"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

This is the time I start getting the greenhouse ready

for fall planting and storage of plants for the winter. I am beginning to enjoy this greenhouse with each year that I learn from it. It's hard to enjoy one of these in my area in Texas, because of the extreme heat. It stays vacant from early May thru September. Because of this, ones that I know who also have these, do not enjoy them.

But I am finding ways to make it work. As most of you know,in late fall,  I drape the whole greenhouse in plastic and then place a heater inside of the greenhouse for the winter season. This has worked so well in keeping my plants alive. In late spring, I tear off all of the plastic and remove the heater, and then open the windows and door. I really can't find a realistic way to use it in the summer. I also have problems with mice moving in and eating every thing.  
How about you??  Do you have a greenhouse? What are your issues with it?  

I have also began to appreciate container gardening more. It's funny. I thought that when I had acres of land, I would have acres of every thing growing on them. The drought, the weather and the critters have given me many challenges. With the containers, I have been able to control the weather elements and watering conditions................

and things seem to grow better..............

however, I have placed rubber snakes within the flowers and vegetables, because even the birds are raging havoc on every thing that I try to grow. So far, the rubber snakes have scared them away.......I might use them in the greenhouse to scare away the mice............will it work.........do you think???  

I am thinking of raised beds out in the garden area next year, protected with fencing, and chicken wire over laps with the rubber snakes.

I really like the primitive and country look that the wooden containers give. The flowers and vegetables have a nostalgic look to them on the porches and patio.
How about you??
Do you like to plant in containers..............do you have critter problems?
I would love to hear!

21 comments:

Gingerbreadshouse7 said...

Kathleen , I just love your greenhouse, I wish I could have one just like it :o(...I think your snake will scare anything :o) it scared me when I first saw the picture, I thought you were going to say you found it in the box.
Yes, I too like the containers , they look rustic and help me pretend I have a big farm :o)...(P.S. , I'm trying EBAY with not much luck.)

Connie said...

I've never owned a greenhouse. That's great that you have been able to make yours work so well for you in the winter.

I have had trouble with something eating the seeds when I try to plant both in containers and just out in the flower bed. I think it is the squirrels that dig them up, but I'm not sure.

Paula said...

Well, I don't know what the birds will think but the snake sure scared me, Kathleen! *hehe*
It must be exciting for you to start getting everything in your greenhouse ready again!

Ladybug said...

Kathleen You will surly enjoy raised garden beds,We been gardenig
with containers and rasied bed for
three years, Living in the Southwest has it's many ups and downs with gardening but it's all worth it each season I learn more each season.. Will starting Fall
seeding as well hope we have a nice
mild southwest winter too...
Thanks for stopping by my blog
sweet thoughtful comment
Blessings/Enjoy the Day...
Trish-Ladybug

Vickie said...

Rubber snakes are good. I have found critters here, too. Rabbits, coons, armadillos. And the coyotes always know just when the watermelons are ripe! They got all but 2 this year! I've been begging for a garden fence. Guess I'm gonna have to put one up myself! I love rustic containers, too. Old buckets, boxes, old enamel-ware pans. I love your boxes with the moss rose in them. That's what I need this summer with the drought and heat!

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

I have often thought of getting a greenhouse, but we have an even shorter winter than you do. The rubber snake is a good idea. I might have to try that one. One year squirrels took one bite out of each ripe tomato in our garden. I've disliked them intensely ever since!

Terry and Linda said...

I have wanted a greenhouse just like that so I am interested in what and how you do things.'

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Lily said...

Kathleen I applaud you for your determination in dealing with your weather conditions! I am in western NY and we have had a very hot dry summer for us not normal and it has been a challenge for me to keep my large gardens alive.

LindaSue said...

Rubber snakes are useful - as long as you make sure it IS the rubber one when you start to touch it! The containers are great - I remember many years ago hearing a horticulturist say he didn't like moss rose because they were spreading all over the desert from people's yards - and I thought "so what?" I suppose to a purist it isn't good - but they are such sturdy and pretty little things.

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

You have a great looking greenhouse that does look like it comes in handy. I was going to build one with some windows I gathered from a house that was being torn down. Never got around to building that, I so wanted one.

Hum I wonder if a plastic snake wrapped around a bird feeder would scare away the squirrels?

Agrigirl said...

I think your greenhouse is a terrific idea. It wouldn't work here but when I was little, we used the window wells of our basement and covered them as a place to grow. I do have raised beds now and had them all wired off to keep the rabbits and my dogs out but it needs to be redone.

Faith, Folklore, and Friends said...

Just found your blog from The Blind Pig and the Acorn. Love it! I would love a greenhouse. I plant my seed inside in my laundry room and bring them out when it is warm enough. This year, I put several flats of four different kinds of tomatoes, basil, assorted flowers out when the weather warmed up. The squirrels ruined them all the first night! Talk about an unhappy woman!!! It had never happened before; I think the squirrels have had a birth explosion here. Looking forward to more of your blogs.

lil red hen said...

Ahh--I've slways wished for a greenhouse! The snake looks very real!! Containers would look great on my porch, if, I would remember to keep them watered. :( And, I do have problems with armadillos routing under my hosta and in other fresh dirt they find!

lil red hen said...

Ahh--I've slways wished for a greenhouse! The snake looks very real!! Containers would look great on my porch, if, I would remember to keep them watered. :( And, I do have problems with armadillos routing under my hosta and in other fresh dirt they find!

TxFarmhouse said...

Kathleen, I guess I didn't realize that you're in Texas. Buddy and I have been discussing getting a greenhouse for years. There is a woman here that grows tomatoes in her all summer..and, boy, are they delicious! I've got to do some studying on them..our problem here is the wind. It gets fierce sometimes out in the middle of this farmland.

Diana said...

hi Kathleen, I don't have much luck with veggies. I'm going to keep trying. We live in the woods and our sunshine is speckled and not steady. I do enjoy Basil and that grows well in my container and I keep watering the flowers.. We need rain too! take care, Diana

Dawn said...

Hi Kathleen, I love your greenhouse! I would love to have one, but I think if I start with a cold frame this winter, I'll work my way up! I started 3 tomato plants in 5 gal. buckets on our deck in the spring. They thrived, and we dreamed of all the ways we would be enjoying tomatoes throughout the summer! Then I started to notice that they were disappearing! Sure enough, I caught the squirrels picking them off the vine and carrying off green tomatoes that were as big as they were! It got to be SOOO frustrating trying to combat what was going on, I finally gave up and threw the plants in the compost heap! We didn't enjoy even one tomato! Living in the deep South, we've had high temps. and not much rain. I've had a lot of success with my flowers in pots this year. Impatiens in the shade, and petunias in part sun...still going strong...but have to be watered daily! Have a good weekend!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Grenville's greenhouse gets too hot for summertime use here, but he did start tomato plants in it this past spring. Also grew some lettuce and broccoli over the winter months. We thankfully don't have any mice problems. Grenville has used rubber snakes maily on our porch to discourage barn swallows from returning and also in the tractor shed. We are considering container gardening next season because the heat and drought have made in-ground gardening more difficult.

Unknown said...

What a darling greenhouse! I am green with envy, Kathleen. So want one but alas, the garage will have to do.

Would you be so kind to leave a comment on my BLOG ONLY, for the Miracle Makeover fund drive. Charlie, 8 yr. old, & his story are fabulous. Every comment brings us a $1 for the next person that will be sponsored.

Have a beautiful weekend.
Hugs,
TTFN ~
Marydon

grammy said...

Isn't it hard to believe we are even mentioning Fall???
I guess it is around the corner.
Your snakes remind me of the big blowup snake my BIL put in the apple tree one year. I was walking in the back yard and ....under the tree...I looked up and nearly died...lol

Unknown said...

Love the greenhouse, more like envy!!! Planters are a great way to grow lots of things, my pets are the biggest pests in my garden now but it used to be mice, squirrels and raccoons!