Here is a photo of my set up. A bit more junked up now. They are never large enough.
DD
Photos of GH and potting shed
Very Nice DD!!! I bet you have some wonderful times puttering around there.
Josephine.
Here is inside the GH. Like the stained glass I did for it. About time for me to wrap a layer of polly inside to winerize it.
DD
Excellent.
Since I am mostly retired, I spend many happy hours out there. Love to root new things. Here is a brug bloom today.
Here is one of my beds-oak leaf hydragea and coleus. Have tons of the sand stone and iron ore rocks so all beds are bordered with them. All the way down the drive which is 150 yards. Lots of loads of rocks to move but I really like it.
MG on fence going down the driveway.
Very nice. Is that a potting shed in the first pic? Very rustic. I like the stained glass too.
Not sure where Jacksonville is, but looks to be East Texas?
Dawn
I am just south of Tyler, east TX. Lots of native dogwood and redbuds.
Since I am in a wooded area I want the rustic look. Can get the "slab", outside cut of cedar at a mill here. I like the look and potting shed very handy next to greenhouse. Used the cedar on the GH too.
Now where is Nevada ? Saw your photos and you grow some real beauties. Do you root cuttings ? We may have things to trade. Really liked some of your salvia.
DD
uhoh....feeling an attack of envy coming on....
David, is that a hoja santa in the first photo?
David ~ what a great GH ~ looks nice enough to move into. Did you use twinwall on the roof or corrugated? Your first photo looks like its' a jungle out there ~ lol
Pod- I used the corrugated all around and roof, would do twin wall next time. In winter I line it with polly and drop the ceiling to about 7' to keep in the heat. Silding glass doors on each end worked well. In left corner there is a small pond with goldfish. Adds to humidity and Grands love it.
LouC- the vine on corner is Dutchman's pipe. Large plant down the path is Rootbeer plant. Excuse me but do not know any real latin names of things.
lulu- I do lots of paths, like the surprise of it at the end. Have many of them. Also like to make arbors and trellis out of downed trees and vines.
Tell us how you heat it in winter? And how large is your GH?
Pod- Heat the GH with electric heater/s and fan now. Not best but works for me. I just try to keep things over...around 40 degrees on very cold nights. You know Texas weather, 20 tonight and 65 tomorrow.
The GH is 14 X 16', too small but could you ever have one big enough ?
Cocoa- Rootbeer does produce blooms, but they are nothing to talk about. Very tiny seeds. Have never grown from seeds or cutting but they do put out many side runners from roots. I have no trouble getting starts from that method. They do like lots of water when you cut them off from Momma.
Oh gosh.....I have a dozen pups under the momma rootbeer right now. The bloom is rather just a long white stem.....haven't looked close enough to see if there is a seed.
When we purchased the plant last year the lady said to wrap fish in the leaf and steam or grill....must admit we haven't yet but it smells so good. Last year it died completely to the ground with no hint it was even there. This year it is huge and producing like mad. I love it.
D, Nevada is just north east of Dallas. It's a totally different world here, our soil is black clay, and it takes adding a lot of compost to keep things alive. I've often thought I would like to retire in east Texas. I envy your wooded property and your acidic soil.
I agree, GH is never large enough. I currently have a section of porch about 6'x6' screened in plastic, with shelves and a heater to keep plants protected in winter. 12x16 would be great for me! (Of course if I had more space I'm sure I would just find more plants to fill it!)
I don't do a lot of cuttings, for lack of time more than anything else, but do a few, let me know what you are interested in and maybe we can work something out. ☺
Wow ~ LouC ~ beautiful plant. I would guess the pups were started from seeds?
Nice size on the GH David. 14 x 16 sounds like a mansion and looks like it too! lol.
Soooo, on the Hoja santa just what flavor does the leaf impart to the food? I'm trying to orally visualize it wrapped around fish or tamales...
A Hispanic fellow that I know said that in Mexico they wrap the fish and other things in it and grill it. The leaf does have a nice unique smell. I have not tried it.
The pups come from roots. Maybe like the pups of EE's. Bloom is insignificant white with very tiny seeds. Never used the seed for propigation.
Pod thanks for the compliment on the GH. In winter I stuff it and it gets very small. Too many tropical hibsicus and others. Also many, many brug cuttings in water cans. Would really like to expand it or do a cold fram next to it that would open up for summer heat. It is really harder to cool than heat so most thing come out under the trees when it gets hot. I also put gutters on it and collect the rain water in 55 gal drums. Rain water is so much better for the plants and free. The full drums of water also puts out more heat than one would think in winter.
Maybe I could just stop rooting so many things.....NOT.
Yes to the rain water ~ not just for giving the plants a "treat" but for water conservation too. Amazing how little it takes to fill the barrels.
You shall have to post more photos when you fill it up. That will warm all of our gardening souls on those chilly winter days... 8 )
The scent of hoja santa is definitely root beer.... probably where saspirilla (sp) originated.
And the pups are from roots as above.
I catch 4-55 gals of water. It does not take much of a rain to fill them. Plan to add 2 more of them and connect them so that the over flow goes to the next one. Very little rain here lately but still have them about half full. Water cuttings from it almost every day. Wish we would get some rain.
DD
My Lord DD, you're an inspiration. DH is just starting a GH for me. Thanks so much for sharing.
As for your water drums, DH says that's a great idea. Water heats up and will release the heat slowly. Great idea for sliding doors.
Definately inspiring, great job!
Yes, the sliding doors are a great idea and they can be found reasonably at the salvage places. Many folks remodeling are replacing them. And I'll second your wish for rain!
If I lived there I would never get anything done inside the house LOL!! It looks so peaceful and inviting. I love the idea of using cedar, you are very creative!
Susan
Thanks guys and gals.
I am retired and love a project, then finding a way to do it that fits my budget. I got all of the doors from a friend that does remodleing. He had a large stack of them. Some with the working frame, all were double glass for insalation-a good thing. I get the cedar from a mill near me. They sell the slab, outside 3-4" of the tree, for $25 a pickup load. Most are 8' are longer. I just wrapped the 4x4 post with them more for looks than strength but think they help. Also did the potting shed in them. It only took 1 load for both projects.
I stay outside almost all day or until I get hot.
Heaven- use double wall ( twinwall) if you can. I did not and that was a mistake. I used tinted corrugated for summer cooling.
DD
Great pics David of your GH and shed and flowers
Love the stained glass piece too
I have yet to get my space set up and get some glass to start making a few pieces.
Sold all my scrap glass before leaving Illinois as I didn't think it would do well on the trip.
Hi David. I'm new to DG and have been surfing the site a little. I ran on to your pics of plants and your potting shed and GH. WONDERFUL! I live on 14 acres, and where it open it's all open, and where there are trees, it's all trees. It's about half and half. I've thought about a green house back behind my house in the trees, but until I saw your place, I figured it would never work being in so much shade. I can see the trees overhead in your green house pic. Do you have any or much sun there? And on another note, do you just depend on natural watering along your driveway and trails, or do you have miles of sprinkler systems? Do you use any of the drip systems in your pots? I have very few plants compared to you, but I live in Burleson, Tx., where it's very hot, and I feel I've become a slave to my pots. Some have to be watered every day, which is no big deal when I'm here, but planning a trip is the pits. I would appreciate all comments about how others handle this. I love gardening, but due to huge family (22 grands) and owning my own business, I've not been very active in it. I'm retired now, so I'm ready to spend more time in the yard, but I'm a little overwhelmed when I see so much that needs to be done.
Thanks,
Syb
Syb
I highly recommend retirement, it is great. I still do some consulting but home most days. You will have to look at small areas or it will overwhelm you. I do that and have for the 5 years here. I get plenty of sun in the GH. Cut several larger trees for that area but left some as new plants in the shade of spring and summer are great. I do not have a sprinkler system and may consider it for a project someday. It would be great. Most of my plants make it on their own unless we go for weeks with no rain, then I water to keep alive not grow. I do not keep much in pots unless for Master Gardener plant sale or RU's. I plant pot and all on the tropical then dig them and store for winter in GH. Need more room as each year trades expand my collection.
I have 12 Grands so know what that means. Some are helpful and interested in plants.
Some of the folks that posted are coming here for a RU June 28. You should think about it. Lots of plants and a good time. I would be happy to show you my GH and how I did it.
Take you place one project at a time so not to get overwhelmed.
DD
HI Syb,
I've been to DD's place and it is wonderful.
I agree you should come on over to the RU on the 28th it is real close to his place so you could go see it all.
I just moved here last July and it does take time to get things in order I know I am still overwhelmed when I look at out place but I just keep workin on it lil by lil.
http://www.ladies-of-the-heart.org/Phyllis
is my website and I have a picture journal showing the progress we have made so far .....this way I can look back and see how far we have come plus I can share it with family and friends that are stil up north *S*
Thank you both for your replys. David, I have a Supreme Trail Challenge (horses) to do with my granddaughter that weekend. It's at the LBJ Grasslands in Decatur, Tx. I'm sure I would love an RU since I've seen it talked about a lot on this site, but I have no idea what one is. Maybe my husband and I can come another time. I would love to have that tour of your place as well as experience an "RU." I'm afraid my passions of DH, grands,Christian ministry, horses and gardening are the most time consuming interests anyone could have. As much as I enjoy them all, I'll probably always be a little frustrated at not having enought time for any one of them. I'm a "want it all" person, so I'm happier having some of all of it than devoting myself to one thing and doing it really well. I have two grandsons here now who will help me weed beds tomorrow and Saturday, but first we'll go to the arena each morning, and I'll give them riding lessons.
Mibus2, I loved your pics. I keep telling myself I'm going to do the digital thing, and post some pics. I really need to since I have questions about some of my plants, like "what is it" or "what's wrong with it." Ha. Someday soon, I hope.
Thanks again,
Syb
Syb that is how I found out what I had around here for plants and what was a keeper and what was a weed.
I made a page with pictures and posted the url and it was great all the help I got from everyone here.
I'm sure if you are ever over this way DD would be more then happy for you to stop by to have a look at his place he is such a great guy
Phyllis
DD, I'm difinitely coming to your place now, those MG's are beautiful and exactly the ones I've been wanting. Heavenly Blue!
"eyes"
Come on down, I can plant miles of them and they come back thicker every year. I had to do something since my neighbor put up that butt ugly fence-part way down the drive.
Look forward to meeting and sharing with you.
DD