Ever since we built our covered terrace, it's caused us problems.
The view above (from inside the terrace) looks due West, and in the late afternoons and evenings the hot sun pours in towards the table, causing diners to melt.
We've considered building a wall and we've tried hanging drapes, but until now we've not found a solution that is either aesthetic or practical or both.
So I've now decided that 50% sun-filtering is probably the best answer, and I've installed some simple trellis that by Summer should be thick with Wisteria and Morning Glory. The doorway will probably be hung with a heavy wood or bamboo fly-screen, if I can find one that's not too ugly.
Crazy isn't it; we chose a place to live that is pleasantly warm, then moan about it being too hot. Some people are never happy.
It all looks most pleasant.
ReplyDeleteWe ate out there last night, and had to sit right at the far end to avoid the sun. Hopefully by Summer we'll have found our solution.
DeleteDilemma
ReplyDeleteYou'll eventually get something to work. In the meantime, enjoy getting tanned :-)
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who custom-builds rotating summer houses, if that's any use to you. I think they are about £8000 each.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have one when I was still at school. I don't think my parents realised it could rotate until they came to sell-up.
DeleteDERR!
DeleteIt all looks idyllic Cro.
ReplyDeleteWisteria (Wisteria sinensis, especially, which is the one that is most fragrant) is a wildly invasive plant here. In time i can tear down lattices, rip gutters and shingles off houses. and choke out even trees. We also have trouble with morning glories. Both those plants have an annoying tendency to pop up in the lawn once planted. I love the look of both, but they can be pests. I take it they aren't problematic there?
ReplyDeleteI've not grown Morning Glory before; I'd just heard that they grow like crazy, which is what I'm after. The Wisteria will need pruning every year, but they do seem to behave themselves here.
DeleteThat sounds to me like a charming solution. We have a similar problem in France when sun bathes the terrace until just after 7 pm. Eating with the sun bearing down on us we find quite unpleasant -- never mind cooking in high summer.
ReplyDeleteSame problem on the back deck...we have rapidly departing shade until 2:00pm and then blazing sun. Your patio looks lovely and will be even more beautiful when your foliage comes in.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful terrace, and morning glory vines and wisteria will be lovely!
ReplyDeleteHot sun? What's that then?
ReplyDeleteI'm easy to please! Really I am! It just needs to be bright, between about 63°F and 67°F, not humid and with a light breeze, a few fluffy white clouds in the sky and no flies, wasps or generally yucky insects - and no neighbour noise, no traffic noise, if a 'plane goes overhead it must be vintage turbo-prop not jet and if sheep and cattle can be heard then they should sound happy. That's all. Oh - and with tinkling water nearby, not too gushy.
ReplyDeleteMother Nature has a way of putting a crimp in our best laid plans. The plants are a beautiful and practical solution, but as someone else said, those are invasive plants. You will have to keep on top of them. Be careful of what grows quickly.
ReplyDeleteI love morning glories! Looks like the perfect solution to me. What a lovely place you have.
ReplyDeleteMr. M, Your idea will work beautifully. I did something similar at my old home as it faced the west and the bedroom windows faced the brutal sun and it got over 150* in that room. I used Morning Glories and it filled in and it was a sight. The only thing was the Glories self seeded and I had to keep them pulled, but it was ok as it was worth the time pulling wild Glories for the sun filtering that it provided.
ReplyDeleteIn my new home, I am bringing my wild grape vine with me and plant this by my patio, for sun, again, the back of my home is facing the west and I have new problem this time, but a different approach.
Have a wonderful week, Mr M and the lovely Lady M.
Wisteria will do the trick, I would leave the morning glory out as by fall it is a mess. You have seen photos of my Wisteria 'Cooks Special'. It can be an invasive plant if you ignore it but paying attention to its pruning needs it will soon be the gem of the garden.
ReplyDeleteIt will be glorious once the plants take over. Too bad wisteria doesn't have a longer blooming season so you can breathe in their fragrance while you're enjoying that terrace.
ReplyDeleteOurs seem to bloom twice. First time NOW, and again in Summer.
DeleteJasmine or honeysuckle might also be nice - I think they smell beautiful too, giving you a scented bower in which to sip your wine of anevening. But I don't know how quickly they grow, so they may not be a solution for this year. Our balcony faces east, so we only get the sun until about midday.
ReplyDeleteWe did think about Jasmine. Something hardy and evergreen (flowering or not) could also be good.
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