I have lots of trees here, but they aren't in the best spot for making shade gardens that can be viewed from the house. There is a really good shade garden on the East side of the house, but it's where I won't be very often because of the location. It's also a small bed, and we put the dog kennel there for now. The dogs never actually spend more than 5 minutes at a time in the kennel, but there is no way we'll put it in the sun. So for now, I'll just have to deal with things as they are.

I think my new zone is 7b, but it might be 7a. In town, it's 7b, but we're about 800 feet higher. Town is just a post office and nothing more, which is awesome. I stopped at the only nursery in the next town today, but they didn't know the zone for my location. I'll figure it out eventually though. I just know it's warmer in winter than it was in Utah, which is wonderful!

Just go to this website and put in your new zip code.

http://planthardiness.ars.usda...

Susan, I've done that, and it says 7b, but I'm not so sure that it's actually 7b at my house. It's probably closer to 7a. We live in a steep river canyon, and are higher up than town is.

That's good, I know the Hostas will love it there. My zone is a bit warm because they love a good cold spell. I don't know anything about elevations, I am about 20' above sea level.

I'm at about 1,600 feet, but was at 4,600 feet in Utah. I know for sure that the winters aren't as bad here where we are in Idaho, but we do get cold and snow, so the hosta will be happy, along with all the other stuff that like cold and snow over winter. I don't think there will be a thick blanket of snow in winter, since our property is south facing, but it does get a good amount of freeze here. At least I'm not expecting 3 to 4 feet of snow to be on the ground all winter long, like it was in Utah!

Yikes! Gulp!

Hostas are tough buggers arent they!!!!

I dug some up last week (big clay clumps!!) and sat them in the yard for two days while its been raining -- I think they are trying to grow in to the ground (grass) where I left them!! LOL!!!

Christine, you got that right! I was shocked at how much they grew while stuck in those bags! They are doing fantastic too, now that they are in the ground!