Mike and Deborah Retino have been married for 34 years!   They moved to Sarasota from Cleveland , Ohio in 2020 and have been in their new home since June 2023.  The couple- high school sweethearts have been vacationing on the key for 40 + years. Mike notes they always loved the area and moving to Southside was part “of the deal” once Deborah was convinced to move down South!  Mike notes that as a family loves sports; we boat and fish.  A favorite pastime involves time spent with our kids and grandchildren!

Mike, our gardener, is an Orthopedic Surgeon with Baycare Health system.

 

Deborah teases me…“I spent more time figuring out the yard than the actual house.” Our owner spent much time studying and working directly with his landscaper-Trace Altman. Mike picked out probably 80% of the trees and bedding foliage. Post hurricanes Christian from Agape Gardens fastidiously tweaked and revised this spectacularly orchestrated tropical delight. Mike’s favorite plantings include:  the Royal Poinciana tree, Australian tree ferns, Lobster Heliconia, the milk-way cast iron plant, and the Mast tree.

 

What you first notice is the backdrop of mature trees both on this property and also in his neighbor’s yards…this enabled our homeowner to take advantage of the tropical backdrop for his own garden. This ancient Asian concept is native to China and Central Asia and predominates in Japanese garden design.  The concept of SHAKKEI or borrowed scenery, involves intentionally incorporating distant scenery, or scenery outside the property itself, for immersive design. It offers rich layers of texture and height to a garden! This has enabled sections of the garden to utilize a more minimalistic approach while still demonstrating a lush environment.

 

The front island is anchored with a mature and well- trimmed live oak tree. The lush understory starts our tropical encounter.  A triumverant of Australian Tree ferns holds court with veriagated ginger, red and green leafed calla lilies, beefy fargugium, bird’s nest fern and Xanadu mini philodendron. Bush like multi-colored lantana  camara complements the orange in large stand of dwarf birds of paradise.  An immature Bismark Palm (which eventually will be a large and handsome sage-green specimen) has been added. Red and green no maintenance rubber trees welcome at the front door. A delightful potted succulent mix fills a space close to the entry steps. Multiple varieties including: Pepperomia ferreyrae-happy bean succulent , portulacaria afra variegata (rainbow bush), soap aloe and panda plant (kalanchoe tomentosa).

 

As you proceed front east a stand of Cat Palms with an understory of  toothed plagiomnium should not be missed! This woodsy thyme moss is ecologically plastic and changes readily adapting to drought and watery states rapidly. Our photo may not be perfect; but this ground cover will rejuvinate on its own in no time! You can’t miss the delightful lady palm softening the eastern front window.  Leading to the eastern side of the home is a feathery royal Poinciana, Brazilian Red Cloak and crepe jasmine bush. The eastern side of the property is fire-wise with gravel, beach rocks and stones next to the house itself.

 

To the West of the front door a Mast tree shouldn’t be missed! Polyalthia longifolia 'Pendula' is known for its narrow, columnar shape and pendulous, glossy leaves. Also called the Indian Mast Tree or False Ashoka Tree it is a landscaping alternative to the Italian Cyprus. This tree works for contemporaries as well as Moorish style homes. It is one of the most unique South Florida landscape trees, since it is perfect for narrow areas growing very tall but remaining slender.

 

The rear and west of the home continue the tropical vibe as well as the fire-wise concept with the beds hugging the privacy fence.  Again the concept of Shakkai is noted with the areca back-drop to the rear (north) and the neighbor’s pitch apple back drop to the west.  Beds house a saw palmetto, Pigmy date palm, ti, lillies and gingers. An aricature plant-(graptophylum pictum) a 4-8 ft evergreen that reproduces by seeds as well as cuttings is a unique offering. A yellow and green veriagated croton and large stand of haliconia-lobster claw share space with a giant elephant ear (taro). An amazing flowering understory planting of Indian turmeric- saffron- is in the ginger family (along with bananas and allies and propagated via tubers) should not be missed!

 

Three clumps of Bambusa vulgaris, bamboo punctuate the rear lawn. The application is simple and works well!  Caladium, bougainvillea, hibiscus, plumeria and a lone banana tree shine next to the white fence and neighbor’s backdrop wall of pitch apple.

 

I believe Mike has produced a tropical paradise to come home to!  This garden may house the most diverse collection of tropical foliage I have encountered in my years writing for the Stroll community!