A Greenhouse Rises From Texas Tornado Wreckage
Barn damage became a blessing in disguise for a thrifty, creative couple with a hankering for more greenery
Sarah Greenman
December 1, 2013
Carolyn Pace says she’d rather be up to her elbows in dirt than cooking in the kitchen. So when a small tornado demolished her backyard pole barn, the Centerville, Texas, resident worked with her husband, Gary, to transform the damaged structure into a greenhouse. “The old barn was falling apart; walls blowing in the wind and full of debris,” says Carolyn. “The tornado came through and created the perfect place for a greenhouse.” Now the retired teacher can nurture her “green babies” all year long.
A 15-year-old Norfolk pine in the corner of the greenhouse greets guests upon entry. Carolyn comes from a long line of gardeners and takes after her aunt Anita, who was a plant enthusiast. “My love of plants was also reinforced by my dad,” she says. “No matter where he lived, he always had a garden.”
The shapes and sizes of the various windows dictated the greenhouse’s construction. “I have my sister’s old back storm door, a window from my niece’s old bedroom and even double wooden storm doors from my son’s father’s house,” Carolyn says. It was a challenge for the couple to work with mismatched pieces, but it also gives the greenhouse unique character.
“One thing I would have done differently was to be careful about using old recycled thermal windows. Eventually they will leak and cloud up,” she says.
“One thing I would have done differently was to be careful about using old recycled thermal windows. Eventually they will leak and cloud up,” she says.
Plants, including the Starfish Flower (Stapelia) on the left, are potted in a variety of containers, from traditional ceramic pots to teapots and food cans.
Built-in shelves line the walls and house various succulents, bromeliads, herbs and cacti. “I love the smells that envelop you as you enter the space,” says Carolyn. “Caring for the plants and watching them grow is very rewarding and relaxing.”
The couple built a waist-high table around a center support pole. Carolyn uses this space for potting plants and other projects.
Carolyn is in the process of creating a mosaic tile countertop for the potting table. When traveling, she and Gary (also a retired teacher) collect tiles for the project — some depicting the location where the tile was obtained.
This book planter was a collaboration between Carolyn’s sister and niece, who made some as reception centerpieces for a recent family wedding.
Plants: Sweetside Creations
Plants: Sweetside Creations
Ceramic plaques with inspirational words dot the greenhouse walls. "They were given to us by friends at a medieval Yule party we have every year at our house," says Carolyn.
A small bubbling pond, given to Carolyn by her mother, does not currently house any critters but has in the past been home to goldfish, guppies and frogs. “It was such fun to see the tadpoles hatch and grow,” says Carolyn. “Their nighttime singing in the summer can really get loud and excited sometimes.”
The greenhouse floor was created using bricks rescued from a turn-of-the-century fireplace located on a neighboring homestead. Some of the pieces are marked with soot and show their place of origin.
An aloe vera plant potted in a saucepan has its own rocking chair just outside the greenhouse.
The couple used the existing support poles to frame their 270-square-foot greenhouse, and collected windows and doors from friends, family and neighbors to create the patchwork walls. “Since we are big on recycling, we also used old lumber and plastic roofing from my former greenhouse,” says Carolyn.
The wooden sun that hangs on the exterior is from Ecuador; it was a gift from Carolyn’s son and daughter-in-law. Since the greenhouse can heat up easily under the Texas sun, Carolyn placed a recycled-wood trellis over the doorway and planted yellow jasmine for shade. “There is also butterfly weed planted outside,” she says. “I like to grow butterfly- and hummingbird-friendly flowers, since we live in a certified wildlife habitat.”
The wooden sun that hangs on the exterior is from Ecuador; it was a gift from Carolyn’s son and daughter-in-law. Since the greenhouse can heat up easily under the Texas sun, Carolyn placed a recycled-wood trellis over the doorway and planted yellow jasmine for shade. “There is also butterfly weed planted outside,” she says. “I like to grow butterfly- and hummingbird-friendly flowers, since we live in a certified wildlife habitat.”
The couple bought their 26-acre property in the Piney Woods of Texas eight years ago when they retired from teaching. “I love the rolling hills and the tall pines blowing in the wind,” says Carolyn. “It is just enough land for us to care for, and we love the peace and quiet out here in the country.”
The couple is building a new home on the property. While the exterior is largely finished, the interior will not be move-in ready for some time. “We’re doing most of it ourselves,” says Carolyn, “and these things take time.”
A vintage metal shelf, found on a shopping trip to First Monday Trade Days in Canton, houses a collection of cascading succulents. “I like to go to Canton with my daughter, Brandi [Powers], who is helping me design my new home,” says Carolyn.
The new home is on a ridge overlooking the Pace property. “We love to hear the coyotes and owls singing at night, and the stars are beautiful out here,” says Carolyn.
More: See a family greenhouse made from scraps
More: See a family greenhouse made from scraps
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