We love being a part of such a wonderful local movement LocalShops1.com. Where else can you meet such fantastic local business owners like Jim Shatz,owner of SPRides? Jim wanted to help promote fellow local businesses and decided to give away 10 ad spaces. You can see our ad as well as 9 other local business ads on the tablets aboard his
Read more... →Backyard Ponderings

Dave and I are excited to announce that we are contributors to the brand new, LiveLocal! Magazine, brought to you by LocalShops1.com. Live Local! magazine, available in print and online, brings expert tips, trends and practical advice from the local businesses, artists and nonprofits that make Tampa Bay a wonderful place to live and work. The first issue premiered in May 2014 and included our
Read more... →
What is outdoor living? It can be many different things to different people. To some it is a beautiful Florida friendly garden, to some it is a place to entertain friends and family and to others it is a place to relax, recharge and getaway from it all. Here are a few of the outdoor living renovation and maintenance projects we
Read more... →
Our grandsons are visiting us for the summer. The oldest, Davey, loves taking pictures of the animals and gardens but especially the bugs and wildlife he discovers while exploring at Fort Getaway. Check out a few of his pictures of the swallowtail caterpillars, chrysalis and butterfly in the garden. While checking out the edible landscape garden he discovered a group of
Read more... →
Do you enjoy the chirping of song birds in your yard? One of the easiest ways to attract birds to your garden is with water. Water is essential for all birds for both drinking and bathing. Many birds who normally do not visit bird feeders will not be able to resist a pond especially if the water is in motion
Read more... →
Keeping your pet cool during the dog days of summer! Nothing beats the Florida heat in summer like taking a dip in the pool. The same is true for your dog. Most dogs enjoy splashing around in the water at the beach, in a lake or pond, or at the local doggy day spa. Why not create a water play
Read more... →
Part I Whether you are new to the hobby of Koi keeping or a seasoned ponder, you may have questions about ponds and Koi keeping. Here are a few Koi & Pond questions sent in by our Sarasota Pet Magazine readers: I keep hearing that the big birds will eat the Koi in my pond. I live on the
Read more... →
Dave is busy as ever creating Backyard Getaways for our customers. Here are just a couple before and after images of our latest Backyard Getaway landscape renovations: A peaceful retreat. Melanie needed to replace sod that was dying and too high near her pool, at the same time she had a wasted space that was covered in shade. We removed
Read more... →
UPDATE: “The Art of Being Floridian” flamingo flock tour has begun! These fabulous flamingos, painted by 20 artists from New Port Richey to Avon Park, are on display throughout July at the Safety Harbor Library followed by the Oldsmar Library in August, the Arts Center of Manatee in September, and the Largo Cultural Center in October.. They are helping to spread
Read more... →
Dave and I are proud to announce that Backyard Getaway is the newest business partner of the Be Floridian fertilizer education campaign. Be Floridian is coordinated by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program with support from Manatee, Sarasota and Pinellas counties and the city of Tampa. The campaign promotes “Gardening like a Floridian” by complying with local fertilizer ordinances and using
Read more... →