Pieter Built our Greenhouse

 Never actually showed you how our greenhouse came about...

Of course, husband Pieter built it himself and I helped.

First the foundation got built.

Pieter had built the roof part together and I helped him lifting it on top of the aluminum frame!

Just the two of us... 😉 on Wednesday, November 17, 1993

Good team work!

Thursday, November 18; proud greenhouse builder! Putting the aluminum Alcoa parts together.

This was a gift from Krijn Leendertse, Voskamp.

We had to move to Pennsylvania at that time so now it finally got build!

Monday, November 22nd, Pieter was in a happy mood, doing something that he'd done before, as a young man.

Immediately after the war, Pieter worked for a few months in greenhouse construction, glazing in his area.

Pieter's Dad, after WWII bought two greenhouses in the West of The Netherlands (Westland area) due to urban expansion they had to clear. Pieter and his brother Toon did break them down and carried them to the road. Lots of water ways where no truck could go! Pieter and Toon had to cross a narrow bridge.

They had stuffed wood wool in their jacket, to support their shoulder! Also for carrying the iron rods and ledges.

Final segments...

We're getting there!

We almost got a greenhouse...

Friday, November 26 we have a greenhouse!

First resident for winter...

Inauguration...

Yep, it is DONE!

Plant table is done!

More residents got moved inside...

A Minimum–Maximum thermometer hangs down on the left near planter.

Another wood trail as a walkway towards the greenhouse.

Let the weekend begin!

Only 8 years later, on Tuesday, April 17 of 2001 Pieter did rebuilt the greenhouse with the help of my Dad.

Somewhat bigger this time!

Pieter dug up the entire foundation and built it all new, from scratch.

Mom is watching as Pieter is caulking.

Dad standing in front of the greenhouse, wearing a Campbell cap and one of Pieter's old work shirts.

Did you notice our roses?

We always have had electricity in our greenhouse as well, for our heater in winter time.

Pieter installed it all.

Thursday, April 19, 2001. Being creative... 

I was weeding and did serve some Dutch rusks with chocolate flakes and coffee.

The wheelbarrow with the old greenhouse door on top functioned as a table 😜

So happy for having archived all those photos...

Related link:

{Fall & Winter Preparations} | previous post by me where Pieter added brick patio and addition 

{SHATTERED Winter Dreams...} | previous post by me where addition got shattered...

{New Heater for Greenhouse} | previous post by me

Our HUGE Clematis lanuginosa 'Candida' in 2022

Always a happy sight when our Clematis lanuginosa 'Candida' shows its flowers!

Yes, they are HUGE as they can reach 9 inches or 22.8 cm in diameter.

Captured this photo on April 14 against our garage wall.

Like a work of ART

Related links:

{Our Clematis lanuginosa 'Candida'} | previous post by me  

3,000,000 Blog Pageviews & Our Clematis Candida | previous post by me

Husband Pieter Finished Restoration Work on our Bridges on Wood Trail

When we purchased our lot in 1990, both of us were still 'young' enough to handle its size.

Over the years, as we both age and decline in health; it has proven to be more than big enough!

BUT we still take pride in our Estate:

Photo taken on May 3 and our lawn is nice green again.

This is the bridge closest to the road where Pieter used vinyl picket fence parts, that got damaged from the tree cutting.

Our center bridge restored and wood treated.

Our 3rd bridge that Pieter managed to complete on April 30.

Yes on the day that we had his Birthday dinner in the evening...

Just walked over JIT = Just In Time before it was DONE.

Yep, a 93 year old + 1 day...

Okay, let me take you back into the wood garden after the tree crew cut down several ugly ones or those that were not so healthy.

We let them decompose naturally and it will take but a couple of years.

This was on March 23, just for the oversight of our wood trail.

The trail makes a kind of |_|_| through our wood garden, towards all 3 bridges.

The creek is very calm here and it is forever changing over the years.

We look towards the road, standing on the 3rd bridge and you see the center bridge and the one closest to the road with the vinyl picket fence.

Now looking towards the house and gazebo...

Also on March 23.

On April 30, our Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold was once more at its best.

Each spring the new leaves are golden.

Yes, even live oaks do shed their leaves and renew in the spring!

Our palm trees are growing fast and to the right you see the White Oak towering tall over the more compact Grand View Gold.

Such a perfect day with blue sky and here, you see the Grandview Gold seen from the front.

On May 3, we walked the Wood Trail over the bridge closest to the road and when we bend left, we come past a damaged mailbox that Pieter used for bird house, with a hole made in the pull down lid.

When I opened it, not knowing that it was occupied, a Carolina Wren flew out!

There are 4 eggs but a bit strange that there is one white one...?

Looks like a brood parasitic bird has been in action here.

In certain areas there are short bridges on the wood trail... This one is the first after passing the bird house.

Those are now all repaired and treated in order to preserve the wood.

There were initially ditches dug for letting the water flow down towards the creek, so here is another bridge for walking over.

One can tell that it has been quite windy on and off and blossoms fall from trees down.

And the next one, passing over a former ditch or area where it can be wet in winter time.

This section used to be wet and had a bridge but Pieter is not replacing this one as there is no longer a need for.

A short section.

And now were coming almost out of the woods.

Our gazebo is visible and to the left our house.

But 3 days later, on May 6, this happened in that corner at our neighbor's yard!

We were for 7 hours without power as there were lots of trees down in our area and we had a lot of wind gusts, no tornado warning but a severe storm passed through.

Scary when you see such a giant being toppled!

We're grateful for having cut our weaker trees down early November last year.

Related link:

Bridge and Underbrush Clearing | previous post from January

Our Bridges a Constant Battle with Mother Nature | previous post by me