Garden Photo of the Day

Dede’s Sunroom Garden

Gardening indoors for the winter

By GPOD Contributor
sun shining into sunroom full of plants

Today we’re in Brewster, New York, visiting Dede Lifgren’s beautiful sunroom. We’ve visited Dede’s outdoor garden before (An Artist’s Garden), but here is what is happening inside.

Several years ago we enclosed part of our porch to make a sunroom. We overwinter our favorite tropical and tender perennials there and now get to enjoy them all winter long!

aquarium with fish and ferns growing aboveEven the goldfish come inside to keep warm for the winter. The large aquarium helps to add moisture to the room.

a large succulent and fern growing next to each other in the sunroomBoth succulents (Euphorbia trigona, Zones 10–12) and fern (Nephrolepis exaltata, Zones 10–12) share sunroom space side by side.

sun shining into sunroom full of plantsLots of green and sun are especially welcomed after a few months of winter!

potted plants in front of floor to ceiling windowsWarm sunshine is streaming in from the cold outdoors.

close up of large jade plant growing in a blue potThis is our giant, HEAVY jade plant (Crassula ovata, Zones 10–12). It’s a favorite because of its size—though sometimes we wish it didn’t grow quite so well!

close up of bright green asparagus fernAsparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus, Zones 9–12)

close up of tropical foliage plants in sunroomA giant leopard plant (Farfugium japonicum, Zones 7–10), a tree philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum, Zones 10–12), and some artwork share a corner.

potted plant growing up a large stakeI pinned this begonia up on a moss stake to save space. Even though temperatures are kept cool in the sunroom, it seems content.

sunroom with dog checking out indoor aquariumOur dogs enjoy the sunroom’s sunny location and the water that’s always available in the aquarium! The goldfish don’t seem to mind.

 

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Comments

  1. nwphilagardener 03/01/2023

    Spectacular photo set with really happy plants. I am delighted that the dogs have not lapped up any fish. BTW, although common names vary, I think many people call the plant you called 'Asparagus Fern' as "Foxtail Fern'.

  2. User avater
    simplesue 03/01/2023

    I LOVE the way you live! I went back to remember your outside garden (LOVE it!) and to see your fabulous sun room now wow!
    The photo with your dog really gives the full view and also love the close up photos!
    I'm saving some of your photos to my Pinterest for inspiration!

    1. Dede 03/01/2023

      Wow how nice!

  3. sheila_schultz 03/01/2023

    My goodness, that is one huge, happy jade plant. It must be a physical challenge to move it without breaking the fragile branches! The porch addition makes perfect sense for a greenhouse, much better than what I had to do when we lived in Denver. We had to haul a multitude of plants inside to 2 upstairs bedrooms filled with grow lights to overwinter. What we wouldn't have given for a porch greenhouse! Enjoy your cozy, winter jungle. It is perfect.

    1. Dede 03/01/2023

      Thanks. You're so right about the challenges of overwintering big plants. That jade is so big and heavy each year I swear it will be the last time it makes the trip. I say the same thing about my banana!

  4. nicki_s 03/01/2023

    What a fabulous space! It must be heavenly to sit there in winter and be surrounded by plants. Like others who have commented, I'm always looking for places in my house to overwinter a few plants. This year my sister-in-law is fostering a few ferns for me in her sunroom.

  5. btucker9675 03/01/2023

    What a wonderful space you've created and I love that the fish get to have a bit of a warm holiday inside as well. Everything is amazingly beautiful.

  6. mjdkitchens 03/01/2023

    Well, now I'm jealous. So beautiful. This article gets saved to my "Dream House" board.

  7. moyra_b 03/01/2023

    That looks like a little bit of heaven!

  8. avajames 03/02/2023

    Thanks for sharing this. save with blog

  9. MohawkValley 03/29/2023

    The best of both worlds . I went back an viewed your outside gardens first . Kudos to you on both efforts and accomplishments ! One can tell the love of life through how one gardens their turf and little piece of this Earth . Once again , kudos to you , Dede ! Peace from the Mohawk Valley --- we're not that far apart .....

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