Tropicals & Tender Perennials: The Epi Nursery, 1 by Happenstance

Happenstance wrote:
Oh it is so yummy to have this all organized again.......I've started a couple of times this Spring to get to this area, but every time we would have a couple of days of warm weather the rain would start again.

I move a lot of tropicals from the greenhouse and the sun room into this "lathe" house for the summer. In the winter I store several dozen large planted containers with perennials in them in this area, along with garden art and favorite pots that would otherwise be blown about the garden.

The whole structure or plastic "lathe" has been blown apart many times in our winter winds. 40-50mph is not unusual in just a normal storm because of the convergence of the winds off the GG bridge slot and the 4000ft mountain we live on. We are at about the 1100ft level at the base of the mountain. Plants are pulled right out of the ground in these storms, so until the baby Epis has a good root sytem they need some protection.....they conceivably could end up in the next county if not protected til they can hold on fast in their pots. :-)

The metal markers are a real joy and the only way I can keep track of things.....I use them in conjunction with a P-Touch label maker that hooks up to the PC and you can organize a database as detailed or simple as you want with the ability to print whatever fields of info (up to 3-4 lines depending on font size). I think it's my favorite garden "tool". There's some additional info on the P-Touch system I use on this thread http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/405905/ .

The two racks that the Epis are on are another case of "happenstance". Several years ago my daughter and I each bought one at the Smith & Hawken Outlet. They were practically giving them away. She's in the process of moving and didn't want to move hers, so I inherited it. Perfect timing as I searched the garden shed for something to get these small Epi pots all in one place.

The "lathe" is simply the white plastic stuff sold at HD and other garden centers. It covers the top and 3 sides, with the 4th side open for the swing and the view to the greenhouse. This white plastic stuff is not the most attractive solution, but was a "temporary" fix to get some shade about 4 years ago. It is simply hung on hooks at the top and secured with rods of rebar pounded into the ground at the bottom of the panels