The 2006 Arbor Day foundation map puts the twin cities in zone 5 more or less. The problem with zone maps is they are usually just a map of winter minimum temps averaged over so many years. If only hardiness was that simple.

Have no idea when they will be out, but I'm sure confused. Being in Zone 3 we up here sometimes push the zone factor and have success with zone 4 plants. And really fail with others.(Endless Summer). But I understand they are putting us in zone 4...Wonder if the seed catalogs and nurseries will change their zone limits?

Some say that the Arbor Day Foundation doesn't have enough data on which to base a zone change. I do know that Mpls./St. Paul is 10 days to 2 weeks ahead of us "out on the prairie folk in bloom times.At least that's true in the spring, or maybe I just notice it more in the spring when I'm starved for some color.

I am staying with zone 4 for now. The wind whips around up on our hill and it can get mighty cold in the winter.