I did some raster math to compare the 2012 plant hardiness zones to the 2023 plant hardiness zones. Most of the state was bumped up one zone, though many of the higher elevation areas remained in the same zones.
Interestingly enough, the Western Catskills actually fell back one or two colder Plant Hardiness Zones with the latest maps while the most of the state advanced to a warmer plant hardiness zones. The Western Catskills had a handful of particularly cold mornings in recent years, though maybe it's also an artifact of how PRISM krigings the temperature data.
I am also not convinced the area around Chautauqua Lake jumping from 5B to 6B or the Southern part of the Tug going from 5A to 6A. It's possible, but I am thinking it's a kriging artifact.
The 2012 Plant Hardiness Zones were really old data, 1975-2006, even at the time they were released. The 2023 Plant Hardiness Zones are 1990-2020, which is much more up to date. This is very problematic as the late 1970s were an exceptionally cold winters in New York's history. Old Forge hit negative 52, on February 18, 1979 which throws everything off.
Minor edits to this map on 11/7. Basically rather then comparing them using raster math, I did the contours separately for each year and then joined them against and did the math on the vector. Rethinking it, the later method is more accurate then with raster method, at least in comparison of other maps. That said, either way the result is very similar, we are talking about splitting fractions of a degree, which make the categories slightly different. Like anything, it's a matter of how you ask the question and the methods used.
It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring. That said, they are much too gleeful about that line in song on this ever so wet Monday. Maybe because it’s a Monday, and rain is a good thing, so things will green up and not burn well except for those things we want to burn. Fuck the liberals and the Trumpster.
Up early this morning, busing it in with the rain. I might catch the early express downtown so I can walk laps on the Plaza in the morning before work. I figure with the rain I won’t be able to ride in or even walk around the neighborhood without getting wet, so it’s best to plan to do it inside. Carrot pancakes with blueberries and bananas, sleep pretty well though I did wake up pretty early but I was asleep before 8 PM last night. Early in the morning, a whole bunch of pollen came in with breeze and it stunk briefly. I don’t have allegeries, as I spent so much time hanging out in barn and in woods as a kid but it was pungent briefly. Not too achy from the rain, so that’s good. In a decent mood too, and my goal is not to fuck too many things up at work this week. No pushing mystery buttons on software programs like last week. It all worked out fine, once I apologized to deputy head programmer and explained I actually didn’t need that report printed.
Yesterday was fine, I got out to Five Rivers, did some reading and visited the folks. Emptied out the slop bucket full of compost, washed my clothes. Tacos at the folks house. Came home and got my winter clothes put away and my summer clothes out, though I really need to go through the stuff in the attic and get rid of some of the worn out clothes and stuff that don’t fit – either the clothing recycling dumpster or donate the stuff that is in good shape. I also went through the box of stuff I hauled out of my old office last year and some of my old files, and pulled out the paper an old records that I plan to recycle into carbon dioxide that next time I have a fire. Maybe this weekend.
That said, next weekend is looking increasingly crappy, especially Friday night but we’ll see. Might still want to do a hike in Catskills then camp overnight somewhere. I don’t have to be back any time in particular on Sunday, so I can have a full day of adventure then. Nature Bus starts up on Memorial Day Weekend, so every other weekend I’ll have the option of spending the day at Thacher Park for free, assuming that I don’ t break shit on my bike riding trail up there.
They all come in plastic these days. Increasingly thin plastic too as material science evolves. When they get used up, what is left is just a sticky residue that is difficult to remove before tossing in the recycling bin, requiring and wasting a lot of soap and water. They are just so much easier to chuck in a hot fire, let them turn into carbon dioxide that will become plant food. Especially when you know so much of urban recycling is a feel good scam. I can’t wait to own my own land out in the country.
![Untitled [Expires May 19 2025]](https://andyarthur.org//data/photo_018296_large.jpg)
busing it in with the rain. I might catch the early express downtown so I can walk laps 
on the Plaza in the morning before work. I figure with the rain I won’t be able to ride in or even walk around the neighborhood without getting wet, 
so it’s best to plan to do it inside. Carrot 
pancakes with blueberries and bananas, 
sleep pretty well though I did wake up pretty early 
but I was asleep before 8 PM last night. Early in the morning, a whole bunch of pollen came in with breeze and it stunk briefly. I don’t have allegeries, as I spent so much time hanging out in barn 
and in woods 
as a kid 
but it was pungent briefly. Not too achy from the rain, so that’s good. In a decent mood too, and my goal is not to fuck too many things up at work this week. No pushing mystery buttons 
on software programs like last week. 
It all worked out fine, once I apologized to deputy head programmer and explained I actually didn’t need that report printed. 
did some reading and visited the folks. Emptied out the slop bucket full of compost, washed my clothes. Tacos 
at the folks house. Came home and got my winter clothes put away and my summer clothes out, though I really need to go through the stuff in the attic and get rid of some of the worn out clothes and stuff that don’t fit – either the clothing recycling dumpster or donate the stuff that is in good shape. 
I also went through the box of stuff I hauled out of my old office last year and some of my old files, and pulled out the paper 
an old records that I plan to recycle 
into carbon dioxide that next time I have a fire. 
Maybe this weekend. 
especially Friday night but we’ll see. Might still want to do a hike in Catskills then camp overnight somewhere. 
I don’t have to be back any time in particular on Sunday, so I can have a full day of adventure then. Nature Bus starts up on Memorial Day Weekend, so every other weekend I’ll have the option of spending the day at Thacher Park for free, 
assuming that I don’ t break shit on my bike riding trail up there.