I am glad you are OK and the losses minor. I do question the idea of thanking the god who brought the hurricane, but I will leave that alone (other than the fact I just mentioned it ;-). More seriously, I am very happy you are well. From what I can tell the devestation and loss in the area is so large that it is almost beyond comprehension. I am glad you had the good sense and ability to leave when you did. It has only been a week or so since you left so I wouldn't be surprised if you find most of your plants doing well also. Don't be shy around here. If you did lose some plants, just tell us about it and I bet you get a big green care package in no time from fellow gardeners. Doesn't really matter what your beliefs or where you live, if you need some plants there are gardeners willing to help out.

I'm afraid you are misinterpreting my words. I am not the HOA. I am an organic gardener who plants native plants. Yes I offer Spanish needles and other native seeds. I am saying that my HOA would not be in favor of eliminating grass, I am eliminating my grass a little at a time every month. Please don't attack me for stating what I know is true in my neighborhood. I chose to buy my house here for many reasons instead of in the country where HOA's have no jurisdiction. I have Spanish needles growing amongst my other plants. Today I had Peacock butterflies, Monarchs, Gulf Fritillaries, Goldrims, Long-tailed Skippers and a few others in my small garden. Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just telling you what most people think here. It's not what I think or practice. If you disagree with our governments policies would you move to Canada? Same with me. I don't agree with the HOA but I want to live here and am active in making changes.

I live in Largo-and travel all along Gulf Blvd-which runs from all the way south to Pass a Grill and up north to Clearwater Beach & beyond. I love all the shops on the beach, plus numerous great restaurants. I'd have to say you should go north to Madeira Beach to John's Pass..they have a boardwalk with shops, casino boat tours, (the best stuffed portabello mushrooms at The HUT), then on up to Redington Beach if you like Italian-fine dining at The Wine Cellar ($$$), and on northward to Indian Shores to The Salt Rock Grill-the #1 choice for beach dining!! We're talking 7-10 miles from St Pete to these eateries! If you go east to downtown St Pete-you'll enjoy Baywalk-a lovely mall right in the city, the FL Museum (Kennedy exhibit & Cuban Missle Crisis), oodles of boutiques & art galleries (P Buckley Moss, Kincaide, etc) & the Pier.. An hour north of St Pete (if that)..is Tarpon Springs-home of the Sponge Docks-a great place to spend the day! Boat tours, shops, Greek eateries..fun! Another fun thing is to take the Starlight Princess dinner cruise located on S Pasadena Ave @ St Pete Beach..great food, music, etc. Nightly fun (dancing, singing) is found at many places-my favs are on Indian Rocks Beach (piano bars)..The Pub & JD's! Great shows at Ruth Eckerd Hall(.com) in Clearwater..top entertainment. If you check out the link below-and hit the calendar dates of when you'll be here-it'll tell you of upcoming events. Here is a link that might be useful: Tampa Bay Calendar

As Green Designs wrote: 'Life gets lived and leaves marks. You've gotta be more than "just OK" with that, you have to actively embrace those marks if you want soapstone and marble.' Love this, and so true! here is our Mariana after about nine months of heavy use... love, love, love my soapstone, nicks and all! BTW those little white flecks will disappear if I oil it, but I'm preferring the more natural look right now...