Create an Escape
Summertime is upon us in North Central Florida, and for many, offers a chance to travel or perhaps even escape to an exotic location. Tropical breezes are calling, but you do not have to leave your home to take a vacation. Why not create an inviting get-away from the stresses of life in your own backyard? Try these ideas for the perfect refuge.
Tell a Story
Select a theme that reminds you of a far-away place. What locale are you trying to evoke? A recent trip to South Africa inspired this Gainesville couple to makeover their outdoor space (above, right) with bold foliage and drought-tolerant succulents. An outdoor gazebo offers a shady place to grill out.
Be a “Lawn Chair” Traveler
Is there a place that you have always yearned to travel to? Grab a book! These design ideas were spawned by reading travel literature and then experimenting with colors and materials from another time-zone.
Maybe someday you will snorkel the reefs of Borneo or ride a camel in Morocco; but until then, how about a “coral reef” of succulents growing vertically up your patio wall (photo top, left)? Conversely, what about adding outdoor cushions inspired by Moroccan tiles (photo left page)?
Find a Shady Nook
Gainesville, with its abundance of trees, offers numerous opportunities to escape the heat. Afternoon shade offers the best respite from the hottest part of the day. Think about creating shade for a sitting area or the hot, west side of the house by planting fast growing trees or mature palms.
Plant Tropicals Now
Summer rains make transplanting easy and most tropical plants enjoy warm weather to get established. Pay careful attention to cold hardiness zones for our area. Residents in East Gainesville and the Duck Pond often experience temperatures ten to twenty degrees warmer than those in Newberry or Alachua.
For something different, try this exotic looking passion vine called ‘Purple Incense’ (photo top, middle) for a rambling spreader that attracts swarms of Zebra Longwing butterflies in late summer.