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It’s just like the song says, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” Such was the case for me when I moved from zone 6b to a much less hospitable zone 5a. That may not seem like much of a change nor did I think so either at the time. But it meant the cruel difference between living in a place where the cherished offspring of my mother’s prized twenty-plus-year-old Hydrangea could live and bloom happily and not. I was devastated even though I knew there were a multitude of other Hydrangea cultivars to choose from which wouldn’t mind the harsher zone in which I currently reside. The thing was I had a sentimental attachment to that particular Hydrangea and it killed me that I couldn’t grow it where I lived.
Alas, that was my bitter introduction into hardiness zones and I realized I wasn’t the only one lamenting its brutality when several people came to me with withered and broken plants bemoaning “Why can’t I grow this here?” Many people decry it is far better in any other zone than the one they are in because they can’t grow their own favorite flower, tree or shrub. That’s the grass-is-always-greener mentality, Zone Envy to be exact. This is totally irrational. There are good things and bad things about all zones. It merely depends on your gardening point of view.
To my utter astonishment, even my own mother, who lives in an extremely pleasant tropical zone 9 in the Carribean fretted and pouted when I told her, though gently, that she just couldn’t grow Tulips where she lives because they require a cold spell to prompt them into blooming and also their dry, blistering summer heat they wouldn’t be able to tolerate. Of course, like any good daughter, I did tell her she could keep the bulbs in the fridge during those hot times but that seemed too much of a bother for her. My father scoffed saying there are plenty of other easy to grow tropical things and she should be content with that. I have to admit I secretly agreed being she has dozens of orchids and other luscious tropical vines and flowering plants that any garden enthusiast would die for. And she was whining about Tulips? Heck, yeah, she should be content!
But should she really? Should any of us be content with our lot, or should I say, Zone in life? As one who likes to press the boundaries imposed on us gardeners with such devious devises like the dreaded Zone Map, I say not. Because I will always lament the lose of my mother’s heirloom Hydrangea I like to do all within my power to defy my Zone and I’d like to help others and encourage them to do the same.
I gave my mother an alternative to living without the Tulip. It was to live with it on its own terms. By planting the Tulips in pots that could easily go into the refrigerator, then brought out to bloom as any forced bulb does and after they finish blooming, during the hot, dry summer’s of the tropics Mom could stick it back into the fridge. With a bit of effort my mother could have her Tulips in the un-hospitable (For spring blooming bulbs, that is) tropics. Yes, it does take a bit more effort but for some it would be worth it rather than living without them. It’s all up to the individual gardener to say where they draw the line.
Stretching the inventiveness of gardeners is usually reserved for those of us who have to live with short growing seasons but I can’t say I wouldn’t do all within my power to keep my cool-weather plants were I to be transplanted to a more temperate climate. We can’t help it. Winter is so dreary and summer being so heavenly, can you blame us for wanting less of one and more of the other? From cold frames, greenhouses and mulch a foot deep to digging deep trenches in which to bury our roses for a protected, long winter rest, we gardeners are willing to do just about anything for our favorites. Are we nuts? Probably. What’s your point?
Well, my point is this: don’t be too quick to believe that tiny tag at the garden center. You may live in Zone 3 and the tag says the plant only can make it to Zone 4 but you have it in you to be as tenacious as those perennial dandelions you always have to pull out of the flower beds. You don’t have to quit until you want to. Try and try again. It hurts nothing to try and some plants may surprise you. They have done so for me. Creating micro-climates within your yard using brick or stone walls, extra protection using mulch or just bringing the precious plant inside for the winter and you too could have your absolute favorite plant no matter in what Zone you reside. It’s all up to you and what you’re willing to do for your baby. The lesson to learn here is we can defy our Zone and we should.
So, take that, you nasty Zone map and ruiner of gardening dreams! We won’t kowtow to you no more! Yeah, I know. Bit over the top. Indeed I may be nuts, but it’s nice to think we have control even when we don’t. Such is the fate of the manic gardener. Deluding ourselves every once in a while hurts nothing and who knows? We might be able to, occasionally, have our Tulips and Orchids too.
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 visit http://www.helium.com/user/32782 for more amazing garden info, entertaining short stories and intriguing Novel excerpts.
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