My new outdoor growing space

New this summer, with two goals: the ability to exclude squirrels (ask any dog: you can't trust a squirrel), and to provide a larger amount of bench space than the rickety staging I had been using. This is placed under an apple tree, and provides mostly shade, with a little sun (too much for my brand-spanking-new Scuticaria, unfortunately). The top, sides and back have a chicken wire covering. It still needs anti-squirrel doors, so the little thugs can't get in and jump on the plants, but it's worked out real well this summer. Since the photo, I've added a floor to the bottom part, and grow companion (dirt) plants - mostly strays from the part time gig I've got watering hotel plants.

 

Not year round, I live outside of Philadelphia. Good for about mid-May to late September. Soon time for the great fall migration.

 

BTW, I have another space that gets much more light, where I keep the few cattleyas I have, as well as phrags and roth-type paphs. Also dendrobiums and some other sun-lovers. It's old, open, and subject to squirrel depredations as well (mostly they push plants off the shelves), but not as bad as the shady space was.