencing doesn't seem to deter them much. Good luck!!

If your address is San Fernando Valley, California, you are on the edge of the peony growing area. We usually figure that about 400 hours of winter chilling is the minimum needed for herbaceous peonies to bloom. Even then they need to planted so shallowly that the buds for next years growth are subject to air temperature not soil temperature. If you call your county extension service office they will be able to tell you the average yearly chilling hours for where you live. Al

Hi Sherri! It's okay, take a deep breath..."in, out, in out....slowly" The swap for MNF this month is called MNF A is for August. See if you can pull that up. Gladys is hosting that one. Sometimes a post will have NEW in front of the thread. That means it's still open for signups. Does any of that help? Linda

Hello everyone!!! I’m a complete newbie. I got a rose in a pot as a gift (Now I’m helplessly in love) I tried to make sense over the google, but information is simply too much for me to handle.. I already dealt with sawfly larva and mildew. But now my pot rose is suddenly changing!!! One is more like (please forgive me, if I’m wrong) an english tea rose, many petals, coral pink color. But now it produced 4 flowers, dark red, almost like classic Lincoln! Is that possible? Gonna add some photos, to show the difference.