Tampa, Florida may be one of the most laid-back areas of the United States. Some people have said that it is a perfect vacation spot whether you live there or not. It is considered a great place to live and a great place to retire. There are places to go and things to see. The population seems to love relaxation, and there are certainly plenty of ways to relax in Tampa. It was not always that way, though.
Tampa started as a small outpost called Fort Brooke by the Hillsborough River. This brought just enough people for incorporation in 1855. The town was involved in repeated conflicts with the Native American population of the area, and there was a disastrous outbreak of yellow fever, but it was the Civil War and its aftermath that almost finished the settlement permanently.
Florida was one of the first seven states that seceded from the Union to become part of the Confederacy. While it was not in the line of the fire the way Virginia and the other states were, one day a Union gunboat fired on the city, and the city was shelled. No one was killed, and of course, the city refused to surrender. When the war ended, they suffered the same deprivation as the other states due to the blockade and the eventual collapse of the Confederacy.
The Reconstruction period was also turbulent. It was during this time that so many in the south lost property and all their rights as citizens. The Reconstruction period was not officially over until 1876, but Tampa had been significantly reduced in population and prosperity. The city was run-down.
In 1870, an outbreak of yellow fever brought the population of the city down to about 700. Epidemic after epidemic decimated Tampa. Despite all of the difficulty, Tampa was about to make a comeback.
Gradually, the ranching industry came back along with agriculture. The railroad was what brought the city fully back to life. It brought trade and people to Tampa, and the progress it made was there to stay. Phosphate mining became an essential part of the industry. Immigrants further expanded the population of Tampa.
During the Spanish-American War against Cuba, Tampa was the place where American soldiers waited to be sent out. These soldiers bought goods. They also required entertainment. Both of these things caused another move forward in prosperity for Tampa.
The Depression made Tampa turn to tourism as one method of gaining income. During World War II, they built ships. During the 50s, Tampa annexed various communities and grew almost exponentially. When the Civil Rights movement came, Tampa became the state headquarters of the NAACP.
The next few decades were filled with political reforms and moral reforms. It has now become a modern, industrialized city, but the inhabitants are not too busy to enjoy a beautiful day at the beach.
There have been other reforms as well. In the past, Tampa has advertised its plans to focus on sustainability and the health of the environment. In 1981 it was officially recognized for the city's efforts to plant and sustain public trees.
When many people think of trees in Florida, they think of palm trees, but most palm trees have been imported to Florida rather than being native. Tampa has many beautiful trees. One that is common is the live oak. It is a semi-evergreen that can grow tall and strong enough to protect homes and other buildings from winds up to hurricane force. While this and many other trees in Tampa will not drop all of their leaves in winter, sometimes people forget that they can still shed a significant amount of leaves year round. They also shed, particularly in spring. However, they are beautiful and stately enough to be worth the effort of leaf removal. The tree is hardy and provides shade from the hot Florida sun.
Another type of tree that is common around the area is mahogany. This type of tree will grow up to an incredible 75 feet in height. It is native to South Florida. Mahogany is an evergreen that also drops its leaves in spring. They have clusters of small flowers when they bloom. They can be used as shade trees or ornamental trees. The tree has a high tolerance for drought, heat, and sunshine. These attributes have made it a South Florida favorite!
Ficus trees also tend to do well in Tampa. They are somewhat picky about the environment, and they will drop leaves at the slightest provocation. They have sturdy trunks that will stand up to any windstorm. They can grow gigantic if they are not pruned often and will sport beautiful green foliage all year.
The final tree that is good to plant in Tampa, even in a personal garden is the orange Geiger tree. It has beautiful orange flowers and is smaller than the trees mentioned above, since its average height is only about 15 feet. It does not have many pests or diseases that plague it, but this is also a plant that drops leaves profusely.
Each of these trees is beautiful in its own way but can be impractical for a home garden unless you have the time and willpower to keep up with the constant need to remove the leaves. They do not have the usual season in fall for leaves to change color and die, so they drop their leaves throughout the year. In some ways, this can make them more difficult for leaf removal. If you don't remove leaves, this can prevent your lawn or garden from getting the sun it needs.
When you are looking at a backyard full of leaves and considering whether you want to do the leaf removal yourself or hire leaf removal services, you can easily make an informed decision by getting a free quote online or on the phone with Lawn Love. Our professional leaf removal services are easy and fast to schedule, and you won't ever have to worry about leaf removal again. Call or schedule online today so you can enjoy the relaxing, laid-back atmosphere of Tampa without worrying about the state of your yard.
