Winter's icy chill may have descended over the northern United States, but that doesn't mean the growing season is necessarily over, thanks to that age-old green thumb outbuilding of choice, the greenhouse. The gardens of this Diablo, Calif. estate, east of San Francisco, outshine the house itself. That's partly thanks to the petite greenhouse, but also to "his and hers barns [and] a potting bench for the flower arranging extraordinaire." The 5,700-square-foot house includes five bedrooms and five baths, but is overwhelmed by the "rooms" in the garden, like the "the formal Rose Garden that tickles the senses with a symphony of fragrances. A Koi Pond, a serene home to playful show fish surrounded by lush tropical plants, and an enchanting Dahlia Garden, filled to the brim with blossoms in high season." All together, the 1.17-acre property is listed for $12.8M.
? Not far from Nike headquarters, in Hillsboro, Ore., this 47-acre estate has plenty of room for gardens, but the climate in Oregon is not always conducive to growing, so the owners built a large greenhouse to complement the 9,800-square-foot main house. Currently listed for $6.9M, the estate was once much larger, and more expensive. At 90 acres, it was previously on the market for $15M.
? Also in the Pacific Northwest, this stunning San Juan Islands estate includes 1,000 feet of stone beaches, a 4,300-square-foot house, a two-bed guest house, and, on top of it all, a quaint backyard garden and greenhouse. The 5.3-acre lot overlooks picturesque McArdle Bay, with the few neighbors hidden away behind the dense forest. There is no dock, and strong prevailing winds may prevent the construction of one, but no matter, the property is already in contract for something close to its $4.5M asking price.
? Greenhouses might harken back to some idealized Victorian garden, but they're also integrated into some modern construction. This stone estate in Inver Grove Heights, Minn. was completed in 2005 and includes a fully outfitted greenhouse, with counter, sink, drains, stone floors, and even a spigot in the center of the floor for irrigation. Of course, it doesn't seem to have seen much use. All the better for the green-thumbed buyer, who will hopefully use the greenhouse to produce some more impressive landscaping. The eight-bedroom, 13-bath mansion is listed for $9.75M.
? This rare private island, connected to the mainland by a causeway, is less than an hour outside of NYC, so the aging greenhouse is probably the last reason someone would spend the necessary $15.4M to acquire it. The 3.5-acre island could use some additional plantings, as could the 14,000 square feet of interiors.
· Diablo, CA [Zillow]
· 22380 NW Meier Rd [Zillow]
· 90-Acre Oregon Country Estate Close to "Private Jet Service" [Curbed National]
· 740 Watmough Head Rd [Redfin]
· 1401 70th Street E [Sotheby's International Realty]
· 140 Wallacks Dr [Zillow]