Alive and kicking!

[Michael]

Hello all

I've been absent for a while, but now that things are less hectic, there is more than enough time to take a short break and show you the project that had kept me busy for the last couple of months, a greenhouse. This is the third one, and by far the biggest I've ever built. I had to tear down 2 stone walls and secure a cave with a huge pillar before actually start the foundations and the metallic structure of the greenhouse itself, which is standing just in front of these walls.
I'm by no means a bricklayer, but this time i had to do the welding, sawing and concrete stuff all by myself, as my father has been busy with a few architecture projects of his own so he could not assist me.
Time is running out quickly... as I need to have this greenhouse ready and the plants inside it before I leave my homeland for a few years...

Here are a few pictures...

This is one of the walls that were in risk, so i had to dig the soil out from behind it, then tear it down, and rebuild it, this time with concrete. Those stones are a lot heavier than I though



Now the concrete pillar for the cave system:



The metal bar that will support the back of the greenhouse cover:



The front of it a few days ago...


and now:


And this is a man made cave which is more than 100 years old and dug up with pickaxe. They will be part of the greenhouse, and supply a perfect spot for shade dwellers



The entrances:



All these roughness's will be covered with epiphytes very soon


And a few more pictures of the place:





And that is all for now! I barely cannot wait to see this thing ready!

[Thomas Huber]

Wow, Mike - a lot of work done, but still a lot of work to do. Please keep us in touch.

Why do you leave Madeira and where do you go??

[WimB]

Hi Mike,

glad to see you're still alive. I'm curious: which plants are you going to grow in the cave?

[Lesley Cox]

Good Heavens Michael, what a project this is. I hope it proceeds well for you.

With Thomas, I ask why leave Madeira, where will you go and who will look after your new greenhouse and its plants when you are away?

[Michael]

Wim, im going to plant folliage plants like Marantas and alike, Dieffenbachia, Aspidistra, Begonia, etc. It has a south exposition, so gets plenty of bright light in the afternoon. Even the darkest places are bright enough for things like Aspidistra

Lesley and Thomas, next month I'm heading to an interview at Kew, and then I'm hopefully going to study horticulture there for, at least, 3 years. My mother and another friend will be held responsible for my plants, and I am pretty sure they can handle them well.
I'm installing automatic watering systems and a watering regime schedule for each group of plants, plus a pest and disease identification chart.

And I'll be monitoring my collection at distance, via cam pictures, so I'm confident that i will have few, if any, losses

[Gail]

Wow Michael that is an amazing project - well done you for putting so much work into it.  And very good luck with the interview, working at Kew would be fantastic!

[David Nicholson]

Michael, wishing you all the very best for your interview.

[Lesley Cox]

Yes indeed, we will all be rooting for you at the Kew interview. If you are successful, and go to live in the UK for a while, you'll be able to visit many Forum members, see the shows and generally take a larger part in gardening activities than perhaps you can in Madeira. Best of luck with it all.

[fermi de Sousa]

Michael,
best of luck with the interview! Just show them pics of what you've built in the last couple of months - that'll impress'em!
If you are in the UK next year we'll arrange to meet up when we come over for the Alpines 2011 Conference!
cheers
fermi

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I hope you can make it for Kew Michael !!
If you're admitted, you can expect to see a lot of familiar "Forum" faces there ... ! 

[Thomas Huber]

Good luck for Kew, Mike!!!

[cohan]

wow--what a project! congratulations, good luck (project and kew), and looking forward to seeing the finished work!

[Michael]

Hi all and thanks a lot for the support!

I think the worst part is the selection process to get the interview... Like somebody told me today, Kew is THE place... and hordes of people worldwide apply to enter. I feel somehow lucky on getting an interview at first attempt, as i was rather thinking the opposite!

I'm also very excited and looking forward to meet you all either on the Alpines conference, at Kew, or even on your own country, who knows?

More updates of the greenhouse will follow soon!

[ashley]

I hope that you and yours are okay Michael, and that the torrential rain hasn't damaged your great plant collection.

[Maggi Young]

I was just posting something similar in the weather thread...... we've been a out all day and come back to this news about the mudlsides and deaths in Madeira.... saw some frightening footage on the news. Hope Michael and his family and friends are safe.