[JohnN]

I wish the HGTV folks would come out and give some tips since I'm a novice to Florida landscaping, however plenty of green thumbs around here.

Patio Villa - think a blank canvas and on a budget. Low maintenance and hardy,
Likely rock instead of pinestraw.

What else? What things would you choose? I'm looking for ideas. Thanks! :bigthumbsup:

[travelstiles]

From an earlier post:

The book that I found extremely helpful and had suggested on an earlier post is Month-by-Month Gardening in Florida, Revised Edition (book) by Tom McCubbin. You can purchase it at Barnes & Noble right here in TV.
The other resource which is free to all of us is the Florida cooperative extension office, located right in the building on Morse and 466, where the sheriff's office is. You can arrange for a consultation with one of their representatives.

Other websites with good info are:
http://floridayards.org/
http://www.ufl.edu/
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/

[JohnN]

Hello travel, always good to hear from you.

Some long time ago, I got a Tom MacGubbin book "Florida Gardener's Guide" and it's excellent, so I expect his other book to be also. I might have to ~pop~ and buy it.
I've explored the internet sites and likely will (when I actually get there for a length of time) visit the Florida extension office, great thought there.

For my birthday (plenty-something years old) I've asked for "Gardening and Landscaping in Central Florida" by Marlys Bell - a 5-star rated book on amazon directed towards central Florida.

[travelstiles]

Thanks, John - I'll have to try that book as well. And don't forget the garden club that meets at the Hacienda Center.

PS - Hyacinth - yet another book for you to add to your collection!