George, Fairfield is about 60 miles N of us. (That's where my husband works.) Our farm, in turn, is about 60 miles N of Huntsville. And they (Fairfield) usually seem a bit hotter/colder and drier than we are. We get more rain up from the Gulf (and over from you guys, of course). Like I said, I think I'm in "ish" zone <G>! martha Oh, BTW: If any gardeners are also backyard poultry enthusiasts, I read recently that the hatcheries (Murray McMurray, Sandhill Preservation, Stromburgs, etc.) will be not doing any more mail order chicks in the future. Airlines have started refusing to renegotiate any more contracts, thanks to PETA boycotts and lawsuits. Many of these hatcheries were doing an excellent job of preserving the heirloom species and now it'll be up to the individual farms and backyard breeders to keep them going. Just another nail in the small farmstead coffin. martha