I'm trying to get some ideas of Alpine House designs. Not necessarily just ones that work, but something that will be attractive in and of itself.

Does anyone have or know where to find pictures?

Hi Chelle, and Happy Thanksgiving!
I just 'googled' Alpine House Plans, and they had a slew of images…Everything from a single small family dwelling, to the absolutely 'obscene'! You know the ones that are massive and ostentatious! Including floor plans. They are very pretty. Really like the style!

Ah, yes. That's what I keep getting, too. The ones I'm looking for are for growing and sheltering alpine plants. I see plenty of information about specifics; light, air circulation and all that, but I need some visuals.

Ooohhh…I see, I thought you were looking for 'people' houses! Duh! Should have guessed it was for 'plants'! Sorry 'bout that!

That's okay. I wasn't very clear in the thread title.

I'm thinking something along the lines of a pretty wood-framed glass house, but smaller and with a lot more ventilation. I dunno...


At any rate...happy Thanksgiving to you, too!

chelle....instead of just a google search of alpine houses search alpine house for plants. I just did...you *should* find what you want that way.

I tried it, yes, but didn't get very far. If I delve deeply into the sites specific to alpine plants, I find garden designs and "working" alpine houses, but nothing decorative.

I'll try again later -once the Holidays are over.

Thanks, Ginger.

Chelle, I bought an aluminum-framed greenhouse for protection of potted plants that need a cool, dry winter. It hasn't been totally successful. I added insulation, an electric heater, and water-filled bins for passive heating, which combine to keep the interior just around the freezing mark on the coldest nights. The problem is, as soon as the sun hits the greenhouse the temperature inside rockets up, and the extractor fans can't cool it fast enough. Someone always has to be home to manually open the greenhouse windows and doors on sunny days, otherwise the plants cook. I bought some automatic vent openers, but discovered they are designed for summer use and don't operate until the temperature reaches 80F! I now use the greenhouse mostly for cacti, as they are forgiving of wildly fluctuating temperatures. The following are some pics from 2009.

That's still a very nice setup, June. I really like all the light reflection you've designed into it.
That's one thing I hadn't considered.
The plants I want to grow would all be hardy to my zone, but just like yours they'd need dry winter conditions, at the very least. I'm thinking of something along the lines of a panel house. Clear sides up to maybe 18" from the overhanging, (also) clear-paneled roof, with that area left entirely open for air movement. Perhaps with an option to open or remove roof sections as well.

Google is all you need!

Pinterest always has interesting ideas:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/6...
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/6...
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/6...
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/1...

Perfect, Arlene! Thank you!

I always forget to look there.

The second and fourth ones that you linked to are something like what I have in mind. Pretty, and with lots of natural light!

Glad you liked some of them. Each one seemed to have some kind of special charm.

Pinterest relieves any winter boredom!

January and February, as weather allows, I'll definitely be haunting that site!

June, what did you use for insulation? Is that just bubble wrap?

I used a few different insulation materials. Buried under the gravel floor there are several thick sheets of polystyrene. The entire north end of the greenhouse is walled with home-construction grade insulating board. The glass panes of the sides and roof are lined with plastic bubble-wrap, attached with spray glue. Two "storm doors" - wood frames covered in heavy-duty clear plastic - slot into the doorway behind the double sliding doors, and are held in place with magnetic catches at the top.

The bubble wrap lasts for two or three years and then becomes brittle and has to be renewed. Before attaching new bubble-wrap, all the powdery residue of the old spray glue has to be scrubbed off the glass. The glueing is not fun, either. It's usually boiling inside the greenhouse and I'm covered head-to-toe to avoid getting spray glue on my skin and hair, and wearing goggles to protect my glasses, and a face mask so I don't inhale glue. It's not a task I look forward to.

Spray glue? That sounds like something I could use now! Where do you get it?

I buy 'Elmer's Spray Adhesive' from my local hardware store. I'm not sure if it's sold under the Elmer's brand name in the US, but on the can it says "Made in USA", so you should be able to get some. On the can it says the adhesive is "for long lasting bonds on paper, plastic, foil, metal, cardboard, wood, fabric + more". It sure sticks my fingers together if I forget to wear latex gloves!

Oh, that is going to make my interior GH touch-ups SO much easier! I have some supplemental insulation (yep, bubblewrap!) that has come loose and that looks a LOT easier than what I've been doing.

I forgot to mention that I also use clear plastic parcel tape to secure the edges of the bubble-wrap to the greenhouse structure. Otherwise, if there's any bubble-wrap not completely stuck to the glass, when the door is open the wind can get under the bubble-wrap and peel it off.