Northern Palm Sanctuary "greenhouse"

[BILL MA]

Hello folks,

Here's the outdoor greenhouse pictures that have been promised for way to long. I'm not sure if it qualifies as a sanctuary in biblical terms, but a palm sanctuary it is. Hopefully I didn't offend anyone

So Here it is from the beginning, I decided it was a good idea to buy a few hundred palms at the end of the season 15 gal.+, great plan for my stress level. This meant a green house. Well the green house I bought really didn't meet the needs for all the palms I purchased so I needed a plan. Plus the green house I bought along with the palms was missing about 12 hoops (thanks) from what was originally talked about. Beware of buying greenhouses unless you get a really good deal!!!

Needless to say I made what I had work by extending the sides by 4 feet giving me a real greenhouse with a 10'6" ridge or so. Good thing I have construction contacts for Schedule 40 galvanized pipe "super expensive otherwise" this is what I used for my 4 foot sides. Anyway pictures are 1000 words

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2218.jpg

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2219.jpg

Well Picture taking isn't my strong point so here is the the frame work after squeezing my 12 small hoops into my cemented pipes. By the way I saved about 275 bucks making my own concrete with sand, stone and portland cement. 24 holes 2' deep equals a ton of ready made bags

Here it is rough framed.

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2220.jpg

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2221.jpg

Now that it's up I gotta get my dad in the shot trying to escape!!! We're getting the plastic ready doubled over to make a dual layer.
Giving props to my dad right now, Thanks for the help! Love ya!!!

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2226.jpg

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2229.jpg

And a proud son inside the covered house. We had to dig a few holes for the big boys to fit in the house. Too busy to take pictures for awhile.

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2233.jpg

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2234.jpg

Here's some pictures from today, some palms are still outside toughening up since the weather isn't all that bad yet. Plus some pictures of the greenhouse doors finished up.

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2290.jpg
http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2282.jpg
http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2283.jpg

Palm house a little full!!!

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2285.jpg
http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2287.jpg

Furnace pictures to come and all the others packed in there pictures.

Couple of trachy and front pictures of today, minimal damage on oleander, getting cut anyway. Palm covers came today so it's the last day for these trachies being exposed to the elements. Too bad because they can take much more but I'm leaving for Hobe Sound Fl. for 1 month in about a week or so.

Here's the pics I have of my front yard as of Dec. 1

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2291.jpg
http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2293.jpg

Thanks for looking,
Bill

[TerdalFarm]

Bill,
wow!
And here I thought W and I worked hard on our palm hut.
When you catch your breath, let us know about heating. I'm guessing it won't be too bad--on a sq. foot basis--with all that mass in there. Looks plenty strong for snow load.
The front yard looks great. What lows have you had? Low 20s oF, right?
--Erik

[BILL MA]

Yeah Erik, 20, and 22 on consecutive nights plus long freeze events. When I looked at them on the cold nights the fronds where covered in ice/frost. It was more like ice! I'd leave them out longer but I'm running out of time to protect them.

I need to cover the washies soon as are weather is about to crap out sooner then later. "this week"

Thanks for the comment.

Bill

[TimMAz6]

very cool greenhouse Bill! Looks great. Any damage on your Washies yet? My neighbors 30 gal. Phoenix was fried a few weeks ago.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Great work Bill! Are you planning on taking it down in the summer, or are you just going to leave it up until next winter?

[canadianplant]

Awsome job dude. Looks really well built. What are the dimentions on that thing?

[BILL MA]

Thanks Cameron,
I'm going to leave it up, original I wanted to take it down but it's way to much work and then I'd need to store it somewhere too. It will work great for growing potted stuff in the spring and summer since the temps will be like So. FLA. in there

Thanks Tim,
I think the washies are fine I had some sheets and blankets over them, I guess I'll find out today when I cover them for good.

Thanks Jesse,
The dimensions are 33' long x 15'6" wide x 10'6" to the ridge, there's not a lot of wasted space because of the way I came up on the sides.

Bill