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VUE | Early Spring 2023

The Digest | New Jersey Magazine

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By Wendy Larimer Blame it on Bridgerton or e Crown, but many in the states have a newfound love for all things British and are looking to capture that classic English style right here at home. Consequently, the greenhouse, a staple of formal Victorian gardens, is a quickly growing trend as likely to be found in suburban yards as on sprawling estates. ose looking for not just a greenhouse, but a landmark that adds beauty, elegance, and a bit of drama to any yard are turning to Hartley Botanic to fulfill their desires. It isn't just a wish to reflect our English roots that has given rise to the greenhouse. According to Ashley Garner, Growth Marketing Manager for Hartley Botanic, the pandemic sparked explosive growth in home and yard renovations and turned people to home gardening — a trend that hasn't declined. However, as thumbs grow greener, the discovery that much of the country lacks the right climate to support the love for exotic orchids and juicy oranges has come to light, and is further complicated by the limited choices of greenhouses stateside. e answer lies in looking across the pond. What better place to turn for alternatives than the United Kingdom, where greenhouses are as common as garages are in the U.S. It can be argued that no company in England knows greenhouses better than Hartley Botanic, maker of the only aluminum greenhouses endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society. Founded by Vincent and his brother Norman Hartley in 1938, the company has been a groundbreaker in greenhouse construction and design and has solidified its reputation through the kid-gloved care it provides to each and every one of its customers. From its start in a factory in Lancashire, England, the manufacturer has spent 85 years hand-making elegant, made- to-order, award-winning greenhouses that transform outdoor spaces into romantic landscapes worthy of royalty. As with any new trend, there's a bit of a learning curve. Part of Hartley Botanic's goal upon entering the U.S. market is to educate the public about greenhouses and gardening. "People here are familiar with She-Sheds and hot houses, but that shed could be a greenhouse or an extension of their living space. It can be used for gardening, but also for much more," Ashley says. She goes on to share that customers have used greenhouses as yoga or art studios, cozy retreats to sit for a cup of tea, and, growing in popularity, as wedding venues ideal for ceremonies or first look photo sessions. e beauty and flexibility of a greenhouse has to be supported by solid construction and here Hartley Botanic is a leader. e company touts itself as the first to use aluminum in greenhouse design, taking the place of traditional wood and wrought iron structures that couldn't hold up to harsh English weather. Each part of each greenhouse is handmade and features the finest quality such as 4mm tempered safety glass, thermal plastic rubber to prevent direct glass to metal contact, manual vents on the ground, and hydraulic automatic vents on the roof that adjust with the interior humidity levels. e 30-year lifetime guarantee is evidence they stand behind their work. "We had a client from Alaska send us a photo of their greenhouse covered in 6 feet of snow but with plants thriving inside. Another in Michigan said her greenhouse was coated in frost and ice but inside she had tomatoes growing," Ashley comments. VUE ON | DESIGN VUENJ.COM 63

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