And yes Terry, I did do the entire thing myself
Finally got to where I couldn't stand waiting on dear Lars to do site work. Just hate having to rely on others!
We have been working on a new Virtual Stroll area titled "Our Friends Gardens". If I have pics of your havens, you'll probably have a page there soon!
James Slay in Amarillo Texas has been coming to our site since 1999. He has sent me the most amazing info and pics of a temporary structure he built over his backyard pond this year. You won't believe what's blooming inside the enclosure in January!
Until I get his page completed, here is a link to James' garden pond club website. It has lots of resourceful and fun pages to visit.
Ogallala Water Gardening Club
Tis done, click to home page to follow the links to James' Virtual Garden Stroll
And yes Terry, I did do the entire thing myself Finally got to where I couldn't stand waiting on dear Lars to do site work. Just hate having to rely on others!
Here is a direct link to the page
Please feel free to talk to James or ask any questions on this thread.
I just wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed your site. It is one of my favorites and I come back to see what's new. Love the pond in the greenhouse, what a unique idea! My great grandmother was from Cornwall, so you know where I stroll.....
Wonderful to hear you enjoy our work Dorine! Thank you so much for taking the time to let us hear from you. And I know James will to.
And what a treat to know we can take you to Cornwall anytime Must admit, Larry and I venture there again ourselves, via that stroll It truely is a land onto itself, isn't it?!
Enjoyed the stroll through the water garden/greenhouse. It is a lovely idea. It must be fun to go inside on a cold but sunny day and see everything green and in bloom.
Well, I couldn't find James' email address, so I will ask my question on the forum. James, what are you going to do with the greenhouse during the summer? Will you change the plastic to screen?
James, I was wondering the same - Did I read the greenhouse is temporary? Will it come down when warm weather arrives or will you screen it like Carolyn asks? It looks like a very stable structure to be temporary.
It's just beautiful in there! I would never be able to leave. I really enjoyed your site, you have given me a breath of warm weather
Mamakane, Carolyn Crouch, any others:
The greenhouse is built as a temporary structure using deck screws instead of nails so it can be dismantled quickly. My wife, Clara says I built it over the prettiest part of her flower beds and wants me to remove it next spring. We'll see about that when the time comes.
I plan a permanent greenhouse for the future, but with the pond and some plants which I wanted to 'winter over', I did this project. It was really a 'trial run' type project.
Our winters are more severe than you people are use to who live in the central and southern parts of Texas. Amarillo is 3670 ft. altitude and we get the downslope winds off the New Mexico mountains which funnels cold winds in the winter although we warm back up regularly. I was cleaning out some algae from the pond today and had to go outside after a while as it was 86 degrees inside the greenhouse and about 105% humidity. 50 deg. outside. Didn't want to ventilate as I am depending on having the inside as warm as possible to carry through the night when it gets down to 20 degrees or colder outside. I am using a small electric heater to add some supplimental heat, but keep it turned on low and only allow it to come on when the temperature drops below about 45 deg.
It has been an interesting experiment and has proved the ability to do what I set out to do with it. I have water plants thriving which normally would have to be replaced each spring here.
Feel free to e-Mail me and ask all you want to know about the project. I enjoy sharing whatever I can. My e-Mail address is:
jtslay@amaonline.com
James T, Slay
Retired and enjoying it.
P.S. The bluebonnets are growing and the one with blossoms is ready to send up more shoots.
Thanks for more details James and for letting us play in your winter house
Don't tell Clara ;-), but when I asked Larry to build me a temporary shelter for my tropicals, he and a barn builder didn't seem to hear the word 'temporary' in the request. Thing is, it was built as stout as a barn. Four years later, it is still there. Maybe Lars figured out that if it was too sturdy to come down, he wouldn't have to put it up every year. ;-) Annnnd if it was always up, he would never have to bring the big pots in for winter!
This little lean-to 'greenhouse' is actually so tiny that I must really call it my 'greenshed'! But I tell ya, if a tornado comes thru - that sucker will be still be standing when nothing else is. In fact, it was so over-built that it might actually keep the house from taking off to Oz
And to example James' Texas Panhandle climate for our faraway visitors, here is a pic of his snowmobile, last January 
Now that looks like something I know - SNOW
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
James is having an earlier spring than all of us - in his enclosed garden!
Just look at how the Scotch Moss has spread over winter. It is such a beautiful thing to use as ground cover - good one James! 
And his columbines are looking as good as those we saw in Wisley greenhouses. 
And no wind damage..Can't see that temporary structure coming down.
With such a wonderful place to garden while the spring winds and rains blow outside, do you ever get inside? I know I wouldn't ever get any of my "winter projects" done in the house. How did the plastic hold up on your "temporary" house over the winter? Did it do well with your big snow?
I see a duck hiding in there Maggie
I had missed the blue duck Mk - trust you to spot a critter in the fleurs ! I had been admiring the pink thrift and overlooked him completely. It looks like James' bluebonnets have been blooming all winter. Ours just started opening this week along the highways.
I took this picture today of my neighbor's poppies.
Well, I suppose I got that picture large enough.
That's soooo big, it makes my oversized Kew pics look better ;-)
They look like big fuffy doubles. Are they annuals Caro?
I just now noticed that the time on this thing doesn't practice daylight savings.
WoW! I've never seen a field of doubles before.
Mamakane, the plastic held up OK on the greenhouse. I had put one layer of 6 mil polyethelent on the walls and 2 layers on the roof. I really didn't do much 'gardening' in the greenhouse as everything pretty well took care of itself. I spent some time doing pond maintenance and several times had to wait a few minutes for it to cool inside. I caught it one time at 104*F inside the GH.
The temp in the GH was 98*F when I finally opened the vents and door today.
We bought bedding plants Saturday and Sunday and planted about 135 plants in the flowerbeds Sunday afternoon.
They'll be jungle-size in no time James!