Spring is here! Spring is here! It’s the best time of the year! Those of us who love digging in the dirt have been waiting anxiously for planting time. We’ve dreamed of warmer days for months.
We’ve poured over seed catalogs, visited our favorite websites and sketched up our gardens and flower beds and got out our tools. Some of us who got warm weather last week have even bought some plants in preparation for our gardening season.

But wait! Don’t plant just yet. The USDA changed hardiness zones last year. Now is the time to double check your number.

plant hardiness zone map Tennessee MyWAHMPlan.com
Courtesy: USDA

2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones. 

It's easy to check your zone: go HERE, type in your zip code and/or state to see your personalized map. This site puts my hardiness zone as a 7 as seen on the above map.




Better Homes and Gardens (my second bible) has in depth gardening by region information as well. Go HERE to find out what they say your planting zone is and get a free personalized garden plan by going HERE.

 This site puts me in a zone 6.

What does this mean to me? I’m going to follow both guidelines and ask lots of questions at my local nursery if I fall in love with a plant I have not personally worked with before.

What plants are you looking forward to growing this year? My yen this year is Hollyhocks, Sunflowers. My new addition, which according to my ever helpful Better Homes and Gardens regional planting guide says will grow splendidly here, is Fleabane


Fleabane flowers MyWAHMPlan.com
Courtesy: B.H.G.com

Fleabane Description and growing Information:

This tall wildflower produces tiny, daisy-like flowers in great clouds in late summer into early fall. It is often mistaken for an aster, but is easier to grow and isn't plagued by fungal problems. Plants start blooming in midsummer and often continue blooming until fall. The native forms are seldom grown in the garden because they can be weedy, though they're great for naturalized areas and prairie or meadow plantings. However, many well-behaved, beautiful hybrids are available. All are beautiful when cut in big sprays and arranged in a vase.

Light:
Sun

Zones:
3-9

Plant Type:
Perennial

Plant Height:
18-30 inches tall

Plant Width:
18-24 inches wide

Landscape Uses:
Containers,Beds & Borders

Special Features:
Flowers, Cut Flowers, Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Easy to Grow. 

Isn't Fleabane pretty?  If you have had experience with this plant, please let me know in the comments and happy spring!





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