Home Improvements - Cactus & Succulent Style

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:33 pm

Hello everyone,

Here in the US it is customary for many of us to observe an annual day of giving thanks.

For me, this year deserves special notice as it marks the completion of a major, long term project. It will also serve as my excuse for absence from the forums for the last 6 months. Almost all of my spare time, energy, and money have gone toward a single goal. Despite not posting, I have found time to read the forums on a regular basis and will soon be back as a contributor.

For the reveal, click here and then click {Slide Show} in the upper right of the screen that will appear.

Cheers ... GeneS

jenni · Post by **jenni** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:57 pm

So totally awesome!!! That sure is a beautiful greenhouse. All I know is that they are definately more work than you think that they will be.

Harriet · Post by **Harriet** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 11:15 pm

Looks like a grand and successful project. Fantastic!

A. Dean Stock · Post by **A. Dean Stock** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 2:12 am

That is a beautiful greenhouse and a great job of construction and landscaping. I put in a 30 x 50ft greenhouse of similar construction so I have a feel for the work you did. Yours looks better than mine!!
Dean

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 8:43 am

Excellent work, Gene.
It's fricken beautiful man!

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 12:14 pm

Awesome! Totally awesome!!!

Steve Stephens · Post by **Steve Stephens** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:19 pm

Just beautiful! The slide show was very informative and showed the hard work you put into the project.

Do you think you made it too small? I think that's often the case when collections seem to grow way more than we think they will.

hob · Post by **hob** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:35 pm

great job Gene

that's a lot of work

Harriet · Post by **Harriet** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:52 pm

I may have missed it, but what are the overall dimensions of the new Green House? I like the idea of the heated area within the larger space, but have to chuckle, as that small heatable space is only slightly smaller than my entire greenhouse!

Post by **daiv** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 5:25 am

Love the slide-show with a caption for each. Sometimes only a slide or two represent a serious amount of work!

The whole setup is first class!

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:55 pm

Thanks everyone for your comments !!

I had a great deal of fun building it and a sense of accomplishment when finished. Now comes the real work of finding all the microclimates and happiness spots for each of the plants

For answers to some of your questions ...

Overall size of the GH is 18 x 24 feet. The shade structure is 18 x 20 feet.

Do I think it is too small ??

Of course!! But, that would have been the answer no matter what the size

It did though, fit my available space and budget quite well and is a big improvement over the 8 x 12 foot house I had for 20 years before I moved up here.

Dean wrote: "Yours looks better than mine!!"

Thats just because I didn't take any closeups of the bad parts

I, as you too probably did, learned a lot as I went. Sometimes too late for action!!

Cheers ... GeneS

Harriet · Post by **Harriet** » Tue Nov 30, 2010 2:14 pm

If my math is right I figure you have over 700 square feet more covered cactus space than I do, but I still wonder if you have enough space... have you filled it up yet, or is there room to add more plants?

I also got the sense that the project was still on-going; if so, I would really love to see the progress, or the finished landscaping and how the the structures look all "filled up".

Andy_CT · Post by **Andy_CT** » Tue Nov 30, 2010 3:44 pm

Very impressive!!

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Tue Nov 30, 2010 4:05 pm

GeneS wrote: Thats just because I didn't take any closeups of the bad parts I, as you too probably did, learned a lot as I went. Sometimes too late for action!!

I hear ya. I built ours from plans in my head, so imagine my dismay when the instructions didnt work out!

The first 1-2 can be a bit of a bear and a headscratcher, but the rest become quick and easy...most of the time!

out2searob · Post by **out2searob** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 7:21 am

beautiful project, I really appreciate the recycling of concrete.Nothing like a little hard work to make you appreciate something