New Rock Garden and Greenhouse - Ardivachar

[Graeme]

What make of alpine house is that - it looks wonderful

I have a tunnel built on a base like that - it certainly makes looking after the plants very easy - but it took a lot of filling..........

[Chris Johnson]

It's not an alpine house, Graeme, but an off-the-shelf greenhouse with quite a lot of ventilation (albeit, not in ideal places). The manufacturer is Hartley Botanic.

Filling it will be the challenge and the fun. We are gardeners with an keen interest in alpines. What little we had, before moving north, was dispersed rather than bring them north for certain demise. We do have a few things in our polytunnel, which can get rather humid, that will benefit from the glasshouse.

The Bainbridges are due next month so I'm sure they will give us lots of good advise.

[Chris Johnson]

The fitters didn't have the best of weather to finish the construction but made a good job of it. The plunge got rather wet (ideal for settling the sand) but a bit steamy. I have now adjusted the automatic roof vents (not the most accessible) and cleared the condensation.

Just the fence to finish and make a gate, then start moving some plants in. They will look a bit lost a first but ample room to be indulgent.

[ChrisB]

Looks grand Chris!

[Yann]

which manufacturer erected your greenhouse? High eaves and roof is essential for good air circulation and less thermic amplitude.

[Maggi Young]

Now the build is finished the proportions are perfect - you are going to have a lot of fun with that.

[ArnoldT]

Chris:

Looks great, nothing like boys with a new toys.

[Chris Johnson]

Thanks Chris and Maggi - fun indeed.

Yann: It was built and erected by Hartley Botanic: http://www.hartley-botanic.co.uk/ I provided the base to their specifications.

[Chris Johnson]

Chris:

Looks great, nothing like boys with a new toys.

Absolutely, Arnold 

[David Nicholson]

Very nice Chris.

[ArnoldT]

Chris:

Was there any thought for putting the plunge bed on one side of the glass house as opposed to the other.

[Chris Johnson]

Very nice Chris.

Thanks David.

I do like the projects side of gardening and will gives some thought to the rock garden and plan some frames, while my wife starts to populate the greenhouse. I think the area at the back of the solar panels will make a good shade bed.

[Chris Johnson]

Chris:

Was there any thought for putting the plunge bed on one side of the glass house as opposed to the other.

Arnold, I did some research but didn't come up with anything conclusive so followed what I perceived as logic at the time. Had I joined this forum a tad earlier, it would have been a good question to ask.

As I don't have any opening lights a bed level, I was concerned that scorch would be a problem so opted to site it on the north side. I have blinds installed on the south side as they were better value at the time of installation, but how much use they will get is debatable.

Once the electrics have been connected, I will instal a fan.

[johnw]

What a toy!  Surely the most beautiful greenhouse I've seen.

Chris, I assume the fence is a windbreak?  We know a bit about wind here in NS as well.

South Uist of course was the point of exit of many Scots that came to Nova Scotia in the 1700's.  I think if one of my forebearers in particular had seen that greenhouse he may well have ordered a U-turn.

johnw

[Chris Johnson]

I think if one of my forebearers in particular had seen that greenhouse he may well have ordered a U-turn.

johnw

 

Yes, the fence is a windbreak. It looks to be cramping the greenhouse from the images but it's 2-3 metres away. I measured the length of shadows in January to make sure it didn't take any light away in winter. This is the second windiest place on the plant after Commonwealth Bay in Antarctica. Geographically, we are quite a bit farther north than you (on a line with north Newfoundland) but nothing like as cold. I hope you don't experience the miserable fogs they get farther north.