Friday, August 16, 2013

Pool Garden....A Before and after tour of an Old Florida Style Garden



Before of M's Florida pool garden

Another before shot...fence is now installed 2010
Have you ever done a home reno or purchased something major for your home, been quite content with it, and then soon after spotted something that made you totally regret your decision? For me, it was our Florida pool. Swimming pools in most yards I have seen were very pretty, with cement coping and brick or concrete pool decks. When we built the Florida pool we promised ourselves we would stick with the budget which included a brick paver pool deck and choice of pool builder tiles. To be honest I wasn't keen on any of the choices, but also I wasn't too keen on the upgrades offered such as limestone which looked too new and polished. In the end I went with a hex block style paver in a mixed peach and pewter color. Originally we chose a peach brick bullnose coping (you can see the pool HERE) but someone screwed up and we ended up with the mixed stone all over. I was Ok with it all, but it wasn't the Old Florida look I had in mind. I couldn't exactly pin it down until July when I went to a neighborhood party and walked into this back yard. M built this pool in 2010. She contracted it herself and moved over 250 wheelbarrows of dirt herself. The tile was vintage tile she had lugged from house to house over the years knowing she was going to find a use for it. Her pool deck is made of coquina....a fossilized limestone native to Florida and harvested nearby. 

The second I saw this yard, I had instant regret. Regret for not researching my options better and with the whole look of my pool. for the first 20 minutes of the party I kept saying to The Raz Man...."OMG, I wish I had seen this before"....hindsight is 20/20 as they say. I still love my pool, and instead of having too much remorse, I studied carefully this yard and devised a plan for making my pool yard look somewhat like this. 

Here are lots of photos of M's pool and yard. This was built only 3 years ago. Things grow fast in Florida. It wasn't just the pool, it was the whole feel of the yard and house. This is in St. Petersburg. It looks like it Key West in the 1930's. This is all her design and talent and hardwork. She planted this garden. I hope you enjoy this tour. All photos with permission to use from M.

 The finished pool and garden.







Outdoor shower...note the shower head



Coquina pool deck





Handmale tiles











Hippies use back door


Beautiful...YES!

12 comments:

  1. Those tiles are gorgeous! Do you know what the plant is in the photo the 5th from the bottom? It's the pic above the stork statue pic. I can get green plants to grow on my lanai but I struggle with anything flowery.

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  2. It is old and lush looking in the best way. Love the pink trumpet flowers and ginger lilies. I grow both of those here. They grow and multiply rapidly .

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  3. beautiful.....her garden is amazing. It's hard to believe it's only 3 years old!

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  5. Oh I think it's beautiful, love all the huge gorgeous plants and planter around the yard
    I could see a nice pool party there with me in one of those chairs LOL

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  6. Very nice . . . love the trumpet like flower and the look of three years of growth. Honestly though, I think your Florida home and pool and the surrounding is the look I love. I think what you have created is amazing . . .

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  7. Your yard is so pretty! I am sure you are enjoying all of it!! Love the outdoor shower. Hope you will stop by the country :)

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  8. All by herself? Wow. And only three years old - things do grow fast in Florida. Love her green furniture too. I could happily spend a little down time hanging out in her back yard!

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I love to read each and every comment and are thrilled that you take the time to send one. Thank you so much. Chania