Wistful Wednesday: Greenhouse

Years ago we had a small greenhouse business.  It was hard work with long hours.  I hated watering and felt like I was attached to a hose 12 + hours a day. We opened the business in 1999 and closed it in 2007 when potting soil, plastic and heating costs went through the roof…that was also the winter that Far Guy was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia.

We began with just one greenhouse and expanded to two and then added a small Perennial house.  Far Guy had his own Greenhouse where he grew vegetable plants in four packs… and many tomato plants in small pots. He grew special order veggies.  I grew only flowers…and kept my special orders over in his greenhouse. 

This was Far Guy’s Greenhouse.  Now a days he uses it for a work/woodshop. I use part of it for a glass studio to make glass flowers.  We have a warm dry place to work on rainy days.  I have many projects stacked up out there to work on.  Out of sight out of mind.  I should really take a photo in there but I will spare you.

May 16 2004 My Greenhouse

As you can see my OCD or CDO made an appearance.  Tags just so and banks of color.  Aren’t those Marigolds pretty!  Here in Minnesota people don’t plant much of anything until mid May to June 1st. We will sometimes get freezing temperatures into June.  This greenhouse is no longer here it was sold after we closed the business.

I have been thinking about what I want to plant this year out in my little flower garden under the bird feeders…Salvia of some sort for the hummingbirds…and maybe Impatiens. Some pansies for sure. Years ago I had a Day Lily garden out there then they froze out.

I have my Solar Lights…last weekend Far Guy told our Grandson Adam that it looked like Las Vegas at night in our yard.

Do I miss the business…sometimes…I miss the people that came back year after year.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Years ago when we had the greenhouse I kept perennials outside after the main greenhouse was closed for the summer.  It extended our selling season.  That was also back when we had display gardens that were weed free. ( Now called the wild gardens) That was what we did …we weeded.  Trying to keep the woods and weeds at bay was a struggle. ( We closed the Greenhouse Business in 2008 due to the economy and Far Guys Trigeminal Neuralgia.)

Every few weeks one of us would whack off a wild rose that wanted to grow right next to one of the display racks.  It loved that spot…one day I dug down and dug the roots out.

As you can see I was a failure. Apparently it liked root pruning.

They bloomed beautifully last June and then sporadically until Fall.

We don’t do anything for them…no fertilizer…no water…no TLC… however we have stopped digging up the roots!

Rose Hips in Winter. 

So it there a lesson in all this?  Maybe…wherever you are whatever happens to you even if someone hacks off part of your roots…bloom and someday your beauty will be appreciated.

Cutting The Cord

Today was supposed to be the day that the people that bought the big greenhouse were supposed to dismantle it and move it on out. Well actually last Tuesday was to be the day, then they postponed until today. The wind is up today, they are taking down the end wall, and it is pretty cold (12 degrees) and windy out there. I can tell that this is going to take days. I would just like it to be over. For me it is like having a child and the doctor is ready to cut the cord and then he gets a long phone call....

This guy, has a dream, all well and good. I can support him in his dream, growing plants is a rewarding experience. Not everyone can do it. In an effort to help this guy out, I have been upstairs in my office going through my file cabinets. I sort into piles, recycle, the I have a dream guy, Judy and Marty. I am not sure if Judy or Marty want what I have saved for them, if not I will recycle those piles too. I have four file cabinets full of business related "stuff" to go through. Stacks of books and magazines, old issues of Horticulture Magazines. I am going to get the chain saw up there to saw apart the huge oak desk. It was one of those executive corner units in a fancy bank, I no longer need it. Far Guy needs a spot to set up his model trains.

It seems like closing down this business is taking FOREVER. I felt really good after I reclaimed the retail space for my garage, and I am totally loving having my own garage, with a remote garage door opener! I felt pretty good after the small greenhouse was out of here. I am hoping that the weather holds so that this greenhouse can make it's way down the road too. I am really, really, ready to cut the cord:)