Dear All: Many thanks to all of you for your comments on Climate Zones. Lee Poulson your comments were much appreciated, thanks. Roger Whitlock's remarks were also to the point, and I liked his remarks about being precise and assuming nothing, just how far are you Roger from the coast? Jamie Vende stating the zone maps are to be used as a guide only, I think is correct. But perhaps the most startling news was from Tony Avent saying a new map was in the works, while I read a lot, I had not heard this before. Tony, is there a link where we can find out more about this? For some reason I did not receive the paragraph about this with your message. Jim Shields remark regarding the temperature being lower in the country, than in the town was quite thought provoking. It made me wonder if being close to a major thoroughfare also had an influence. I do think the climate is warming, but surely this has been going on for many years. Way back when the Thames river ( Roger I refer to the Thames in London, England, comprising parts of the counties of Kent, Middlesex, Essex and Surrey and a few others) used to freeze over and people walked across the Thames, this in the 17th ad 18th centuries. The ice was several feet thick. All who made comments I thank, I do feel such comments as were made, have been, at least to me, beneficial. Why did I ask? I have to lecture in Kansas City, Zone 5, and as I have spent the last 20+ years of my life in California, I had to think about which species I mentioned and various factors, found in a garden, north side versus south side of structures, if the sun hit an area early or late, and other such factors. I am still wondering is soil heating cables could be used effectively in an open border. Cheers, John E. Bryan