I work for an architectural firm in NYC. Our company is involved in the landscaping of a new condo going up in Harlem.

While we have specified plantings in other projects in the past, this is the first time that we will be actively involved with a landscape architect. The LA will be in charge of the actual design of the gardens, NOT in the chosing of the materials.. This is the first time we will be involved in designing something with any real significance - not just sticking some trees and bushes into the ground LOL. So, we want to be able to really make an impact with our choices but make smart choices too.

Anyway - I personally know quite a bit but about landscaping issues in our area but must admit to being more familiar with my home Zone 6A.

I'm having some difficulty establishing what Zone NYC actually falls into. For some reason, I assumed it would be one of the 6's, but when I looked online it was coming up as 7. Is this possible? Could this be because of the heat effect of being in the City?

Also, I could use some guidance towards some websites which would help us in starting off our search for appropriate plantings. The landscape architect is coming into our office tomorrow (Saturday), however, she is my bosses sister in from California and not all that familiar with our native plantings. As mentioned, she is on the project just for designs, not for the picking of plants. AS a side mention, she has been featured on Landscaper's Challenge on HDTV.

Anyway, any help you can give would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Laurie

Both the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (www.bbg.org) and the NY Botanic Garden (www.nybg.org) have plant information on their websites. I don't know the answer to the zone question myself, but I think both those gardens have phone hotlines that could probably tell you. If you don't mind going off-line both those gardens have horticultural libraries open to the public, as does the Horticultural Society of New York (www.hsny.org), which is now on 37th Street in Manhattan.

WW

New York City is mostly zone 7a.

If you are interested in roses, take a look at the Manhattan Rose Society website for its program which begin March 15th:

www.manhattanrosesociety.org

Navigate to Upcoming Events and open the pdf files about the Great Rosarian event at NYBG and BBG on March 15th and the other pdf which is the newsletter.

Gene