Gardening in Florida

A typical frontyard garden with large areas of grass

A drought tolerant garden suitable for the conditions

I'm not in a ritzy upscale area in the Tampa Bay area but it is interesting to observe the different gardening styles on my daily walks about the neighborhood.

Despite the lack of adequate rainfall and watering restrictions it seems that large expanses of lawns are the rule around here. The grass used for the lawns looks like quake grass that we pull out for weeds in Chicago and it takes a lot of water and maintenance to survive.

I've only come across one or two gardens that have no grass and use all drought resistant plants and other tropicals that can endure the intense Florida summers.

I am amazed that huge trees such as the live oaks are planted so close to houses, given the danger of hurricanes and tornadoes. The soil is almost pure sand here and the trees are easily uprooted during a storm.

I am also puzzled at how Azaleas thrive in this sand that lacks the acidity that they love and am amused at how houseplants in northern climes are plopped in the ground and grown as garden plants.