Sunil We have a temporary walk-in plastic greenhouse that has sat on the patio since last October, protecting the semi-tender plants we have. In such a small garden, the only place for it is right in front of the patio doors, blocking off our view. This thing has sat there through the winter and I’ve had to look at it nearly every day for almost 6 months.
I’ve been getting desperate to take it down for the Spring, but with winter clinging on and the temperatures refusing to rise, it has had to stay up for an agonising extra few weeks longer. Just as a reminder of what we’ve been staring at all this time:
A couple of weeks ago, the temperatures did start to rise and I finally got fed up enough to start taking it all down and getting our patio back to normal. The plan also included giving the patio a good clean with the pressure washer.
Due to the limited space, taking this down with all the plants and paraphernalia around was a bit like solving a Sokoban (Chinese Warehouse Keeper) game, moving some things out of the way to make room to dismantle other bits and not settings the patio plants in place where they might block me from moving around and getting to other parts.
After much wrestling with the plastic and poles and moving around of plants, as well as a good scrub, we finally have the patio back to how it should be.
Although I’m not done yet as I need to also take down the greenhouse against the bamboo and jasmine, leaving just the one against the house wall. This might take a little while as a lot of plants in that greenhouse need to be dealt with first.
With the clean-up pretty much done, finally being able to see out of the patio doors and having our patio back again after the winter is such a relief and very spirit-lifting. The large greenhouse was absolutely needed to protect the young and tender plants over the winter but I’m not sorry it’s gone now.
13 comments
Glad you got your view back, Sunil. You are too soft hearted! I don’t grow things that may not survive (which I know means that some things don’t get to live with me), but all we gardeners are different, aren’t we?! Me, I am thrilled because tulips are up and out – and just a few more there than last year and I love them because it means that Summer is a’comin’!
Hello Mrs Mac, I also didn’t want to end up with too many semi-tender plants and plants that generally take a bit more maintenance and work due to the climate we have but it always seems to conspire that several of the plants I want fall right into this category!
Your garden is looking good – and very spring-like! Must have been a relief to take down your greenhouse finally.
Hello Jason, yes, it’s a great relief to finally be able to see out of the patio doors again and for the indoor plants that are now finally getting some light!
Seeing the greenhouses every day would have bugged me, too. Plus, I probably would have attempted to grow more plants than I have room for. So it’s probably a good thing my “greenhouse” is limited to my kitchen counter! Your patio looks much more inviting. 🙂
Hi Tammy, thanks, I’m glad to have the patio back, finally. I knew loosing the view would be bad but I didn’t reckon on the double-whammy of not being able to use the patio and not being able to set the patio pots out either until it was all taken down.
They were predicting frost tonight so I hope everything is ok and hope you can also sleep after I said that. I’ve been studying garden design recently where the planting principle is “less is more” (sob!) but actually your patio looks really good with all those plants so perhaps there is still hope for the likes of me. What is the shrub or climber covering your far fence?
Hello Claire, I’ve been watching the night-time temperatures like a hawk and we’ve been just about OK. We’ve not had frosts as we’re not in the middle of the countryside so it is a litle bit warmer – just enough to stay away from zero. The far fence is planted with black Bamboo, a common jasmine (somewhat flower-shy) and the bright one to the right is a Choisya Ternata.
Good to see your garden coming back to life again Sunil and isn’t it satisfying to get these jobs done and out of the road.
Hi Alistair, it is good to be getting these jobs done, at the moment, I’m crossing jobs off the list at the same rate as they’re being added on. It’s like running to keep still!
Hello Sunil, Patio is looking terrific once again. So satisfying to get up to date with these jobs.
I bet you are glad to have moved it in preparation of spring, My goodness you must live some where warm and tropical, I love your back yard and all your planters. Stopping by WW Blogspot and to invite you to join in the WW fun!
Oh My Heartsie WW” w/Linky
Hi Karren, yes I am very glad that it is now down and we have our patio back. I wish we did live somewhere warm and tropical, unfortunately it looks as though it’s going to be another rotten year of unsettled and cold weather.