Serving South Tampa, Florida
Native landscaping built for South Tampa.
Historic bungalows, waterfront estates, and shaded brick streets. South Tampa yards have a specific character and a specific set of landscape challenges. We design native gardens that fit the neighborhood.
South Tampa Gardens
A garden built for South Tampa, not shipped in from somewhere else.
South Tampa sits between Hillsborough Bay and Tampa Bay. Every yard has some combination of mature tree canopy, heavy soil, hurricane exposure, and in many cases, proximity to salt water. It's not an easy place to landscape conventionally.
Native Florida plants that evolved in exactly these conditions, shaded oak canopies, coastal air, storm-prone shorelines, thrive where imported ornamentals struggle. The result is a yard that looks like it belongs in South Tampa, not shipped in from somewhere else.
We have worked in Hyde Park, Palma Ceia, Davis Islands, Bayshore, and the surrounding neighborhoods. Every project starts with the same thing: a site visit and a conversation about what you actually want your yard to do.
How we help →Where we work
South Tampa neighborhoods we serve
South Tampa has some of the most iconic neighborhoods in the region. We design native landscapes that match the character of each block, not templates.
Recent projects
Our work in South Tampa and the Tampa Bay area
How we help South Tampa properties
Whether it's a full redesign or simply getting the right plants in the ground, we design around what South Tampa gives you.
Florida native landscape design
A full garden built around plants that belong in South Tampa. Designed around your exact sun, drainage, and microclimate.
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Hardscape design
Patios, pathways, dry river beds, retaining walls. Stonework that handles South Tampa's conditions without falling apart.
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Irrigation & lighting
Florida's dry season runs October through May. We design irrigation that puts water exactly where South Tampa plants need it, so nothing dies waiting for June.
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Permaculture design
A South Tampa garden that feeds you back. Edible gardens and food forests designed to produce year-round while rebuilding the soil underneath them.
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Specimen tree sourcing and planting
Mature native trees placed for immediate impact. Gumbo limbo, live oak, cabbage palm, sourced from Florida growers who know what survives here.
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Garden maintenance & monitoring
Your South Tampa landscape changes with every season. We stay with it, pruning, adjusting, watching for problems before they spread.
Get in touch →What Tampa Bay homeowners say
★★★★★ Google ReviewsKaimesha and team are top notch. 5+ stars! Every step of the process was professional and friendly. The design is presented in a comprehensive book with diagrams and a care guide.
Kim Benson
Native landscape design
I hired Kiamesha and Living Spaces to revamp my front yard, and I couldn't be happier! They integrated native plants that are low-maintenance and stunning.
Scott Grisack
Front yard redesign
Kiamesha, Justis, Osiris and Ether were a terrific team to put together a Florida native yard for me. The rain garden is my favorite part!
Joan Hartsough
Native yard + rain garden
Kia and her team did an amazing job at our new home in Dunedin. A native planting design that looks great and is easy to maintain.
Edward Oliu
Native planting, Dunedin
Our ho-hum suburban lawn has become a haven for butterflies, bees, and an occasional bunny. We are grateful for the expertise and ongoing support.
Wynn
Front yard landscape design
Living Spaces Gardening transformed my outdoor space into a vibrant garden complete with an efficient irrigation system, exceeding all expectations.
Mikey Vongdara
Garden + irrigation
Kiamesha, Justus and the Team did a fantastic job transforming our backyard mess into a tropical paradise filled with native Florida plants.
Steve Jarae
Backyard transformation
We had our entire yard transformed by Living Spaces Gardening and are very happy with the results.
Rob Neumann
Full yard transformation
I love that they only work with Florida natives and took the time to educate me on how all the plants work together.
Xan
Native garden design
Kiamesha, Justice, and their team designed and installed a wonderful dry river bed in my front yard with all Florida native plants.
Steve Teichgraeber
Dry river bed + native plants
Kaimesha and team are top notch. 5+ stars! Every step of the process was professional and friendly. The design is presented in a comprehensive book with diagrams and a care guide.
Kim Benson
Native landscape design
I hired Kiamesha and Living Spaces to revamp my front yard, and I couldn't be happier! They integrated native plants that are low-maintenance and stunning.
Scott Grisack
Front yard redesign
Kiamesha, Justis, Osiris and Ether were a terrific team to put together a Florida native yard for me. The rain garden is my favorite part!
Joan Hartsough
Native yard + rain garden
Kia and her team did an amazing job at our new home in Dunedin. A native planting design that looks great and is easy to maintain.
Edward Oliu
Native planting, Dunedin
Our ho-hum suburban lawn has become a haven for butterflies, bees, and an occasional bunny. We are grateful for the expertise and ongoing support.
Wynn
Front yard landscape design
Living Spaces Gardening transformed my outdoor space into a vibrant garden complete with an efficient irrigation system, exceeding all expectations.
Mikey Vongdara
Garden + irrigation
Kiamesha, Justus and the Team did a fantastic job transforming our backyard mess into a tropical paradise filled with native Florida plants.
Steve Jarae
Backyard transformation
We had our entire yard transformed by Living Spaces Gardening and are very happy with the results.
Rob Neumann
Full yard transformation
I love that they only work with Florida natives and took the time to educate me on how all the plants work together.
Xan
Native garden design
Kiamesha, Justice, and their team designed and installed a wonderful dry river bed in my front yard with all Florida native plants.
Steve Teichgraeber
Dry river bed + native plants
Good questions
South Tampa questions
about native landscaping
Many South Tampa yards have mature live oak canopies that create deep shade. Natives that thrive under oak canopy include wild coffee, beautyberry, coontie, cinnamon fern, American beautyberry, and partridge berry. These plants evolved in oak hammock conditions.
Yes, and it's one of the best environments for it. Salt-tolerant natives like seagrape, sea oats, saw palmetto, and firebush work beautifully on Bayshore and waterfront lots. Native shoreline plants also reduce erosion and filter stormwater before it reaches the bay.
Absolutely. Mature live oaks are irreplaceable, they can take 50 to 100 years to reach full canopy. We design around existing trees, protecting their root zones and adding native understory plants that enhance rather than compete with them.
Florida state law protects homeowners' rights to install Florida-Friendly landscaping, which includes native plants. Most South Tampa HOAs allow thoughtful native designs, and we handle HOA communication when needed.
Our office is at 2621 4th Ave S in St. Petersburg, about 25 to 30 minutes from South Tampa via the Gandy or Howard Frankland bridges. We work the Tampa side regularly.
Meet the family
The Wray-Weisensel Family
Kiamesha Wray and Justus Weisensel are the couple behind Living Spaces Gardening and Living Restorations. Family owned, family operated. Based in St. Petersburg since day one.
Kiamesha is a certified Florida Master Naturalist. She grew up on dig sites with her archaeologist mother and spent weekends camping along Florida's rivers and springs with her father. Justus is a premier woodworker and builder. He's the one grading your soil, placing the boulders, building the things that have to last.
Their kids fuel everything they do. Every native garden they restore is a piece of the Florida the next generation will inherit. Their crew has been with them for years. When they take on your project, these are the people who show up.
As featured in Homes & Gardens, November 2025.
- Experienced Florida Master Naturalist
- FANN credentialed native plant professional
- Featured in Homes & Gardens, Nov 2025
- Based at 2621 4th Ave S, St. Petersburg
- Serving Tampa Bay since 2018
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Let's talk about your property.
Pick a topic below. Kiamesha responds personally. Consultations start at $125 and that goes toward your design.