We live on the southern shore of Lake Ontario zone 6/6b in the Winona area which is the west end of the Niagara fruit belt. Its 93 right now with a Humidix of 89%: that’s usual in July and August. Then gradually after October it starts going down to minus 15 by January. Even with 6 inch mulch I lost two hardy Morden roses this past winter. We had virtually no snow all winter till March. The area is very moderate because we are between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, but because we are on the shore we also get wicked North winds and water spraying up from the lake a good twenty feet.