This English telephone booth was airlifted in (crane, not helicopter) last March and Eric's been working to restore it. If he gets the glass in before winter it might even be a mini greenhouse, should he need more space.
But this bad boy! I was there the day he moved in, he was the subject of the epic agave rescue back in May...
I don't understand exactly why, but it looks smaller here.
Here's the centerpiece of it all, the amazing custom greenhouse/conservatory Eric built completely by hand: every bit of stained glass, every copper shingle, every brick, every cut and painted piece of wood...
Let's look inside...
The large agave in the air vent is the rescued smaller sister to the big one behind the house.
Looking back at the entrance...
Up...
I love these fixtures SO MUCH!
Stepping out the side door and into the garden...
Agave parryi, Agave 'Blue Glow', Yucca rostrata.
In addition to the relocated/rescued agave (shown above, and again below, under the window) I also need to point out the Yucca rostrata under the windmill, one of the five rescued by Eric from a garden near me in NE Portland last September.
Panning back around (because I can't get enough of this vignette).
Another of the rescued yucca (two of five if you're keeping track)...
Those pots are full of Echium simplex (which you never see in area nurseries), grown from seed by Eric, seed sent by Max, aka Planty Magoo. I came home with a couple!
Arctostaphylos branches in a giant urn backed by trachycarpus under a blue sky, it just doesn't get any better.
Another of the rescued yucca (three of five), this one is really showing of the new growth spurt that seems to say they're doing okay—rooted in and gonna make it. My rescued yucca (four of five), Holman, is doing doing something similar.
I assume you won't mind a few more greenhouse photos? (this one with a giant tetrapanax)
Eric said the copper shingles are meant to represent dragon scales.
All of the upper the windows are operable; tilting in, out, or rotating.
"if pigs could fly"...
And just a couple more photos from when the lights came on...
I can't remember where Eric said he picked up this cactus full of personality.
Towering bananas and another "by hand" project, the fireplace.
Sadly I neglected to take photos of the front garden, although I did get this one if the hellstrip, snapped when we went to pick up take-out dinner.
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Oh. My. Gawd. Amazing, creative, magic, perfection. All of it.
ReplyDeleteRight? Creativity and the "can do" to make it happen!
DeleteI remember this garden, the new home for so many rescued Yucca and Agave. What's most astounding to me is the greenhouse. I'm still trying to think of a more suitable word to describe it. The 'angel trumpet' fixtures are too cool. Also hand made? The copper shingles made me think of pineapple, but dragon scales work too :-) I want that rusty air vent. And the phone booth...
ReplyDeleteChavli
You were keen to pick up on the angel trumpet-ness of the light fixtures. Eric loves brugmansia and the fixtures echo that shape perfectly. I believe he picked them up second-hand. I too covet that rusty vent!
DeleteEric is so talented. His former greenhouse was fabulous but this one...the superlatives in my vocabulary can't adequately express...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you saw this post!
DeleteThis is the most fabulous greenhouse I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteThe greenhouse/conservatory is very Gothic. I love that.
ReplyDeleteI thought you might.
DeleteI do remember your prior posts and your book's chapter on the Felony Flats garden. After viewing this post, I think the garden probably deserves its own book! Maybe you and Eric need to collaborate on that ;) There wasn't a single photo in this post I didn't appreciate and I LOVE that greenhouse/conservatory - it's a magnificent piece of construction and each and every plant is perfect.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, I wonder if Eric has photos going all the way back to the beginning? The transformation he and Robert have made there would be an epic before and after.
DeleteWow!!! Do they ever open their garden? Would love to see it..
ReplyDeleteThey have in the past, for the HPSO, and who knows, maybe next summer?
DeleteOh, man! Major lust for that gorgeous, goth-Victorian-steampunk greenhouse. So love that stained glass! Major kudos on rescue of all the yucca rostratas. Just as gorgeous as Holman!
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine deciding you were going to create a stained glass greenhouse and then just teaching yourself how to do it? Of course the stained glass it just part of the whole project...
DeleteFinally, a legitimate use for that most overworked expression; "awesome"
ReplyDeleterickii
Yes, perfect!
DeleteDoes the Blue Glow agave stay out in the yard all winter?
ReplyDeleteNo, I think it's one that moves into greenhouse.
DeleteConsider me boggled. That is still the best greenhouse I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteI am considering a Yucca linearifolia move next year - not nearly that big, but still too close to the sidewalk.
I moved my Yucca linearifolia earlier this spring, no issues at all, they're troopers just like the rostrata.
DeleteGood to know. Next spring I am going to attempt it.
DeleteOh my goodness, what a fantastic, enchanting place!
ReplyDeleteWell said!
DeleteWow, that is one of the most beautiful greenhouses ever. The staging of containers and plants is fantastic too. Will have to go back to your book to reacquaint myself with their garden again.
ReplyDeleteThe staging definitely adds to the sense of drama.
DeleteI’ve been waiting for you to revisit this garden! I remember it from the agave rescue, and I took several screen shots back then, which I’ve been analyzing. I’m curious about the massive tubs for the Yucca and a few others. Are they plastic? I’m guessing that makes sense if they have to go to a greenhouse. I love the rounded shapes; I wonder if they’re prone to holding excess moisture?
ReplyDeleteAnd can you give an estimate on the cactus size in the second pic? It looks to be 5 feet off the ground, if my sense of scale is correct. Amazing!!!
Pls keep us updated on this garden.
No, all the large planters are clay/pottery and I'm guessing the moisture retention is more dependent on the soil mix than on the shape of the pot. The cactus in the second photo is sitting on a table. If my memory is correct the pot is maybe a foot tall and wide.
DeleteI can't get enough of this garden, and of course the greenhouse. Would buy that book!
ReplyDelete