The Greenhouse

When describing the complexity of the greenhouse infrastructure it's important to tell you about Joe and Paul Orpello from Moonflower gardens. I had interviewed several major landscape contractors when the garden was in the planning stage, but none shared my vision, and all thought that this was a small, not-important job. Not so for Joe and Paul. They are brothers who are trained in horticulture and have serious landscape design and build experience. They are not, however, jaded. As they pulled up in their little red truck, and waved to me in unison through the window, I was struck that they seemed adorable! They were excited about the project, and wanted to be able to provide an aging gardener with the ability to keep playing in the dirt for many years to come. In short, they shared the vision. At the time, I had no way to know that Joe and Paul are even more compulsive than I; they spent 8 months on the garden building walls, trellises, and the greenhouse. Joe and Paul became members of the family for those months, and remain available to help if needed. I can't thank them enough!

The greenhouse is a simple Cambridge model from Charley's Greenhouse, green aluminum and plexiglass. We evaluated many vendors, materials, and models to decide among wood, stone, etc. At the end of the day I decided on a green metal and plexiglass model for ease of cleaning and cost. Although I would have preferred an imported English stone and wood model (you know the type, and who wouldn't?), it was simply an unreasonable choice for a first-time greenhouse owner. As you read this you should be developing a mental model of a gardener who obsesses over every single decision, excessively. I excitedly awaited the arrival of the greenhouse.

Paul and Joe laid a foundation of large limestone slabs (for thermal mass, about which you'll learn a lot if you keep reading). The greenhouse has benches on both walls, and a complicated drip and mist system. There are electric outlets along the walls for heat mats, fans, etc and up-and-down misting heads. The original plan was to use it only in the Spring and Fall, so as not to need a heater. My wonderful electrician (Belfiore, Kennett Square PA) spent hours and hours installing a breaker box, enough juice for all future eventualities, underground lines to a garden A/C box, and an overhead light so I can garden at night after work. Joe and Paul recruited a plumber friend to add a greenhouse plumbing zone in the basement and to dig an underground trench from the house to accomodate the water pipes. This is one industrial-strength hobby greenhouse.