Happy Friday GPODers!
As promised yesterday, we’re back in Richmond, British Columbia for the final tour of Cherry Ong’s new greenhouse and surrounding container garden (if you missed yesterday’s post, check it out here: Part 6). Over the past several weeks Cherry has been focusing on the technical aspects of this garden project, but today we get to dive into the plants and designs that transformed this practical part of her property into a lush and colorful corner that has become the perfect spot to sit and enjoy Cherry’s many creative container combinations.
Enjoying a New Seating Area and the Pretty During the Warmer Months
I wasted no time in surrounding the greenhouse with containers. I hatched the idea of moving our teak armchairs and tables to the corner behind the greenhouse as it was being built. My family was skeptical about it at first. I think it turned out to be a winner. We did not enjoy the chairs where they were previously set due to the glare of the sun. Now we find ourselves sitting and enjoying. Hubby even streams the sounds of a water feature for further enjoyment.
Fall 2022: I love this colour palette!
Spring 2023: Teak armchairs and table are an awesome find from Craigslist years back.
Spring 2023: Planter bowl from Pot Incorporated. A gorgeous mix of hot colors in this container, with Black Rose aeonium (Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’, Zone 9–12) creating a bold focal point in the pot. If that succulent looks familiar, I believe we saw it’s mother plant in Cherry’s greenhouse yesterday! The real magic in succulents is their ability to propagate so easily—just take a cutting and stick it in some soil. As long as your soil is well-draining and the cutting is getting plenty of light, new roots will sprout. For a container artist like Cherry, that means an endless supply of new plants to incorporate into new designs.
Summer 2023: Later in the growing season and this colorful pot has really filled out. The use of succulents replaces the need for many flowering plants, but the few that are mixed in provide blooms of different shapes and sizes to keep things interesting.
Summer 2023: Cherry’s garden space may be small, but she makes the most of every possible inch and utilizes the most interesting plants to create memorable scenes. She manages all of this while still having lawn space for their adorable Frenchie named Brocc.
Spring 2024: Outside of her succulent collection, Cherry also has a clear appreciation for colorful foliage plants that thrive in her Pacific Northwest garden. The orange coral bells are fabulous, but Cherry was right to put the stunning ‘Brise d’Anjou’ Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium caeruleum ‘Brise D’Anjou’, Zone 3–7) front and center.
Summer 2024: Cherry’s containers are thriving and many of her succulents and cacti are enjoying their summer vacation outdoors, but some precious specimens still sit in the safety and security of the greenhouse.
Fall 2024: Before the great migration inside the greenhouse, some of Cherry’s succulents and other potted possessions enjoyed the last warm days of the late season and continued to make the small seating area feel like an immersive plant experience.
Fall 2024: For me, it never gets better than Cherry’s gorgeous succulent combinations. Succulents can be found in such a wonderful range of colors and shades, and Cherry utilizes this diversity with a keen eye and artistic touch. I loved spotting a personal favorite, bear’s paw (Cotyledon tomentosa, Zone 10–12 or as a houseplant), poking out from that beautiful purple and gray echeveria. The real win of this container is the amazing texture and contrast that bring excitement to this muted color palette.
Issues and Considerations
We discovered a crack on glass pan roof vent in the first spring. This was because the vent opener’s arm was touching the glass. We obtained a replacement pane from Russell Nursery. The pane is only available through them as it is a different size compared to the regular panes.
For the summers, we leave the door open during the hotter months as greenhouse temperatures rise to ≥30°C/86°F. I have a shade cloth but have not found any need for it just yet.
We use a mixture of vinegar and dishwashing soap to clean the greenhouse. We reused an old “spray bottle attachment that mixes solution and water” for window cleaning (from Windex?) attached to a hose and it works well. We would like to tackle cleaning and detailing of the algae formed between the overlap of the glass panes this summer. We’ve read that a plastic plant tag may be inserted to reach these sites. Would any of you have any tips on this?
Heating Ideas I’m Curious About But Haven’t Tried
Using bubble wrap to line the greenhouse walls during winter. A friend suggested this but I have not been able to find a source of UV rated ones.
Using a lit candle with a terra cotta pot used as a dome to cover it as suggested by Anya The Garden Fairy (check out the video of this project on Facebook: How to Make a Simple Heater for Your Greenhouse). I have asked around and no one I know has tried it.
I hope you all enjoyed my greenhouse story, I would love to hear about yours. Thank you!
Thank YOU so much for sharing all of this valuable information and so many great pictures through the course of this series, Cherry! I’m not sure about the rest of GPOD, but I’ve saved lots of notes for my dream greenhouse I hope to build in the future. While a greenhouse isn’t in my cards this season, I’m still feeling very inspired to tackle some big garden projects this year.
If you’re tackling any garden projects this spring, or have a greenhouse you’ve built, accessorized, or renovated, consider sharing your garden story with the blog! Big or small, we would love to hear about the additions and alterations that have made your garden better. Follow the directions below to submit your garden photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
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