The Garden of Ben and Louise Lawrence
This page features the structure that holds the shade material (30
percent) for the Lawrence dahlia beds. Dahlia plants have been set in beds
for the 1998 season and the shade material covers the structure.
|
The structure holding the shade material was built over a two year
period. A new 11' X 50' addition was attached to each side of the
original building. That is called "No
Advanced Planning" |
|
|
A total of nine 3' by 50' beds are covered by the shade material. A
system of ropes and pulleys enable the shade material to be rolled up
and down as necessary. So far the shade material has stopped the small
hail storms we have had in the past two years. The shade material was
purchased (on special order) from a local greenhouse supply firm. |
|
|
If this structure had been planned with the knowledge we have gained
during the past two years, the center poles would be 12 feet high
rather than 8 feet and the slope from the top to the outside wall
plates would be continuous as in an "A" frame. The side
rails would be 6 feet high--providing 6 feet of rise to 24 feet of
run. Shade material would also be fitted (with roll up and down
capability) to the south and west walls. |
|
The intense Colorado sun combined with increased UV intensity because of
the 6,000 foot altitude causes one to consider an almost full-time shade
structure such as pictured here. The intent behind the use of the shade
material and the misting system was to try to mimic growing conditions in
western Oregon and Washington. The Lawrences have 9 beds under shade and 4
beds exposed to full sun. The differences between the plants and blooms
can be easily seen. Under the shade the plants run three to five feet tall
and the blooms generally measure at the midpoint of the
classification--that is an "AA" averages about 12 inches. In
full sun, while the plants appear healthy and vigorous, they average two
to three and one-half feet in height. The blooms frequently do not meet
the minimum for the classification--an "AA" raised in full sun
runs 9 and occasionally 10 inches.
A misting system is also built into the shade structure. It drops the
temperature from 90 to 82 degrees when run for about two minutes.