Wow! That's what you call a commercial scale greenhouse!

Someday when I retire and IF I got some money, I'm going to build something that could house durian, mangosteen, mangoes, rambutan, lanzones, marang, and other ultra-tropicals.

These are the 55-gallon black plastic barrels that make up my greenhouse benches that I wrote about in the other thread. There are seven barrels that make up each" heated" bench. As you can see the plants like the bottom heat they receive coming off the drums. There are eight benches in the greenhouse just like the one you see in the picture that are placed 12-feet apart going from the front of the greenhouse towards the back. Also a 70-foot heated bench made of barrels along both sides of the greenhouse. Works very good as a bench, plus gives off a lot of free heat to warm the greenhouse. The greenhouse is located at 5,440-feet altitude, therefore the winter nights can get very cold. - Millet

WOW!!!! Very impressive!!! every thing is beautiful!! Love your hibiscus. mine died. but was never that beautiful. It was almost 15 yrs old. a friend had it and gave it to me because it was looking ill. I had it for 10 yrs.
I love the black plastic barrel idea. I wonder if an open black pond would produce the same effect? + add humidity to the air. I have a small fish pond in my front yard that is going year round and has produced a micro climate that has allowed me to keep marginal plants that would other wise be considered annuals here I keep as perennials. I never thought of having same pond in a green house.. but I like the idea. maybe with the added protection of a green house I could have tropical pond plants as well..
Thanks for the inspiration Millet!!!!!
Gina *BabyBlue*

If you are willing to go the extra mile maintaining it, some of the beautiful greenhouses that I have visited have a pond with fishes and beautiful tropical aquatic plants. The liner of the pond is black. It's main purpose is a heat source and sink for the greenhouse. A higher humidity will be given, but I don't like higher humidity in a greenhouse, but that's just me.

Millet ...Third photo from the top. What type of Citrus? an approx age? an also what do you have to the left ! same photo I have a Hibiscus to the right same photo. Looks just like yours

Not much snow at the time of photos You know me Question, After Question

Hi Dale, the citrus in the thrid photo is a Nagami Kumquat. It is about 5 years old. I pick fruit off it for a snack, just about every time I pass by. Nagami Kumquats are eaten whole, rind and all. The rind. is very sweet. The tall plant (8-Ft) to the left and BEHIND the Kumquat is a Star Fruit tree. I got the Star Fruit Tree from Citrus Joe a year or two ago as a gift. THe white flowering plant just to the left of the Kumquat is a Jade plant that is in flower. The statue in front of the Kumquat is Saint Fiacre, patron saint of gardeners (my pal). Take care Dale, keep in touch. - Millet

WOW Millet that is truly a beautiful sight. A big inspiration. Thank you for sharing those. ps- I think i will say a few prayers to Saint Fiacre!

Gina, what plants are you growing that are 'marginal'. I have a dream to build a pond in the yard (though not in a greenhouse) and would love to grow some plants i otherwise couldn't.

Millet - I've read this thread and stared at your pics multiple times by now, and keep coming back for more. Ditto to all praise thus far, and all praise pending.

I have a hibiscus ('high voltage' is my particular variety - simple bloom, pure cream white color with intense red center). I transplanted to a CHC/soil blend last summer, but I won't see its best till next Summer.

The practicality of so much black-barreled water blows my mind. Do you have a cheap source for black barrels? I have two 30-gallon black, open-topped barrels myself and one 55-gallon blue barrel in garage. Was planning to adapt the one barrel for hydroponic system warming - but have yet to get to it. The 30-gal versions cost $28/ea + $19 shipping. They held concentrated lemonade mix in industry. But .... you have an entire lake in your greenhouse, packaged for warmth retention. Brilliant! Hoping for more land and a large greenhouse now more than ever.

Anyway, I wrote an article about storing bulk water at home awhile back (for friends), but have yet to realize larger agricultural dreams. Link has some resources for larger water storage resources, that I've been able to find, but there have to be more and cheaper resources out there for someone who is serious about water storage. http://members.cox.net/v-francis/WatrStor.htm

-Vince (onewebfoot)

for the hibiscus lovers, Hibiscus flowers make really really good wine, rivaling those of the grapes. These are the cranberry of the tropics, although there are cold hardy species. Someone in this forum is going to get some hibiscus wine from me.

Chops,
I had passion flower vine just a few inches from my pond with water falls that lasted 3 winters before roofers destroyed it. Also have pampass grass. Also a few others I can't think of right off the top of my head.. I have also noticed. that the summer temps do not go as high around the pond. I have had this hard plastic pond for about 5 years. Neighbors got same pond shortly after I installed mine. Theirs lasted one year. I think Key to the longevity and micro climate is installation and location. My pond is located where it has north and west protection and I was very careful about making sure there were no rocks under the pond and it was fairly level. Instructions say to remove the pump during winter but I have used the same pump for 5 years now non stop. Regular maintenance year round keeps my pond in top notch shape. I never use any chemicals in or around the pond. About the only thing I have added to the pond is sea salt. I think that a pond easily gives a "half" zone difference. Maybe if I added some things like lights I could get even more out of it. Thing I enjoy the most *aside from smelling the flowers and listen to the water* is the enjoyment of the older ppl and kids in my neighborhood stopping and enjoying it.
Gina *BabyBlue*

Vince, I get the barrels for free. I receive them filled with various products that we use in our business. In the past after they were empty, I had to pay $6.00 to $8.00 apiece to have them halled off. I did not pay a cent for the 96 barrely in the greenhouse. I now have people asking for them. - Millet

Gina- can we see some pics of the pond if you have them? I am thinking of putting a pond in. I just have to figure out the best location.

chops, if you click on my www it will take you to my citrus photo page at the top of that page it should say look at my other photos. I have an album named garden that pics of my little pond are. If you have trouble finding it let me know and I can e-mail you a link or photos.
Most of the photos are old or the pond is obscured by vegetation. I'll try and get some decent pics of it early this spring before every thing grows out of hand.. LOL
Gina *BabyBlue*

Millet,

Thanks for the wonderful pictures.

A picture is more than a 1000 words. I just finished reading the thread on water structures. It sounded like a good idea, but no actions came to mind.

Now, I see your blue barrels. I've got two of them laying around in the orchard doing nothing for the winter. Now, I've got an action plan! They will be in the greenhouse tomorrow morning!

zzzzz