About Meems

Hi, my name is "Meems".

My garden gate is open and I'm glad you're here for a visit.

I began journaling and photographing my garden experiences at http://www.hoeandshovel.com/ in June 2007.

email me: hoeandshovelgarden at  gmail dot com

Quick Facts about Hoe and Shovel
Location: Tampa Bay Area
Hardiness Zone: 9ab -ish (shady micro-climate)
AHS Heat Zone: 10
Growing Season: All Year Long
Size: Nearly an acre
Conditions: Sticky, hot summers; Beautiful winters

Circle Garden October 2011

As a native Floridian, I’m used to gardening year round. What I love most about being in the garden is the peaceful sense of oneness I feel with God, my Creator, who gave me this passion and gift in the first place.

What you see currently in the photos at Hoe and Shovel blog is the result of approximately 11 years of diligently cultivating my small piece of earth a little bit at a time.

I've outlined the gradual progression of building my garden which you can click here to read if you're curious.

Gardening is a passionate pursuit for me. I LOVE everything about the natural ways we connect with the earth. Mankind was created by God in a garden. It makes perfect sense for us to have innate instincts to tend the ground. Whether big or small the possibilities in our gardens are endless. Creating and acheiving a peaceful place for family and wildlife to enjoy is incredibly fulfilling.

In a slow, season by season process, I've eliminated a good portion of the St. Augustine lawn. Along the way the transformation has evolved from extremely tidy planting areas to a more naturalistic gardening style with a blend of native plants and regionally adapted plants or Florida-Friendly plants.

Only organic fertilizers and amendments are used in my edible garden and my planting beds. I rarely have any problems with pests in the perennial gardens. Pollinators and predator bugs are allowed to freely roam about the property serving as a natural means of eliminating the pest bugs we might have. It is remarkable how nature takes care of itself with regard to balance when chemicals are eliminated and anxiety about a few bugs eating some leaves no longer matters in the overall scheme of things.

I hope you gain some inspiration and perhaps some helpful knowledge to encourage you and your gardening passion as you follow me in my endeavors to learn and experience more as well.

Happy gardening,
Meems