From Dream to Reality
After two decades of owning and operating a greenhouse nursery, Smith’s Country Gardens, Donnie and I decided to retire it. But growing plants has never been something we could walk away from.
It was bittersweet to close the doors to our greenhouse business. We met so many wonderful people throughout those years, many of whom still stay in touch through my Smiths Country Gardens Facebook page. But after many seasons of working from morning until sometimes well after midnight, we were looking for a quieter, more peaceful place to grow our own plants.
Here’s the story of how that love for gardening carried us into the next chapter of our lives, a chapter full of beauty, charm, bountiful harvests, and so much more.
We had always admired Victorian-style glass greenhouses. Nothing quite compares to the elegance they bring to a garden. We knew we wanted more than just a place to grow plants. We wanted a space that would make our new growing experience relaxing and enjoyable, a place we’d truly love spending time in. A timeless glass structure was the answer, and finding the right one became our next adventure.
Our journey began with several weeks of research, comparing greenhouse companies to find the perfect one for us. We flipped through multiple catalogs, studying every detail, from how each structure was designed and built to the quality of the materials that went into it.
There was one company that stood above all the others, and that was Hartley Botanic. The structures they offered were in a class of their own. We soon learned that Hartley Botanic has been building greenhouses in the UK since 1938. Each one is made to order, with designs and ideas that are absolutely breathtaking. This is a company that has been shipping greenhouses around the world for many decades, so they’re obviously doing something right!
We started digging deeper into the details of their structures and became even more intrigued. That’s when we placed our first phone call.
While every Hartley greenhouse is made in the UK and shipped from there, the company also has a U.S. office, along with regional representatives who work with customers in their area. We spoke with a few people at the U.S. office who were very knowledgeable, polite, and helpful. Since we live in Indiana, we were eventually put in touch with Desiree, Hartley Botanic’s Midwest representative, and from there, the ball started rolling! We could never thank her enough for holding our hands through the entire process.
We got our permits, cleared out a spot, and before we knew it, we were breaking ground. Looking back, we’ve come a long way from the bare canvas to the landscaping that surrounds it today. Little by little, we continue to work on it.
There are many sizes and shapes to choose from, as well as completely bespoke designs. We chose the Victorian Grand Lodge, which features a central porch entrance with French doors and finials along the top, adding a stately finishing touch. We really wanted an interior ledge to set pots on, and since this style has the frame mounted to the top of the block walls, we were able to design something that gave us exactly that. Hartley offers a wide range of colors. We chose white to match our house and outbuildings.
Hartley Botanic doesn’t construct the flooring or walls, so we found a local contractor who has experience with concrete patios and brick walls. This wasn’t an everyday job for them, but the set of blueprints Hartley Botanic provided gave them everything they needed, right down to the exact dimensions. Once the foundation and walls were finished, it was time to move forward with building the glasshouse.
Hartley Botanic isn’t a company that simply ships your greenhouse and leaves you to figure out how to put it all together. Instead, it’s delivered and unloaded at your property, and the very next day, their installation team shows up early morning with everything they need to complete the job. They return each day and don’t leave until every detail is just right. From the first piece to the final pane of glass, our Grand Lodge took about three days.
We were completely fascinated by how smoothly the glasshouse came together as the team worked. Although we had visited another local Hartley owner before making our decision, we’re still so impressed by the look and feel of the powder-coated aluminum. We love how solid the doors feel, right down to the handles, and the same goes for the lower windows that open. Another detail worth noting is the automatic roof vents we added. They’re temperature-sensitive, so they open and close on their own based on the temperature you set. We also added Hartley Botanic shades along the front and back, and I can’t stress enough how important they are. They protect our plants from the harsh summer sun and help keep the greenhouse from overheating, as well as holding in some of the heat through the winter.
As I mentioned earlier, Hartley greenhouses are made to order, so there are many ways to personalize them, including adding extra doors wherever you’d like. Our greenhouse runs lengthwise from east to west, with the French doors facing north. We added an extra-wide door on the west end, and two things make its placement ideal. First, the breeze here most often comes from the west and southwest, so when that door and the French doors are open, a nice breeze flows right through the greenhouse, keeping it refreshing for us and stimulating for our plants. Second, our vegetable garden is just a short walk from that door.
Here are a few features we added to make our greenhouse more comfortable and functional. Radiant floor heating keeps things cozy, with a boiler mounted in our garage that pumps heated water through lines buried beneath the greenhouse’s concrete floor. We also installed a mini-split system, which gives us both air conditioning and another source of heat. Space heaters work well too on extremely cold Indiana days. We ran plumbing for a sink and added two ceiling fans with lights, one on each end of the greenhouse. And my personal favorite? The chandelier. It shimmers in the daylight and looks simply stunning once evening falls.
Once everything was complete, I couldn’t wait to give the inside a good rinse and start moving some things in. I started with my main focal potting bench, the one you see as soon as you walk through the French doors. Next, we added a different style of potting bench on the east side of the greenhouse. It serves as a little desk for holding books and planting guides, and it’s also a lovely spot to show off a few favorite plants. On the west side, we placed a 48-inch potting shoe.
By then, it was almost Christmas, and I was eager to fill our new greenhouse with a little holiday spirit. From then on, the Hartley has been filled with beauty through every season and holiday.
But at the heart of it all is growing. From sowing seeds to watching them germinate and grow into healthy plants, the Hartley gives us a head start on every season. We can get things started while it’s still too cool outside, so our plants are ready to go into the garden come spring. And when everything outdoors has gone dormant, we’re still surrounded by fresh herbs and produce to enjoy right through fall, winter, and spring.
We’ve spent many mornings sipping coffee, listening to the birds, and taking in the view of the garden through the glass. It’s also a lovely place to meet for a lunch date or share a glass of wine in the evening after a long day.
Thanks to Hartley Botanic, what started as a dream while flipping through catalogs has become a reality beyond anything we ever imagined! We enjoy every season to its fullest!
The Hartley also become my studio, where I film gardening tips, container designs, and seasonal plant combinations. To see more, visit my page, Smiths Country Gardens
If you have questions about our Hartley, leave them in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you! For more detailed information, feel free to email me at info@countrygardensandtable.com.
Ready to design your own backyard oasis or gorgeous venue that sets the stage for luxury events? You can request a free Hartley Botanic brochure or scan the QR code below to explore all available Victorian and modern glasshouse models.
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