My hoophouse

I was reading about Rose using a swimming pool covers for her hoop house, and I thought I should share the saga of my hoop house with the world.

My hoop house is made of 100% recycled materials, ( except for the cover). It started as........you won't believe this.... 2 discarded trampolines. The trampolines are actually 4 arcs each, which, when put together, form a circle.

The Master put 2 sections of arcs together to make a half circle. He cut the legs off, and inserted them in the ends of the half circle to give it some height. He did this 4 times.

The ribs are PVC, the really cheap kind that is used for sprinkler systems. All the pieces are held together with lengths of top rail from a chain link fence. We used 4 pieces of this, and bolted it all together with carriage bolts. A 2"x 6" board all along on either side of the bottom gives it more rigidity, and provides a place to anchor your covering.

Worth our time to put it together. Very reasonable to build, and it will last forever, I think. At least it will outlast me.

This is great for protecting plants in winter, but it is best as a shade house in summer. We lose more plants in summer heat than we do to winter freezes.

Hoe, hoe, hoe!

I got this new hoe. It is called a 'scuffle hoe', I think. Or maybe it is a 'stirrup' hoe. Whatever, it is wonderful!

It is just great for those little weeds that grow in patches and have shallow roots, like dollar weed. I hate that stuff. I scuffled a whole big flowerbed this afternoon with it, and it took about 10 minutes. I would have been on my hands and knees for hours before.

Also, I got a new shovel. It is a short handled shovel, just perfect for me. It came in handy for moving the red 'Sevilliana' rose that I have been threatening to move for 3 years. It was growning under a pecan tree, and just did not get enough sun to be pretty

She really does look like this picture, and she does it all year long. She will have about 3 weeks in winter (like now), when she won't be blooming, but the rest of the year, she will be in full swing. This is a marvelous rose, and a shame that more people don't know about it.

My friend Janet has 'Sevilliana' growing just like this picture, in front of a wood fence. It is gorgeous.

This rose is very easily rooted, too.

I got my rose moved, and a rock rose (Pavonia) moved as well. AND about 15 of those PITBackside primrose jasmine bushes dug out and thrown away! I have one that is about 15' square! It only blooms once a year, and I don't have enough room to be wasting it on something that takes up so much room and gives up so little beauty.

Around here, it better bloom. If it doesn't bloom, it better have beautiful foliage.

I planted some bulbs, lilies, and some seeds. Mustard for the kitchen, lettuce to replenish what we are using at a record rate, radishes because I love them, and a few carrots. I plant carrots because I feel guilty if I don't. Carrots are healthy, and I should be growing them, or so it seems. I have a hard time growing them, as our soil is that old black gumbo clay. But still, I have to try. Silly, I know.

I threw out poppy seeds too. California poppies that I couldn't resist at WalMart. I know it is probably late, but that is o.k. They might bloom. I would bet on it.

The only thing about that scuffle hoe is that I sliced off parts of some of my caladiums that I put in last year. They are just as pretty and healthy as they can be. I am looking forward to seeing them again, come warm weather. Caladiums are something that I have learned cannot be rushed. I have tried planting them earlier in pots, but it makes no difference. They need it warm, NIGHT and DAY, for caladiums to be pretty. Like zinnia; they like it hot!

A Present...

I got a present. Isn't she pretty?

This little fairy was a gift from my Darling Husband. Sometimes he surprises me.

Now I need to get the fairy garden looking nice for her. When it warms up, I will do that.

Next Sunday it is supposed to be 71 degrees. But it is going to be cold and rainy between now and then.

For the time being, I will keep her on the desk beside me so I can look at her.