The Walipini Project (aka greenhouse shenanigans)

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Loofah, Apr 25, 2021.

  1. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    A quick placeholder while I get some pics together...
    Some of you know I moved house last year. Out back is a fairly (very) knackered greenhouse, a sunken one called a walipini. In its hey day it would have been gorgeous but time has ravaged it and the time has come for a bit of repair work.
    The wood is rotten everywhere and there's more than a few plants taking over, not to mention wildlife!
    Anyhoo, the plan is to replace the roof entirely and I'm not about to rush so this might take a while...
     
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    • flounder

      flounder Super Gardener

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      I'm looking forward to a photographic diary on this. There are so many benefits from a sunken greenhouse, that the work put into restoring this (nuclear bunker?) will be well worth it for the rewards.
      Bring it on!
       
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      • Jasmine star

        Jasmine star Super Gardener

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        I remember seeing a picture you posted of it and it's beautiful (or was) looking forward to seeing what you do with it @Loofah
         
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        • NigelJ

          NigelJ Total Gardener

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          Looking forward to seeing how this develops. Good luck.
           
        • Loofah

          Loofah Admin Staff Member

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          Managed to get most of the glass off the roof yesterday. The end pieces and doors will stay in place for now just for a bit of structural piece of mind. Some glass was alarmingly easy to remove, other bits a total pita!
          Have decisions on material to glaze with - clean and re-use the glass or go for something tougher and in larger pieces (you'll see existing when I get round to the pics). There's a lot of upright pieces that I'd ideally like to half in number but the new glazing may be prohibitively pricey
           
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          • Loofah

            Loofah Admin Staff Member

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            Some pics, in no particular order of the greenhouse as we bought it and the state up to removing the glass. Very roughly it's 8m x 3m.

            IMAG5873.jpg IMAG5869.jpg IMAG1694.jpg IMAG1693.jpg IMAG1691.jpg IMAG1689.jpg
             
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              Last edited: Apr 27, 2021
            • Loofah

              Loofah Admin Staff Member

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              And some more including with most of the glass removed

              PXL_20210425_173705816.jpg PXL_20210425_150708243.jpg PXL_20210425_150643988.jpg PXL_20210425_102237235.jpg PXL_20210425_102041461.jpg PXL_20210425_102019791.jpg PXL_20210425_102011397.jpg
               

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              • flounder

                flounder Super Gardener

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                Wow, what a fantastic, back breaking project. Did it come with the cycad?
                 
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                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                  Nice house @Loofah .:dbgrtmb:
                  I think the greenhouse is mostly, knock it down and start again.
                   
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                  • Loofah

                    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                    It is! The cyad was the last plant that I got from mum before she passed away. It's just lovely in the right spot and very bloody prickly (bit like her at times!)!

                    Ta, was a labour of love but the greenhouse stays!
                     
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                    • Spruce

                      Spruce Glad to be back .....

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                    • pete

                      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                      You got me looking for the Cycad now, where is it?

                      Oh yeah, just got a glimpse on the right.
                       
                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      Just for info:-
                      I replaced one of the 5' x 2.5' 3mm glass panels in the greenhouse for £8 from the local glazier.
                       
                    • pete

                      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                      So how many are you going to need?
                       
                    • Scrungee

                      Scrungee Well known for it

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                      Was it originally constructed using Cedar? I read somewhere yesterday that the costs of that have rocketed.
                       
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