The Best Of Tropical Garden Tour Ideas
It seems fitting in summer to give you a tropical garden tour of our property. Miami is a true mecca for designing a tropical garden and we have lovingly put our hands to ours for over 25 years now! Our goals have always been to create a home base with resort-style living. To take advantage of South Florida’s warm and humid climate with our foliage. Here’s how it all started…and I’m joining some fabulous friends today, so keep reading.
My Tropical Garden Tour – A Staycation Oasis
A view from one of the side areas of the garden with palm trees and Mexican Petunias for color.
We have lived in our home most of our married life and raised our family here. After only living here for a year, Hurricane Andrew blew through and devastated our area. We lost every single tree with the exception of one Plumeria and it looked like a war zone. More about that HERE. The photos alone want to make me weep.
We choose this home specifically for the land and knew that we could bring it back. With the water behind us and the large lot, this was the hidden gem that we had been looking for. It was worthwhile to restructure the garden and wait for it to grow.
Clearly palm trees and orchids are ubiquitous with even the mention of Miami. Undoubtedly you couldn’t escape them in the tropics if you tried! When we planned out our garden after Hurricane Andrew our first decision was to plant the palms in groupings. Absolutely odd numbers work better in interior design elements and it’s the same for garden design.
Our second consideration was to keep all trees away from the house. That way if another strong storm came through it might blow trees down, but not on our roof. Oh the things that you need to consider down here! Thusly, most of our landscaping is on the surrounds of the property. We are about to get the coconuts trimmed since it’s hurricane season right now. One year our landscaper removed 5,000 coconuts (yes, really!) which can become hurling objects in a storm.
Special areas were thought out where we could mix in ground cover that thrives in our climate. I enjoy sitting in the shade daily and watching the dogs as they run around outside. It’s the simple pleasures lately of staying home. In THIS POST I talked more about creating a tropical garden look, so take tips if you’re interested. If you don’t live where it’s warm year round, then try potted plants such as the ones below.
Warm Weather Plants
- Palm trees
- Ferns
- Air plants
- Orchids
- Monstera
- Bromeliads
Carving Out Spaces
Out in the rear of the property by the water we installed a large pea gravel patio. As well as the birdbath and the HUGE monstera, there are a couple of tables that we use for dining and entertaining outdoors.
This area is a bit far from the house. Nevertheless when the weather permits we will drag out the china and flatware and sit out here under the oaks.
A meal for two is perfect on the north side of the house where it’s shady.
Another spot that has seen a lot of action over the years is back here. We have a dock and my husband used to fish or take out the boat when the kids were growing up.
And unquestionably the most important part of our tropical home tour that we use daily is the pool/patio area. It’s why we bought this fixer upper and could see through the diamond in the rough that this home was!
Clearly this area is far from Pinterest perfect, but it’s real life and in need of a makeover. We have plans to paint the pavers in the fall, and that should make a huge difference.
We did just complete a garden project last weekend that I can’t wait to share after the brand approval! In the meantime…
Please visit my friends below who are sharing their outdoor spaces today as well!
Janet so nice to find you and visit your blog from this collaboration we are doing. Your yard and space looks magical. I love Florida and have not been to Miami, but hope to one day. I like how you aren’t afraid to bring the pretty things outside! Love living like that. I look forward to following you and reading more about Florida. xo Kim
Thank you Kim…I’ve been blogging for 14 years now, which is crazy! I have a daughter in San Francisco and just LOVE Northern California though.
Janet, I love this Staycation Oasis!!! You have really enhanced the lush tropical feel. So charming.
Mary Ann
Thank you Mary Ann…it really has helped having the this garden while sheltering in place!
Janet! I had no idea until this collaboration that you lived in Miami! No need to go on vacation when you live in a tropical paradise! I love the way you entertain! bring out the good china! Everything is lovely! And 500 coconuts…I cannot imagine! Is that a truckload? Wow!
So true Annie…and why I’ve never been to Hawaii! Make that…5,000 coconuts, not 500!!
Your garden is truly a tropical paradise. Lush greenery surrounding places to sit and put your feet up. Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you Gail…the hard work of tending a garden is worthwhile!
LOVELY THANK YOU FOR SHARING!
When you come visit your daughter tell KIM and we can all meet up!
BLOGGERS DO THE CITY!
It’s definitely different here, that is for sure! That sounds like fun…and I so miss being able to travel out there!
Wonderful to have you sharing your tropical garden! Love that you dine out under the oak trees and how lovely to have a water view! I’m a recent Floridian and absolutely understand keeping the trees away from the house! Off to read more of your blog and learn more about tropical gardening.
I’m a bit behind in answering comments, apologies. Definitely keep the trees away from the house, for storm purposes and also possible termites! Thanks for stopping by Ginger.
I love the tropical resort feel of your yard. And how lucky you are to have a pool! Your tour looks inviting and beautiful. I always love seeing your gorgeous tablescapes under those oaks.
Sorry I am late to the party. I babysat for a rambunctious two year old yesterday and promptly went to bed when arriving home. Janet what an incredible back yard you have. I love all the little spaces to pause, and enjoy the garden. I think painting the pavers is a fabulous idea. That area already has great bones. Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your tropical garden. My garden is at the opposite end of the spectrum!
Just getting around to answering comments, so I’m late to the part as well. Thanks for inviting me Cindy and hope to join you again! xo
Wow that’s a lot of coconuts!! 😉 Your property is so beautiful Janet – I love every corner of it! Your planning and hard work have sure paid off! I always get such great ideas from you, and even though I live almost as far across the country as possible, I snagged some wonderful tips for our backyard remodel! Thanks!! 💗
Hopefully the tree trimmers come tomorrow, which I’ll post on my Instagram stories if they do. So glad you stopped by my friend! xo
Thank you for your posts on Florida and gardening Janet. I love that you share some of that with your readers even though you are primarily a decorating blogger (love that too). We’ve been down here almost a year now from the NW and I’m still trying to get the hang of what grows here! Can we grow peonies?
And I just wanted to say that you guys did a great job surviving Andrew and going through that whole process of rebuilding. I’ve talked to coworkers Who live in Punta Gorda and they have said to always prepare for the worse and be happy when it was for nothing!
Thanks for stopping by Lorraine and your thoughtful comment! Florida gardening is so different than anywhere else and we have our own zones, so it depends on where you live within the state for certain growth. Peonies unfortunately will not grow at all in Florida or most of the south to my knowledge.
Janet, I’ve been following you for years and know that you are in Miami, but am just now realizing we are probably almost neighbors! I live in the Falls area, near Killian HS. Your yard is beautiful. I too have that Mexican petunia plant but didn’t know that was what it was called, lol! I followed your link to see your Andrew damage. Wow! We moved back to Miami in 93 so we didn’t have to go through that. Was pretty difficult to find a house at that time, though, as you can imagine.
I live on the other side of the highway and can’t believe sometimes how long we have been in this house! Hurricane Andrew is nothing that I would want to have to live through again for sure.