Saturday, October 16, 2010

My Place - Part 4: The Greenhouse/Shadehouse Garden

This is the fourth post about the various parts of my dry tropics garden here in north -eastern Oz.  For the previous parts, please click on the 'All About My Place' tab above this post.  Alright now for the next instalment ....

The western side of my house is set into a section of rocky hillside ... which could have meant an ugly view from the windows on that side.  This is not the case, however.  The entire length of this western side has a greenhouse or shadehouse area attached.

The way we use greenhouses here in north Queensland is a little bit different to the way there are generally used. They're not used as a 'hothouse', as is the case in the northern hemisphere, but used more as a 'coolhouse'.  They are covered in shadecloth that blocks out most of the sun's UV rays, giving much needed protection from that really hot and intense summer sun, and providing relief from the heat thus making the area inside a little cooler than the outdoors.

My Greenhouse/Shadehouse Garden area attached to the western facing wall of my house, makes a noticeable difference to the indoor temperatures on that side of the house.  It provides a cool spot to grow many plants which would not survive out in the garden, especially during our horrible summers. It also provides a break from the winds we get around here. It's a lovely place to potter around in during the Summer when the sun's gone down - quite cool!

I've included a short video clip that gives some idea of what this area is like ... this was shot at the end of September which was our first Spring month.  (Just a quick note:  please scroll down and turn off the Playlist music ... on the sidebar ... as this will interfere with my commentary on the video clip).

23 comments:

  1. Oh Bernie ~ What a wonderful, lush greenhouse just off your music room. I felt so at peace visiting with you there. I am amazed that you know all the botanical names of the plants. I have quite a few plants in my own gardens that you are growing. The yellow walking iris is one of my favorites.

    Thank you for this little video. I love listening to you and seeing all of your lovely plants.

    FlowerLady

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  2. Bernie ~ Thank you for the tour of your fabulous shade house you have some fabulous plants. I don’t know that I can say which is my favourite I think I have too many! I love the Dragon Wings and the Walking Iris as well as the Rex Begonias and just don’t get me started on the ferns. I’m just going out to clean my greenhouse out for the winter nothing much in it at the moment. Enjoy the weekend.
    Sue :0)

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  3. G'day Flowerlady ... so glad you liked the tour. It's definitely a great place to wander around in and cool down in after a long Summer's day. All that green is somehow refreshing.

    Hi Sue ... the Dragon Wings are a staple in my garden now. They are great survivors and always look terrific. I'm slowly building a small collection of Rexs ... I just love them. Enjoy your clean-out!

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  4. Your coolhouse is really cool! It is a beautiful arboretum of plants and lush beauty. The best part of the post, though, was hearing your voice on the clip. We get to see our blogger friends' gardens, and sometimes we see a photo of the blogger, but it's a treat to hear a blogger's own voice! Loved this post.

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  5. Thanks Laurrie ... lol yes you were treated to the Aussie drawl! It's always strange listening to myself on a video clip ... although hubbie assures me that's exactly what I sound like!!

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  6. You shade house/coolhouse is beautiful like a botanical garden that I visit in my area. I am envious. Envious too because I have no clue how to do a video on my blog. You did a wonderful and entertaining job. I heard birds chirping,loved it, so relaxing.

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  7. I love seeing your garden videos, Bernie. (Perhaps someday I'll have the courage to create my own.) I would love to have such a shade house to grow my orchids in! I think the space I'm using now, with a solid roof and screen walls, just gets way too hot.

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  8. Ok Bernie -- fess up, how long did it take you to create your own botanical garden?!

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  9. Gardenwalk Gardentalk ... nice to see you again. If an old dame like me can learn how to make a video just using a Canon camera with movie function and then learning how to upload onto Youtube so I can embed on my blog ... so can you! There's nothing to it ... well, that's after quite a few failures anyway ... lol!

    Floridagirl ... go on, have a go! If I'm not too shy about sharing my Aussie drawl and my little garden, I'm sure I can convince you to have a go. I would love to stroll around your garden through a video clip.

    Lol Shyrlene ... the Giant Sword Fern and the Walking Iris was here when we moved in, but not as lush. The rest I've added and during the last two decent 'wet' seasons it all took off very well.

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  10. Sernie, what a lush shadehouse you have created!The plants are all so healthy and beautiful.

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  11. As i always say in my previus comments here, i envy the health and conditions of your plants. They are so happy with you.

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  12. Dear Bernie, This is the first of your garden videos I've watched and I am extremely impressed. I can't wait to see your others. Your plants are very lush. Beautiful post. Pam

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  13. Gracious thanks for your kind comments Lotusleaf, Andrea and Pam. I'm happy you liked the quick tour.

    Pam ...there are other video clips to see if you click on the tab 'Video Diaries of Various Parts Of My Garden' tab just underneath the header of my blog. Be prepared for the Aussie accent though!

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  14. Bernie, what a lovely space! Extremely impressive! I love the video. My spaces would not be nearly as enticing as yours if put to video.

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  15. A beautiful greenhouse full of gorgeous shade loving plants. Some I am familiar with in my neck of the woods ~ others new to me.

    A pleasure to view!
    Kindly, ldh

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  16. Kimberly ... thanks for joining the tour. I'm sure your garden would look fabulous on a video ... I for one would be most interested to see it. Mine was a 'warts and all' tour and it will never be anything else.

    LDH ... lovely comment, thank you.

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  17. Bernie I am so glad I popped over here today to get an inside view of your shadehouse and hear to speak about all the wonderful plants. So many there are favourite houseplants of mine. Its amazing how many plants you have growing in there - its like a miniature botanic gardens. :)

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  18. Your greenhouse is a wonderful retreat with so many lush plantings. I have though about incorporating videos into my own blog. Yours is inspirational!

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  19. aloha bernie,

    wow, love the shade house and all your plants, i enjoyed viewing the rest of your garden tour, sorry i haven't caught up lately, but what a treat to be able to see it all conscutively..thanks for taking us on a tour of your magical place :)

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  20. Envy envy, I would love a shade house like that.

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  21. love how you have set up your coolhouse! I wish i had someting like this for myself

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  22. Hi Bernie, it was so wonderful to get a guided tour of your greenhouse by voice! I will try to be brave and to extend my video capability too. Cheers, catmint

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  23. Rosie ... this area of my property is my haven! I can see it from almost every room inside my house and it's a sight that always delights me.

    Debsgarden ... go on, include some video clips on your blog! I, for one, would love to take a wander around your garden listening to your own personal comments about your garden. It makes it all seem far more personal somehow.

    Noel ... thanks for your gracious comment. I'm pleased you enjoyed the tour of this rather difficult garden of mine.

    Diane ... the shadehouse garden is THE best thing for a tropical climate. I would recommend them highly.

    Fer ... thank you for visiting and it's lovely to hear about your appreciation of this garden space.

    Catmint ... go on you can do it! It would be fabulous hearing and seeing you on video ... remember I've seen you on the tele and you did a fabulous job on Gardening Australia. I think you're a natural when it comes to sharing your lovely garden.

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