This is, without hesitation, the best birthday present I've ever received. My hubby made this for me over 12 years ago. ( I like that boy, and I can't help it.) The footprint is 12'x12'. It's made of 17 panels of salvaged tempered glass re-purposed from old sliding door sets (obtained at $5 per),. Even the door is second-hand. It's one that we removed when we installed a new storm door on our home. Only the lumber for the framing was bought new. It's tougher than it looks, having seen quite a few hurricanes with no damage, until Charlie dropped a huge hickory tree on the left front corner. Even then, we were very fortunate, and only had to replace 2 of the roof panels. I still run into glass crumbles when I repot some of the orchids. Oh, the glasshouse isn't tipsy, but perhaps I was when I took this photo.
Hey send that husband of yours over here to Scotland Zuzu. I badly need a greenhouse and would love one just like yours!!! I promise to feed, water and bed him down in the shed with the fieldmice if he'll build me one. Our shed is all made up of second hand stuff and it's one of the strongest we've ever had. We have car windows in place of the normal ones which would break more easily but I'd still rather have your greenhouse.
I don't blame you one bit for it being your favorite all time present. It is very lovely. Thanks for posting the pic.
Oh, my goodness, Zuzu that is a fantastic glasshouse. We will be taking out a sliding glass door next year and if I round up a few more I could put this on Randy's honey-do list. And we have two glass/screen combination doors we need to replace, so it looks like I have a good start on what he will need. :-D
My new digs are a little small, zuzu. How about an add on for me and my dog when we move there...should be soon.
My little green house is pityful compared to yours .I do love it and I don't blame you for it being the best bd present ever.
Hands off Jan, it's mine! Zuzu you are one lucky gardening gal with that greenhouse. Fantastic! I'm intrigued though if this was a surprise gift how did he keep it a secret? I presume it wasn't a surprise gift though.
Thanks, all, I'm glad you like it, too. Sounds like you've got a good start on the materials list, Toni. Glenda, when you get everything in yours, it'll be heaven on earth, for sure! You're right Frank, it wasn't a surprise, in fact I was often pressed into service, especially when it came to hefting around those heavy slabs of glass (oo my achin' back). I'll throw the Scotland proposal his way, Eileen, sounds like a fine plan to me . . . of course, I'd have to come along as "advisor". :-? The fieldmice may be the sticking point. The size is a pinch for my purposes too, Jan, but hey, it's as steamy as N.O. in there, so at least it'll feel like home. The local building codes forced our hand, dimension-wise if a structure exceeds this size, it falls under a much more stringent code. Years ago we added an 8'x12' lath structure onto the back wink: a "trellis" if the building inspector asks). It serves as a shade house in summer, and in winter we cover it with plastic and use it for additional tender plant storage . . . it's still not enough.
Oh Zuzu you are a lucky gal to have a hubby that builds cool stuff like that!! Mine only seems to work on stuff that has motors and wheels. I just LOVE that stone pathway leading up to it too!
Marvelous - can the rest of us borrow him from time to time? At least long enough to build one for each of us as he travels around the world? ;-)