As regular readers to this and Martyn's blog will be aware, we are in the midst of greenhouse renovation. This prompted me to try and work out when we actually bought our present greenhouse. Using past photos, which as they were from a pre-digital era when we weren't as snap happy with the camera were limited, I have narrowed it down to the late 1980's probably somewhere at the end of 1988 and mid 1989.
Our first greenhouse was a small aluminium greenhouse about 6' x 8' which we quickly grew out of. Rather than replacing it we added a 8' x 10' aluminium greenhouse. (Excuse the photos in this post - they are ancient).
The photo above pre-dates our allotment era - you can just make out our vegetable patch alongside the greenhouse.
We must have had our allotment by the time this next photo was taken as we appear to be restyling what was the vegetable patch.
The smaller of the two greenhouses was heated so plants were taken from this to the larger greenhouse as part of the hardening off process. As the area alongside the greenhouse became more ornamental we decided to swap the two greenhouse for one larger cedar one.
This greenhouse came in flat pack form as we decided we would build it ourselves which was quite a mammoth task having large sheets of glass to manipulate. It created a major upheaval in the garden too.
Beds were constructed inside the greenhouse.
The ex vegetable patch was lawned and a new shrub border created alongside the boundary fence.
At this point we planted directly into the soil on one side of the greenhouse and created an alpine scree on the other.
Gradually the greenhouse began to look comfortable in its surroundings and both greenhouse and garden have gone through various evolutionary stages before ended up in their present day form including ...
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Your garden looks to have gone through lots of changes as well as your greenhouse. It's such a great size, I bet it will be looking brand spanking new again after its facelift.
ReplyDeleteYou should have seen it when we moved in, Jo. Everything sloped steeply up from the house and the only plant was cerastrium - snow in summer which spread like wildfire. Pity that it wasn't as easy to take photos back then.
DeleteA funny aside I once sent an email to the headteacher of one of the schools I was supporting with the phrase 'brand spanking new' and it was filtered by their email system as it contained the word spanking
It's really interesting to see the stages your garden has been through. We've only been in our own garden for a couple of years and are starting to try and plan out sections of it, so seeing all the different evolutions is exciting.
ReplyDeleteOurs is in sections now Jenny. I should draw a plant shouldn't I? If you click the Our Garden Tab at the top of the blog I have written about various areas.
DeleteThe brown frame of your green house absolutely matching with the brown-teracota wall behind. So lovely
ReplyDeleteThat's a very common brick colour in these parts, Endah
DeleteInteresting to see the evolution of your greenhouse. Always growing and changing, just like the gardens.
ReplyDeleteAnd like us too, Rachel :)
DeleteIt is lovely to see how gardens evolve, I think everyone has to have a change sooner or later.Interesting to see what happens next.
ReplyDeleteI just wish I had more photos of the past garden Flowerlady.
DeleteFascinating. Thanks for the history.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it Tpals
DeleteAll your hard work has paid off in a lovely garden and greenhouse! Looking forward to your "face-lift" plans!
ReplyDeleteThe face-lift is well underway now, Juliet
DeleteReally enjoyed reading this ... I love to see how things change over time. Our new greenhouse arrived the same day I went back to work last October ... I had to leave my husband and son with the task of building it - what a shame!!!?? :)
ReplyDeleteI bet you were so disappointed, Patricia. The larger of the two aluminium greenhouses is now on out plot having spent time in Martyn's parents garden. It's well travelled and has been erected three times!
DeleteWe've moved around too much to be able to see a garden evolve like that. Just as we get somewhere as we want it, it's time to start again!
ReplyDeleteYour cedar greenhouse is so spacious, look forward to seeing it suitably restored.
One advantage of staying in one place, Jessica
DeleteIt's been great to see the difference you've made over the years Sue - looking back must have reminded you off all the hard work you both undertook 'back in the day'.
ReplyDeleteI'm dying to see just what you've been up too!
I does bring up surprises too, Angie
DeleteHow lovely to see how the greenhouse has evolved over the years along with the garden. It is a great size and well worth restoring. I love the new area outside it and look forward to how you went about restoring it. A wonderful read, I did enjoy it.xxx
ReplyDeleteThe outside area isn't really new now Snowbird.
DeleteHow nice to see how it all began, your cedar greenhouse is so lovely, I am so jealous! Looking forward to seeing it restored and finished, wonder what you will grow there….
ReplyDeleteThat's not so new now, Snowbird
DeleteSue, your greenhouse is wonderful, I'd like to have the same, mine is small enough. It was great task and great job!
ReplyDeleteIt was a case of weighing up lpss of garden space with increased inside growing area Nadezda
DeleteYou have been pretty ambitious with your greenhouse construction! I imagine that building the cedar greenhouse was very complicated, time-consuming and hard work.
ReplyDeleteThe worst bit was putting in the huge pieces of glass, Mark
DeleteYou have put quite a bit of work into the gardens over the years. That is a big lovely greenhouse. It is a dream really. I can't imagine constructing it.
ReplyDeleteAnd lots more work to come, Kelli!
DeleteThat's a really big greenhouse. I would love to have one for all my seedlings.
ReplyDeleteWe did want one that was a substantial size Leanan
DeleteLoved your images and reading all about your greenhouse history. What a beauty your greenhouse is! Looking forward to seeing the next instalment :-D
ReplyDeleteYou won't have too long to wait, Shirl.
DeleteLooks great i love a nice greenhouse that's well built
ReplyDelete