I want to move there too when and if I retire. It will be too hot in a mid summer. But you cannot imagine the amount of gesneriads people do grow on their lanai in a sun and shade most of the year. Depends how close you are to the Gulf- the closer - the less chance of the winter frost. The farther - the more chances you will be dragging your pots inside every so often. Think Achimenes, Smithianthas, Nemathantus, Sinningias, Seemanias, Drymonias... Your AVs probably do better inside and no way you can grow Petrocosmeas and Streptocarpus - you can inside - but they will look like compost candidates. Episcias grow like weeds outside in a shade...

Welcome aboard, Shelbey! Tampa is my old stomping grounds, too. But many, many years ago! Hope you will make lots of new friends here and enjoy the forum as much as I do. There's always something new to learn around this place! Marcia

I understand. You are in a good location for finding gardens and nurseries. Wish I had known that when my aunt lived in Holiday (north of Tampa) and in Ocala ("near" Orlando)! Check what offerings the nurseries have as you should be able to grow many sasanquas and japonicas to cover Fall thru Winter. Maybe try the April Series to see if they bloom late Winter or early Spring over there too. Then in sunny areas, maybe plant annuals like Zinnias (start them in pots & move into the ground once they have two sets of leaves; you can put them in the same sunny places where Morning Glories had issues). Both Zs and MGs like lots of full sun. Zs need water but not too much of it. I would put mulch once they get a little inches tall or something like that. I would not plant Z's seeds on the ground (got better results starting in small pots). I would also not plant them in the ground and then throw mulch on top of the seeds (got worse results). My Mom is at an assisted living facility here in Tx where they have lots of really nice looking, 3' tall Zinnias.

I don't consider a grill on a patio an eye sore. But a grill off the patio in the dirt or mud? Yes! Why don't you extend the patio and give the grill a permanent place to "live." Along the garage wall between the two windows at the left side seems a reasonable place.