[Serenoa]

Currently living in Alabama we aren't TVers quite yet, but hope to be making our first visit down there very soon. Being avid ornamental gardeners we would like to see some of the best tropical yards that TV has to offer. If you have one yourself, or know of one or more on your street, your neighborhood, or anywhere in TV, please tell us about it. We're mainly looking for the most tropical in appearance (lots of palms, the jungle look) but will certainly appreciate seeing any & all attractive yards. A street NAME is all you need to give, and we will certainly respect everyone's privacy & not disturb anyone or peek over any fences. Thanks!

[bike42]

My vote for the prettiest front yard in TV is 899 Smith Place in Bridgeport at Lake Sumter. Go in the gate, take the first right onto Russell Loop, then take the first right onto Smith Place, a short cul-de-sac. The house is on the left side. I don't know the owners but always ride by on my bike when I'm nearby just to enjoy the beauty -- waterfalls, bridge at the entry, tropical-looking (but hardy) plants and always lots of flowers.

[skyguy79]

Here's one we looked at before buying. There was too much landscaping for us! Don't know if it's still for sale as that was a year ago, but it doesn't show as being sold on the assessors web site. Perhaps the owners took it off the market. Also, the virtual tour is no longer available for it, you can get a limited view of some of the landscaping.

Properties of The Villages

[Serenoa]

Yes, looking at google earth I can tell they have tons of palms. We'll definitely put that one on our list to check out. Thanks much!
(this reply meant for bike 42)

[Serenoa]

Very nice skyguy79. Thanks!

[JohnN]

I think for a general area, if you drive south down Canal street from Lake Sumter down to highway 466a, some 4 miles, there's plenty of beautiful landscaping to be seen.

[Serenoa]

thanks, John. We'll add Canal St. to our itenerary.

[jimbo2012]

bump

[cathyw]

Check out Mansfield Landscaping. They are a sponsor of TOTV. They give free landscape seminars. They also have a monthly Showcase of homes, where you go to visit homes that they did the landscaping for. They have hundreds of pictures on their website and facebook page. Most are Villages homes. Lots of very tropical yards.
I only know of them from TOTV.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ing-llc-51300/

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Serenoa

Currently living in Alabama we aren't TVers quite yet, but hope to be making our first visit down there very soon. Being avid ornamental gardeners we would like to see some of the best tropical yards that TV has to offer. If you have one yourself, or know of one or more on your street, your neighborhood, or anywhere in TV, please tell us about it. We're mainly looking for the most tropical in appearance (lots of palms, the jungle look) but will certainly appreciate seeing any & all attractive yards. A street NAME is all you need to give, and we will certainly respect everyone's privacy & not disturb anyone or peek over any fences. Thanks!

Well my dears, you are in for a huge tropical welcome because we have tropical plants all over the place and many of our home models echo the names of flowering tropical bushes; Gardenia, Bougainvilla, Lantana, Camellia, etc. etc. etc.

North South East West, Palms abound, the short little ones and the big tall ones. They live in yards and on golf courses and in common grounds that are meticulously maintained. In the northernmost parts of the villages the palms and tropical plantings are usually larger because they are older but many new homes sport very substantial palms of every kind.

It is important if you are going to add tropical foliage to be sure it is going to withstand our sometimes cold winters. The developer plants foliage that does a good job of surviving.

If there is a bunch of folks on each end of the sprectrum of trustworthy, it would be our landscapers. You will read some bad experiences on here and even more happy buyers of plants.

We were very content with the plants that came with our house and haven't added anything but a few rosebushes, but many northerners enjoy getting some Palm trees right away.

If you want to ask questions from the experts there is an Agricultural extension office at the sheriff's building near Morse and 466 and they also give seminars on Tuesday (?) at Truman Recreational center off Canal Street in the southern part of TV.

If you don't plant palm trees, your neighbors will.

Enjoy your new life in lower Paradise!

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

If you want to ask questions from the experts there is an Agricultural extension office at the sheriff's building near Morse and 466 and they also give seminars on Tuesday (?) at Truman Recreational center off Canal Street in the southern part of TV.

Where can we find more info on time etc.

[cathyw]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Where can we find more info on time etc.

Here's a link to an article about the Twice Tuesdays meetings with days and times.

Gardening in The Villages | The Villages Florida Rentals, Activities, Top Places


I just found another link with different plant clinics

Sumter County Extension Office ? Solutions for Your Life - UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences