Written by Sylvia Briggs-Bauer
As you are most likely familiar, the USDA organizes different climates for growing plants in the United States as zones. Areas are color coded on a map from 1A – coldest temperatures- to 13B – warmest temperatures. You can easily search up a map of these zones online if you are interested. The Bellingham-Whatcom County area is shaded in yellow, which represents 8A/8B. This will not come as a surprise; our climate is moderate. Based on this information, you can figure out how much protection a plant needs in the winter months depending on what zone your species of plant typically grows in.
Sylvia Briggs-Bauer
Sophomore at Bellingham High School
Environmental Youth Activist & Author of
Columbia Nature News
Sylvia is a member of the Whatcom Horticultural Society and contributor to our newsletter. She is a 10th-grade student at Bellingham High School who caught our eye through her informative creation of the Columbia Neighborhood Nature News. We are excited to work with her! To find out more about Sylvia Briggs-Brauer, click here to check out the Whatcom Talks article.
