A couple more Florida questions...

[granolagirl97]

Well, we're getting closer to actually getting there. Our house is going on the market the day after Memorial day, so it could be soon.
SO, the closer I get to making the move, the more questions I have. For example, How do flowers know when it's spring there? (We intend to live somewhere between Tampa and Sarasota - staying w/MIL in Bradenton until we find a house.) When IS spring there anyway? And so, do you plant tulips and other bulbs in the fall... and when would that be?

Also, oh, please tell me there are antique stores and/or thrift stores down there. I posted a while ago asking about garage sales, but my reply said that folks really don't do them there! :crying I tell you, I love "garage sale season" around here (MN) - it's pretty big. Whole neighborhoods and towns even have their big garage sale weekends. I outfit both of my girls NICELY from garage and thrift stores. We have a chain thrift store up here called SAVERS. Are they down there? The person who replied to me also said that flea markets are more the big thing in FL. I haven't been to too many of those - one here and one my family used to frequent when we lived in SC when I was a teen. But what I often find at flea markets are vendors who sell a lot of crap: like knock-offs of brand name clothing and cheap jewelry and electronics. DEFINITELY not interested in stuff like that. But here we have antique malls and stores dotted all over the place from the cities to the small towns. So, am I going to get to keep up with my treasure hunting? Please, someone tell me I am!! Thanks! :love

[Jillby]

well where we are(east coast) we have garage sales! and thrift stores!i have not heard of savers though.we have lots of outlet type stores(still too expensive for me!) and Big Lots.I love going to antique stores too. not any right in my town,but not too far away.
spring is pretty much febuary and march.you can start growing things in your garden then,because by june and july it is too hot!
you can grow some stuff year round down here which is nice,some flowers and trees.i don't know about bulbs,sorry!
If you ever get over to Venice Florida,they have lots of thrift stores and a really cute downtown area.
good luck selling your house!!! and on your upcoming move!

[MommyKim]

I live in Clearwater which is on the west coast of Tampa and just north of Sarasota. There are plenty of garage sales around. My husband and I just get a newspaper and scout them out before we go. We do have several flea markets and some are worth checking out (not all cheesy stuff), but not many antique shops unless you go to the old cities like Tarpon Springs.

As far as spring goes, it's really hard to tell. We might get a few weeks in March, but mostly, it's just Summer here! But just think, that's why we have such great beaches!

[granolagirl97]

Oh, yes, MommyKim, that it's summer all the time is why we are coming!! :thumb I just wondered how gardening is affected by that. Do people even plant bulbs that need the cold to harden off? Also, are there lilac bushes there or peonies? Those two are definite seasonal signs of spring around here. If they're not around there I'll miss them... but that won't keep me from coming!

Thanks for the replies! :)

[saturnine25]

Granolagirl97, there are lots of great antique shops in St. Petersburg, on Central Ave. and on 4th St., near downtown. There are also quite a few thrift shops in the area. As far as your question regarding the seasons, there is a cycle here, but it is more subtle. It is also very easy to grow almost anything (except those plants which thrive only in cold climates.)- growing up in Massachusetts, I always thought I had a black thumb, now I grow all kinds of herbs, etc. w/minimal effort.

[mojomom]

Florida has thrift stores and garage sales we always had a garage sale every summer. Also pawn shops nicer ones dh loves going to visit my family and checking out the pawn shops for electronics.

I did not see lilac bushes until we moved to Michigan. I don't remember seeing any lilacs in Florida. I also love lilac bushes they are my favorite but Florida has Gardenias and they smell wonderful and are such a pretty bush.

[saturnine25]

Gardenias are everywhere, and jacaranda trees......I really fell in love with those when I moved to FL

[cinnamonamon]

No lilac bushes here. :( They are my favorite too. But there are LOTS of garage sales!!! Especially in Bradenton -- that's where I live. There are two or three Goodwills in the area that are popular & several other 2nd hand shops in Sarasota. There are also a lot of consignment shops around.

I don't know anything about gardening, so I can't help ya there. But let me know if you need a treasure hunting buddy - I'm always up for that!

[Chanley]

lilacs peonies and bulbs need a good winter which you wont get in fla.

But dont fret, you will come to love some tropicals that you could NEVER grow in your current climate. It is a trade off.

What about an orange tree in your back yard?? That means homemade fresh squeezed juice every morning!! Coconuts also grow well in that area.

It is a trade off!

[granolagirl97]

Thank you all so much for the info. Well, I am greatly relieved to hear that there is still going to be rummaging fun for us. I suspected the bulbs and lilacs would't work out, but I hadn't thought about peonies!! :crying Their scent is one of a kind! And they are so soft and lush. I've smelled lilac in lotions and perfumes, etc. before, but I have never found one that claimed to be peony to replicate it correctly. Anyone know if anyone makes something like that, because maybe then I could console myself with that! :) Oh, well. I did know there would be a trade off and I am really looking forward to discovering all the new plants that I will be able to play around with there.

I am wondering these days about lawns. I love flower beds and vegetable gardens more than I love lawns, but I would like SOME lawn for the girls to play on a bit and to spread out a blanket and read stories together as we like to do. My MIL lives in a neighborhood w/an association. They all have the same kind of grass - a very thick, stiff blade grass; not too pleasant for walking. But she said that that is what is hardy down there. I am just wondering what to expect. Outside of the association (away from what I expect, was her & her neighbors highly treated lawns) I noticed more dry lawns; more patchy. It could be that the lawns I saw were folks just not interested in landscaping... or maybe it's hard to keep a lawn?? I believe in using native grasses/plants and am willing to do that, because I don't believe in using gallons and gallons of water on grass. But I usually find there are clever alternatives. Anyone have suggestions or just other information?

Thanks again! The internet is a wonderful thing (mostly! :rolleyes: ). I so appreciate everyone who has offered information. It really gives our family a greater sense of peace knowing just a bit of what we might be able to expect. :love

[calla lily]

Bulbs that need a cold winter won't grow down here. You can cool them in your fridge, but I have never had any luck with that. There are a few that grow well here that won't grow up north. I love calla lilys. They do great in a shady area or wet area. There are lots of different colors. Most will die back in the winter, but there are some that have leaves year round. The leaves are just as pretty as the flowers. I'm not sure but I think they are poisonous, so watch out with the kiddies. Amarylis (sp) are another great bulb. You usually see these around Christmas elsewhere, but for me they bloom in my garden in spring. Calidiums are another great one. They are grown for the pretty leaves. Freesia grow well and smell great.

Lawns are hard to keep and they take a lot of water to maintain. Ours will only look ok if we get alot of rain. And they aren't very much fun to play in because of bugs, unless you spray for them. We just got back from a vacation in PA and NC and I love the yards there. I wish I could grow tulips and other bulbs like that.

[MERMAMA]

I live in Nokomis, just south of Sarasota, There are definately yard sales down here- year round!! No freezing winter to keep you in your house. As for antiques, junk stores, Sarasota is a great place to find them, they are everywhere! :D