How To Get The Most Benefit From FlowerChick.com

Welcome to Flower Chick.com! Here’s the best way to navigate this garden resource site. First, check out the drop down gardening categories list at the top of this page. Each category listing offers specific articles with Zone 5 & 6 plant recommendations and practical, no nonsense advice to put you on the right path.

Also, to your right, is our “Newest Posts” menu with links to helpful individual articles …

What and Where Are Zone 5 & Zone 6?

There are 11 planting zones on the USDA Plant Hardiness Map in the contiguous United States and southern Canada. The regions are basically defined by a 10 degree Fahrenheit difference in the average annual minimum temperature (the coldest recorded temps in the winter).

To put the definition in normal speak, the higher the numbers, the warmer the temperatures for gardening in those areas. The Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a given location.

Zone 5, where I live, encompasses a large area…running through parts of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois and Indiana, and a large portion of Michigan. Zone 5 also includes parts of Pennsylvania and New York, up to segments of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and even the southern portion of Maine. Zone 6, as you would guess, is immediately adjacent to Zone 5. (Zone 5 depicted in “Green” and Zone 6 in “Yellow” on the map below) Click the map for a larger view …

Right Plant in the Right Spot = Gardening Success

When you purchase a plant, the plant tag generally will show the coldest plant hardiness zone in which the plant will survive through the winter. Although this is not a guarantee, it’s a good starting point. Besides the zone, keep in mind local variations like moisture, soil, winds, and other conditions. All these might affect the viability of individual plants …

Occasionally, zones are reclassified due to increasing minimum winter temperatures … which can slightly shift zones higher. I prefer to go by the original classification so the plants selected have a better chance of survival.

For a handy tool to check what zone you reside in go to Zone By Zip and plug in your zip code and the plant hardiness zone will pop up.

Check out our “Visiting Midwest Gardens” series!

Need a little Zone 5 & 6 gardening inspiration? Get inspired by the Midwest’s gorgeous botanical gardens, arboretums, and other stunning horticultural attractions!

Join us as we visit these wonderful Zone 5 & Zone 6 sites. Follow along and plan your own trips … you’ll even find a guide of local attractions (with an emphasis on independent businesses) to enjoy in the various towns and cities.  Come back often as we keep adding new posts to our Illinois Gardens , Indiana Gardens, Iowa Gardens, Michigan Gardens & Wisconsin Gardens categories. 

Click on each state’s page (above) to discover the Midwest’s most beautiful public gardens!

 

 

Sunny Spring Tulip Display at Morton Arboretum In Lisle IL

 

In our most recent “Visiting Midwest Gardens” feature, Flower Chick  revisits the splendid gardens in Rockford, IL.   Known as the “City of Gardens”, this city of 150,000 is just a few miles south of the Illinois-Wisconsin border, in the heart of gardening Zone 5. A short 90 minute drive from Chicago, Rockford is not often thought of as a tourist destination.

Look a little closer, though, and you’ll discover some wonderful places to spend time and visit. Leading the way are three of Rockford’s well known garden attractions, conveniently located within ten minutes of one another … Read Full Post Here

Best Gifts For Gardeners – Flower Chick’s Top Suggestions For Every Budget 

It’s always a great time to give or receive a gift! Need inspiration for family and friend gardening enthusiasts?  Explore Flower Chick’s personally selected, favorite garden-inspired gift ideas.  All are items you’ll love to give … or receive!  There’s something for everyone on your list from $9.99 – $499.99 … Flower Chick’s 64 Best Gifts For Gardeners – Click Here To See

Helpful Reference …

Do you find yourself baffled about gardening terms, what they mean, and how to apply the knowledge to your garden? We’re here to help! Check out our new “A – Z Gardening Terms” page … it’s a comprehensive alphabetical list of commonly used gardening terms and what they mean (and how they’ll help you). From “bare root” to “wet feet”, Flower Chick explains it all in easy-to-understand terms …

FlowerChick.com … Here’s the Scoop:

I’m Laura Hofman and my husband Jim and I developed FlowerChick.com to help Zone 5 & 6 gardeners create, maintain, and enjoy your garden …

We’ve been gardening in Zone 5 and at the edge of Zone 6 for over 30 years. During that time I’ve become a “go to” person among friends and family for practical, straightforward gardening advice. A long time friend dubbed me “Flower Chick” many years ago and the nickname kind of stuck! When we decided to develop a website to help other Zone 5 & 6 gardeners, FlowerChick.com became a reality …

Discover Flowers To Attract Hummingbirds … This Cardinal Flower Is A Hummer Magnet!

We cordially invite you to explore our site. To your right, there’s a list of helpful gardening how-to articles on just about every topic imaginable! Our menu at the top of the page groups all our site’s articles by category. We add to FlowerChick.com frequently, so please check back often … we are your Zone 5 & 6 gardening resource.

Most of all, have fun and enjoy your garden!

All the best,

Laura Hofman, aka “Flower Chick”

Follow me on Twitter … for outdoor & indoor plant tips, dog friendly garden advice, rose care suggestions, Zone 5 & Zone 6 garden visits and much more…@FlowerChick826

Jim Hofman (FlowerChick.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Ahhh – Spring Personified At Lilacia Park in Lombard IL