Greenhouse Move – Stage 1: Free at Last!

Father’s Day weekend 2012 marked a monumental weekend for me. This was when I was finally liberated from the darkness of that hideous piece of shit growing area. If I grew other things like… FERNS (mind you, I have nothing against ferns), or focused only on other shade loving plants, then maybe this place would be “just OK”. Don’t get me wrong – given all that I went thorough in the past year, I AM thankful that at least I had a place that I was able to temporarily house the plants. Given both the gravity and time constraints of my situation last year, I had no time to locate an appropriate growing area, and took the first thing that came my way. I had hopes in making that venue better and grow-able for my plants. YES – I was willing to put in the time and money to fix that place up. YES – it was so frustrating when the landlord and I were unable to reach an agreement regarding improvement of facilities. And YES – if the plants are not happy, then I am not happy. With all of this said – I am focusing on being positive and I am moving on. It’s just time for something bigger and better. Honestly, this move was not as bad as the first move out of Pacifica as I’ve simplified the garden quite a bit since then. Only about half of the original garden is with me now, and that consists mostly of carnivores. The rest of the plants have found homes with family and friends and I’m glad that part of my story lives on with them.

I am well aware that every vision gets tested. I also know that I am passionate about growing and that all of this will be well worth it. I must be patient and endure. I gotta view this as a “character building” season in both my life – as well as my garden’s life. Yeah. Either that or I’m just fucking out of my mind. And you know – How boring would my garden’s story be if there was none of this excitement and adventure? Perhaps I am out of my mind…

The temporary holding location at dusk – packed.

Stage one of the greenhouse move is now complete. I’ve moved out of that shoddy venue to a brighter and better temporary holding location. It’s actually working out well! The plants are adjusting to the slightly brighter light. It’s such a great adjusting area for the plants to prepare them for the bright location. I’ll be here for the month or so. Needless to say, the mental map of my plants is already messed up, and I’m going to spend much of the remainder of this year re-organizing yet again. The next stage is what I am looking forward to. Stage two! That is the move to the SUPER RAD venue — and that is when the fun begins. Not to worry, that location is pretty close to this place, so it won’t be too bad. Even in this temporary abode, the plants are reacting positively and it gives me hope. This year is a year of adjustment and rebuilding. Next year I am expecting botanical greatness.

A HUGE thank you to Jiri, Lada, Derek, Jenn, and of course my awesome rad wife Dahlia for all the help with the move! I am forever grateful for my family and friends that have stuck with me through all the madness. As Derek told me… “That’s what friends are for.“

Below are some photos from this recent move. Good times …
Gooood times!
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In the photo to the left you can see how the plants looked very colorless. In years past, the plants were very strong and colorful at this point in time. Because of the old fiberglass and poor light, many of the plants were stretched thin, reaching for the limited light supply. I mean, just looking at them is so fucking depressing. I’ve lost so many plants under these conditions, it was just nasty. This half of this greenhouse was also on the north side of the building. Being on the north side combined with the old fiberglass and very poor air circulation is not a good mix at all. I had to get out – pronto! Dude, I’m so thankful for Jenn who was able to work some connections to get me connected to the new place!

In the photo to the right, the fiberglass is still somewhat old, however the location overall is brighter. I actually get so much more brighter and better filtered light from all directions here. At the old place, most of the light would only come from the top of the greenhouse – and that light being filtered through 20+ year old piss yellow fiberglass really sucked. This temporary space is perfect because the plants are going to get a chance to adjust before moving to the bright greenhouse. (That’s the upcoming Greenhouse Move – Stage 2.)

The first plants I packed up into my trunk and move out of the greenhouse were Dionaea and the Pinguicula. As you can see, even the Dionaea’s were thin and stretched. The Pinguicula were just OK, but not at their prime. They were all very pale.

First trays in!

Tub of Sarracenia oreophila riding shotgun.

Lots of back seat Sarracenia action going on here.

My niece Arielle helping out with the move. She’s really into gardens and plants now. I could already see her bloggin’ about her garden adventures in the future! Watch out Dez! 🙂

Arielle admiring the flytraps. My eldest son Josiah is also helping out with the insane garden move.

My youngest son Lucas has other plans for the greenhouse…
He started to turn it into his…
bubble house.

One thing that’s really cool about this new place is that it’s a much a better place to have the kids with me. I mean, you saw the last greenhouse – it was very difficult and even dangerous to have the kids with me in there. This new place is much cleaner and safer. I can finally get some help! YEAH! 🙂 It’s very cool and just nice to have my family close by as I work here.

Benches getting filled up after a couple of carloads.

Going to fill this place up! But is it enough room?

What a MESS! You can see how the plants were very stretched and lanky from the poor light and air at the old spot. Also, these plants were on the dry side when I moved them. To help lighten the load, I had to let the plants dry out for a couple of days prior to moving.

Deconstruction.

Drosophyllum ready to move.

Top row – left to right: Drosera binata – giant form attacking me. Dahlia packing up the staghorn ferns. Bottom row – left to right: Back seat action with various Drosera binata forms. And a very cool knitted succulent pocket from Derek and Heather. It will always have a home with me.

The greenhouse is a mess in this deconstruction phase.
Supplies and plants are mixed up everywhere!

Jiri to the rescue! Jiri and his brother Lada were awesome enough to come down and help for a few hours. We packed up the U-haul with as much as we could and made a couple trips.
(Photo courtesy of Jiri Priam.)

Another load of plants packed up in the back.

Derek’s Mini full of Acer. Dude, it was like a Mini mobile forest or something. Seriously so awesome mobbing 4 vehicles deep full of PLANTS.

A fully loaded car once again on the second trip.
(Photo courtesy of Derek Powazek. Dude texted this to me mid-haul…)

An ominous emptiness starting to fill this location.

Drosophyllum lusitanicum riding shotgun. The thing is a monster.

Derek photographing the plants!

Jiri.

Jiri, his brother Lada, and driftwood log. I am thankful for all 3.

Yeah, it’s been a fun day so far… and I need to shave.
(Photo courtesy of Jiri Priam)

Lada pointing out the Gunnera manicata.
(Photo courtesy of Jiri Priam)

So thankful for these two brothers.
(Photo courtesy of Jiri Priam)

 Derek with the red Sarracenia moorei.
Notice, the Sarracenia represents the SF Giants! YEAH!

A huge THANK YOU to Jenn for allowing me to roll with her truck later that week. On Fathers Day, Sunday, 17 Jun 2012 – I took the few remaining plants and supplies down to the holding location and closed the door for good on this dark segment in life.

Last plant out: Spiral aloe. (Aloe polyphylla) It did OK for being in these conditions. I am so looking forward to hitting this baby with more light! I had three other smaller ones that died in this dusty dark dank hole.
At least this one survived.

I am SO glad to be out of this place.
A dark chapter in my garden’s life now draws to a close…

… and a brighter (and so far crowded) chapter is now starting.

Damn. I’m just barely fitting everything into this interim space…

(Click on photo above for larger version.)
Awesome. I freakin’ love this photo taken by Derek.

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Thank you again to all of you who have made this possible.
My plants and I are forever grateful.

-Let’s grow.-