This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

Gardens Dreams

December 8th, 2011

When we were down in Zoar on Sunday we stopped in the greenhouse. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had tons of tropical plants, among them many fruit trees.



It’s a heated greenhouse, of course. These plants would not survive in our cold northern climate without some added heat. The building is designed to maximize the light and heat produced by the sun which helps with the heating costs. The lady working the greenhouse said it was 80 degrees the day before without any alternative heat source. It has nice thick brick floors and wide walls on one side to absorb the most heat from the sun as it can during the day. These then radiate the heat during the night.



They had a bunch of banana plants, one was blooming, an avocado tree with one beautiful fruit, and a lemon tree that was loaded down with lemons!

A greenhouse like this would be quite an oasis during the long cold winters here in the north. I’d love nothing more than to have a greenhouse in my garden and someday I will. I’m saving my pennies and maybe in 10 years so I’ll have enough to get myself a nice little greenhouse to putter around during the winter. Or maybe I should just buy a second home in Arizona and spend the winters somewhere warmer!

Do you have a greenhouse in your garden? Is it something you’d like to have someday?

21 Comments to “Gardens Dreams”
  1. Mich on December 8, 2011 at 6:37 am

    I’ve got some greenhouses in my garden, all second hand aluminum framed…they’ve been given to me or i’ve bartered for them over the years. :)
    Without them I would struggle to get tomatoes, peppers and the like here in the UK.

    Reply to Mich's comment

  2. louisa @ TheReallyGoodLife on December 8, 2011 at 8:55 am

    I’ve got a small aluminium framed one like Mich – and also like Mich, I’d struggle to grow things like tomatoes without it. (I do grow tomatoes outside too, but they’re all started in the greenhouse.)

    We’ve also got a west-facing conservatory on the front of our house, which I also use as a greenhouse. That gets heat from the house which makes up for its limited sun and it’s useful for overwintering things.

    Someday, when we’ve got a flatter garden, I’d love a bigger greenhouse though – to have space to move in it would be such a luxury!

    Reply to louisa @ TheReallyGoodLife's comment

  3. Allison on December 8, 2011 at 9:31 am

    We don’t have a greenhouse, but we’d love one. My mom does though so we have a few plants that head there for winter!

    Reply to Allison's comment

  4. tj on December 8, 2011 at 9:54 am

    …First of all, I LOVED your slideshow on your Zoar Trip! I relished each and every photo as historical towns and such are a love of mine. Thank you for sharing!

    …And oh my, would I love to have a greenhouse. That would be a dream of mine but one I don’t see coming into fruition anytime soon. Just the thought of standing in one in the cold, hard, dead of Winter would be just what the doctor ordered.

    …Oh, and sorry, no Arizona for you Susy. Remember, Maine? That’s right. I’m bankin’ on you both moving to Maine so I can live out my dreams vicariously thru you. So, Arizona = no. Maine = yes. ;o)

    …My fav’ photo btw is the one gazing out the window, love that. :o)

    …Oh and btw, I get a giggle every time that little sidebar thingy comes sliding out and it says, “More In… … …”. I’m thinking that is the work of Mr. Chiots, yes? Whenever it slides out I think to myself, “BAZINGA!”…hee,hee,hee Crazy I know. *giggle*shrug*

    …Blessings

    Reply to tj's comment

    • Susy on December 8, 2011 at 10:36 am

      You’re cracking me up this morning – some much needed laugh therapy after a few tough weeks!

      Yes, just joking about Arizona, I’ve had my share of hot living in Colombia. Maine is more my speed since I actually LOVE winter.

      And, You’re right – that little slide out thing is the work of Mr Chiots :)

      Reply to Susy's comment

  5. goatpod2 on December 8, 2011 at 9:57 am

    We have a greenhouse over our deck right now.

    Amy

    Reply to goatpod2's comment

  6. Daedre Craig on December 8, 2011 at 9:58 am

    I’d love to have a greenhouse, but I’m afraid of the heating bills!

    Reply to Daedre Craig's comment

    • Susy on December 8, 2011 at 10:37 am

      I agree, ideally I’d love to have one heated with wood.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  7. Texan on December 8, 2011 at 11:06 am

    I do have a greenhouse. My honeyman built me one several years ago. I can use it in the winter and spring. I love the greenhouse rooms built onto homes. Those just would be the ultimate.

    Reply to Texan's comment

  8. Terry on December 8, 2011 at 11:46 am

    I do not have a greenhouse but when winter gets me down I like to go to the Franklin Conservatory and pretend it is summer. Not sure if you have been there but they have a desert room and a tropical room, both are nice and warm and so green in the winter! If you ever come to Columbus you should check it out!

    Reply to Terry's comment

  9. Jennifer Fisk on December 8, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    I would love to have a hoop house in my garden but from Oct to April there isn’t enough sun light. At the 44th parallel you need lots of open space with no trees within 50 ft because the sun is so low in the sky.

    Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

  10. Lee on December 8, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    I have a small 14 x 18 greenhouse in the backyard where I keep orchids. It used to be packed but got tired of my cats knocking the pots off the benches, so I kicked out a good number of orchids. Now the cats can meander freely without causing much damage. In winter the cats love to take naps in there. I guess they find it much cozier than the backyard.

    Reply to Lee's comment

    • Susy on December 8, 2011 at 1:18 pm

      I knew you’d have something to say about the cats winning. Isn’t that how it goes, they manage to make it all about themselves – those crazy cats! We love em though don’t we!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  11. Darlene on December 8, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    I would love a greenhouse,too…….but we have a lot that is all uphill and huge black walnut trees in the only flat spot. At this time I could not sacrifice my black walnuts for a greenhouse…..but who knows about the future! (evil laugh!)

    Reply to Darlene's comment

  12. KimH on December 8, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    I used to have green houses in Texas & Florida.. no greenhouse or space for one in Ohio, unless it was in the front yard.. haha.. Thats probably not happening. ;)
    However, you never do know where tomorrow will take you. ;)

    Reply to KimH's comment

    • Susy on December 8, 2011 at 1:28 pm

      We’d have to have in our front yard too! I do however have tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and other edibles in the front yard now. I noticed the neighbors are starting to do it too! Maybe if I get a greenhouse they will too then it will be “normal”.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  13. KimP on December 8, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    I do have one! A friend said about the 12′ x 24′ greenhouse on her property, “If you can move it, you can have it.” Dh and a good friend got on the project and several months later, we set it down next to our garden. I LOVE it. :) Still experimenting. Plants act differently than in the garden.

    Reply to KimP's comment

  14. Andrea Duke on December 8, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    Oh Susy, you have got to be my gardening soulmate!!

    I am finally getting a greenhouse after years of procrastinating, saving and wishing…

    The posts are being set as we speak and should be finished next week :)

    Reply to Andrea Duke's comment

  15. Eliza J on December 8, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    A greenhouse is #1 on my dream list…I would LOVE a greenhouse…but for now, just dreaming.

    Reply to Eliza J's comment

  16. Jodiana on December 8, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    I love the picture of the lemon tree! I wish my tree looked like that! It looks like you had a wonderful time there. Hopefully you don’t have to wait to long for your green house :)

    Reply to Jodiana's comment

  17. judym on December 9, 2011 at 2:08 am

    A greenhouse is on our to do list. Always wanted one just off our back porch since it faces south but now the location will have to be behind the garden shed – turns out better anyway – sun from east south and west! Plans to build are within reach. We’re waiting for one to go on sale later this year or early next. We also saw one at the Cleveland Home & Flower show in Feb which we think can copy with repurposed house windows. I’m all for recycled and repurposed materials.

    Reply to judym's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

Admin
Read previous post:
Harvesting My Homegrown Ginger

Remember when I told you that I planted some ginger and then I showed you how great the plant looked earlier...

Close