TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

His Autumn Colors

Photo by Susan M. Green

Bob Tiberio prepares to transplant a red salvia plant into a bed where he already has patted in dozens of flowers. He ordered 2,000 plants for his yard for Thanksgiving and plans to add another 2,000 by Christmas.

ADVERTISEMENT

By SUSAN M. GREEN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 28, 2007

Updated: 11/26/2007 09:11 pm

RUSKIN - In Florida, you have got to make your own fall colors.

"Palm trees are pretty much green all the time," conceded Bob Tiberio, a transplant from upstate New York who took root in Ruskin 35 years ago.

Last week, he had a Thanksgiving deadline to install 2,000 plants in his yard on College Avenue. He has plans to put in another 2,000 by Christmas. His color scheme will be red, white and blue, achieved with salvias, petunias and plumbago.

"This is the beauty of Florida," he said last week, as he unloaded bags of mulch from the back of his vintage pickup in weather warm enough to break a sweat. "My sister lives in Rochester, and she's not doing this now."

Temperatures were in the 40s and low 50s early last week in Rochester.

Tiberio's yard has motorists on College Avenue slowing down for a lingering gaze, and he knows of at least one who drove around the block and came back for a closer look.

In his mind's eye, however, there's a lot more to come. In a month, he said, there will be Dusty Miller here, some purple hibiscus over there and a crape myrtle near the front of the house for an accent. The red salvias, also known as scarlet sage, will snake their way along the edge of about 80 feet of azaleas and other shrubs that gild the front of his house.

Last season's impatiens in shades of pink and red and clusters of zinnias dotted the flower beds, but they were destined to make way for the salvias. Last year, vibrant marigolds that bloomed like sunbursts stopped people in the street.

Tiberio and his wife, Lucille, a former longtime broker with the Paul B. Dickman realty firm, built Thunderbird Lanes in 1978. He said he spent a lot of time landscaping the business. Lucille helped run the bowling alley and its adjoining restaurant.

Thanksgiving was a busy day back then. The couple kept the restaurant open, catering largely to older folks who didn't want to cook. Bob said the holiday was second only to Easter as the busiest day for the restaurant.

On Easter, he said, "you had to have reservations to get in. ... Thanksgiving was almost as good as Easter."

The Tiberios opened the alley with about five employees, he recalled. When they sold the business in 1991, there were 60 on the payroll. In September, the current owners closed the bowling center.

"It's sad for us because we put it there," he said.

After retiring, the couple devoted their energies to their home and travel, cruising around the world five times. Souvenirs from Africa and other faraway places are sprinkled throughout a spacious recreation room that Lucille Tiberio designed to host gatherings of family and friends. She remembered a Thanksgiving evening years ago when it was cold enough to have a fire in the river-rock fireplace.

Sometimes, in the wee hours of the morning, Bob Tiberio likes to play the piano or organ in the room, which is on the far side of the house from the bedrooms. He watches sports there, too, and his wife never misses "Wheel of Fortune" or "Jeopardy" on television in another room.

The couple also have his-and-hers cats. Hers is Mojo; his, Puddles.

Now in her 80s, Lucille Tiberio has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She said she used to enjoy working in the yard, but now prefers to remain indoors where she can admire her husband's handiwork through the windows.

She figures the cruise they took in January was their last. But she's not complaining. Her marriage to Bob on July 4, 1976, was the highlight of her life.

"It was the best thing that ever happened to both of us," she said. "We've had a wonderful life."

Bob Tiberio said he likes to overhaul the landscape two or three times a year.

"It's kind of a hobby," he said. "It's therapy. It lets me get outside and yet I'm close enough to run in and check on my wife."

Reporter Susan M. Green can be reached at (813) 865-1566 or sgreen@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT