The oxalis is cheering us all up with it’s bright yellow flowers, the manzanitas are in bloom, the wild roses and black walnuts are leafing out. Is this normal? I don’t know, I just moved to Southern California from northern Minnesota a few months ago…..but according to The National Arbor Day Foundation things are changing. They recently completed an extensive updating of U.S. Hardiness Zones, based upon data from 5,000 National Climatic Data Center cooperative stations across the continental United States. Many of the hardiness zones have now officially changed.

Click here and hit play to view an animated map illustrating how the hardiness zones have changed from 1990 to 2006. Click here to type in your zipcode and find out suggested trees to plant in your area. Consider planting trees that are edible in some way, support your local nurseries by buying trees from them, and start planning for April 27th (National Arbor Day – and my birthday too!).