Thursday

In Tampa, a Wonderful World of Junk,Atlas Obscura .Updated 2/28/2026


Friday

Florida Famous Artist Found on Baidu . Updated 5/25/2026

  Reuse Became the way of life. To read the story from the inception of the Name Hong Kong Willie. Famed, by the humble statements from the Key West Citizen, viable art from reuse has found its time. Important living artist to Tampa Bay Hongkongwillie 

 
.To Live a life in the art world and be so blessed to make a social impact. Artists are to give back, talent is to tell a story, to make change. 
 
Reuse is a life experience










Famous artist raised on Tampa city dump,like living in the Penthouse in the upper east side. A brand meant for this time.



THE IRONY OF IT ALL
 Hong Kong Willie Art ,Blue Marlin Dream of Key West. $225,000




 

 

 

 

My Father was a generous man . Hillsborough County  was in need for a dump. They showed  him studies that DUMPS(they called SANITARY  LANDFILL) WERE SAFE. HE DONATED THE LAND FOR THAT USE. NEVER RECEIVED ONE CENT OF COMPENSATION,AND DID THIS AS A PUBLIC SERVICE.

“My father understood why he was here. And he made that of great importance to his children… My father gave me the understanding of why we were here
And to be determined to find that.”

In today’s fast-paced society, teaching of such life lessons has become rare. People are more motivated to “get famous and get money.

“I’m here just to exemplify and maximize why I’m here. That’s probably the greatest thing that I think is missed in families.
 
Famous Tampa Artist
 
12212 Morris Bridge Rd Temple Terrace Fl 33637

 


Tuesday

Tampa Local Honey . Updated 4/27/2026


Eye-catching landmark at Fletcher Avenue and Interstate 75 exit 266 Tampa Florida.

 Tampa Gold Honey

12212 Morris Bridge Rd 

Temple Terrace Florida 33637

 

3 GENERATIONS OF PRODUCING HONEY AT ITS FINEST.

 

 Local Honey rich with Pollen

 


 https://www.localtampahoney.com/

OUR TERMS ARE CASH, NO CARDS


Tampa Gold Local Wilderness Honey has the allergens native to the Tampa Area.


Wilderness is an area of land that has been largely undisturbed by modern human development. Wilderness areas usually lack roads, buildings, and other artificial structures. This provides a natural environment for Producing Local Honey at its Finest.


Tampa Gold Wilderness Local Honey is renown for its unique flavor and superb quality. This owes much to the placement of our beehives in the Tampa Wilderness areas. We do this for extended periods, allowing our bees to collect nectar from the blossoms of a diverse range of native plants in one of the most natural, undisturbed wilderness settings . Undeterred, our commitment to excellence led us to explore the varied floral tapestry of wilderness Honey. 



Tampa Gold Honey.” It is extracted from the beehive, strained and poured straight into the bottle, bypassing commercial processing methods.Untreated honey is best described as honey “as it exists in the beehive.” It is extracted from the beehive, strained and pour
 straight into the bottle, bypassing commercial processing methods.

WE ONLY SELL RAW UNTREATED,UNHEATED, UNFILTERED HONEY.

 WHY Untreated  HONEY.


 Because pasteurization exposes the honey to high temperatures, it may destroy or remove honey's natural properties. This means that raw honey may offer more powerful health benefits, in terms of healing wounds and fighting infections, than regular honey. Many studies have found that raw honey has health benefits.


 

To help with allergies, you need to have ,local raw Tampa honey. This will insure that the honey has the allergens native to the Tampa Area. Buying local To The Tampa Wilderness Area is better and not just because it reduces pollution and saves resources.




Tampa Gold Honey is locally-sourced, raw, and free from any added sugars.


Why not state or have our Honey certified Organic


1 . FIRST OF ALL NO BEE KEEPER IS AWARE OF THE TRAVELS OF EACH BEE.


2 . Any USA Certified Organic honey sold in the United States is imported from other countries and certified organic by that country. ... A US beekeeper can have non-certified organic honey that is raised organically. But it is nearly impossible to produce organic honey.


3. Currently, to be certified organic, honey must meet the general USDA organic standards. But there aren't yet requirements specific to honey. USDA does have recommended guidelines, but an actual organic standard for honey has been in the works since 2001.


Our Address is 12212 Morris Bridge Rd Temple Terrace Fl. 33637


Pint Mason Jar Tampa Gold Wilderness  Local Honey is $18.00
Quart Mason Jar
Tampa Gold Wilderness Local Honey is $30.00
1/2 Gallon Mason Jar
Tampa Gold Wilderness Local Honey is $50.00
1 Gallon
Tampa Gold Wilderness Local Honey $85.00

OUR TERMS ARE CASH , NO CARDS

 

Why  we stopped putting our Bees in Orange Groves

FARMS' TOXIC COCKTAILS YIELD CROPS, SURPRISES

When pilot Robert Coffey flew across Florida, just above treetop level checking on telephone lines for a phone company in the 1980s, pesticides would drip from the wings of his airplane at the end of the day.

The sticky spray came from flying over citrus groves. Clouds of chemicals rising from the fields covered the aircraft with a fine, toxic mist.

"It was so thick it came off in globs," said Coffey, 72, of Winter Park.

The residue that dripped from Coffey's plane was the proverbial drop in a bucket of chemicals - a huge bucket - that Florida farmers employ every year to ward off insects and disease from their crops.

 WE DO NOT SELL ORANGE BLOSSOM HONEY FOR THAT REASON.

 

 WE ONLY SELL RAW Local Tampa Wildernesses HONEY
 NEVER FEED OUR BEES SUGAR WATER, HONEY IS LEFT IN THE HIVE FOR THEM TO SURVIVE.

FEEDING SUGAR WATER IS NOT A REAL SOURCE, LIKE THE NECTAR THEY BRING IN FROM FLOWERS

NOTHING IS ADDED TO THE HONEY
    


WHY WE DO NOT SELL TUPLO HONEY

        Rarity and Demand:
        The limited growing area of the tupelo tree contributes to the rarity and high demand for tupelo honey.
         
        Due to its high value and limited availability, there's a risk that some producers might mislabel or adulterate other types of honey to sell it as tupelo honey
         
           Check for certifications or labeling that clearly indicates the honey is 100% tupelo, and be wary of overly low prices or excessive availability.
         IN THE LAST 5 YEARS NO TUPLO SUPPLIER HAS PRODUCED A LAB REPORT OF TUPELO THAT TEST MORE THAN 48 % TUPELO  HONEY

 

 ONE SIGN THE HONEY YOU ARE BUYING IS STATED IT IS ORGANIC . IT IS FAKE

Honey is one of the most faked foods in the world, and the US government isn't doing much to fix it.  https://www.businessinsider.com/fake-honey-problems-how-it-works-2020-9

 Why not state or have our Honey certified ORGANIC.

1 . FIRST OF ALL NO BEE KEEPER IS AWARE OF THE TRAVELS OF EACH BEE.

2 . Any USA Certified Organic honey sold in the United States is imported from other countries and certified organic by that country. ... A US beekeeper can have non-certified organic honey that is raised organically. But it is nearly impossible to produce organic honey.

3. Currently, to be certified organic, honey must meet the general USDA organic standards. But there aren't yet requirements specific to honey. USDA does have recommended guidelines, but an actual organic standard for honey has been in the works since 2001

Most Honey in America Is Fake.https://www.wellandgood.com/fake-honey-problem/

Why we do not sell Bee Pollen and Royal Jelly .

Trapping pollen has the potential to inflict significant nutritional stress on the colony Collecting it may adversely affect the health of the bees and even destroy the colony

The truth about Royal Jelly,  well-managed hive during a season of 5–6 months can produce approximately 500 g (18 oz) of royal jelly, also

Collecting it may adversely affect the health of the bees and even destroy the colony.

 

The manuka honey scandal.

 Manuka honey is often touted as a “superfood,  fact is that is no better than any other REAL HONEY.

 But with more being sold than is actually produced, is there some dodgy dealing going on?

 

Science or Snake Oil: is manuka honey really a ‘superfood’ for treating colds, allergies and infections? Claims are nonsense.

 According to recent studies and reports, a significant portion of Manuka honey on the market is considered fake, with investigations revealing that nearly half of tested samples may be adulterated with sugars, particularly when not sourced from New Zealand and lacking proper certification, indicating a high rate of fraudulent Manuka honey products.

 REAL Honey HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE NO DIFFERENT FROM MANUKA HONEY


 REAL HONEY used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent. People commonly use honey orally to treat coughs and topically to treat burns and promote wound healing.


 

 While honey sticks can be a convenient way to consume honey, some argue they are not "good" because they often contain a larger portion of sugar than traditional honey, can be less environmentally friendly due to the packaging, and might not always guarantee high-quality honey depending on the brand, potentially leading to concerns about purity and taste.


Packaging waste:
The individual packaging of honey sticks can contribute to more plastic waste compared to buying honey in a larger container. 
 
Quality concerns:
Some brands might use lower quality honey in their honey sticks, which could impact taste and nutritional v

Thursday

Famous Florida Artist . Updated 4/27/2026

To Live a life in the art world and be so blessed to make a social impact. Artists are to give back, talent is to tell a story, to make change. Reuse is a life experience
 


  Famous Artist  Raised on Tampa city dump,like living in the Penthouse in the upper east side.


Gunn Highway Landfill

The Gunn Highway Landfill is located
off Gunn Highway in Tampa, Hillsborough
County, Florida. The county operated the landfill
 as a trench-type facility for the disposal
of MSW from 1958 to 1962.

BY SOHINI LAHIRI
Growing up in Tampa, I spent a period of time fascinated by a quirky, eye-catching landmark at Fletcher Avenue and Interstate 75. This was also the period of time I spent obsessed with making binoculars out of toilet paper rolls and necklaces out of pop tops. To me, this sight was the epitome of similar creative craziness, and I often found myself looking for it during car journeys, hoping it hadn’t disappeared overnight.
But time passes and so does the urge for pop-top necklaces, and observant eyes don’t notice the same sights. It wasn’t until recently that I once again took note of the scene, with its broken down orange helicopter, a tree made of what seems to be indestructible balloons and a blue-and-white house covered with trash remade into art.
It’s the home of Famous Artist Hong Kong Willie.

I finally paid a visit to this art gallery after many years of wondering about the story behind it. The pavement leading to the door is painted with handprints and splatters, the store edged with upside down Coke bottles. Streams of lobster buoys hang from the roof and also make up the “tree” I marveled at so often from my car window.
Various shoes, bottles, clocks and signs are glued to the side of the store, and there’s a tribute to Sept. 11 off to the side. No one seemed to be home, so I called the number on the “WE’RE OPEN” sign, which brought a middle-aged man in a bright Hawaiian shirt from behind the store.
After a few basic questions, Joe Brown begins to open up about the history surrounding his art.
Brown, better known as Hong Kong Willie, says he was an artist from the start. “Everyone is born an artist,” he said. “However some are granted the gift of being able to express that art.”
As a young boy, his mother decided to send him to art school, which he says changed the course of his life forever.
At the age of 8, Brown recalls being heavily influenced by the lessons, which included transforming a Gerber baby bottle, something with no real value, into a piece of art. His teacher had spent an enormous amount of time and effort in Hiroshima, Japan, helping those affected by the atomic bombs. Brown learned many lessons about recycling from this teacher, who had come from Hong Kong. Brown added an American name, Willie, to Hong Kong for his nickname Hong Kong Willie.
While Brown grew up to be an artist, he left the world of mainstream art to return to his background in technology.
“But on Nov. 13th, 1981 … on a Friday at 1:30 in the afternoon, I had an epiphany,” Brown says. “I was at a friend’s house right across the street,” pausing to point at a row of apartments across from his store, “and a series of events led me to rejoin the art world.”
With the help of two other artists, Brown set up his business in the Florida Keys in the early 1980s, then moved it to Tampa. Together, they believed that they were predestined for the Green Movement, and have been making art out of recyclables for close to 30 years.
How’s business? He smiles. “It’s pretty wild.”
Inside, Hong Kong Willie’s art includes glossy pieces of driftwood restored and painted with beautiful landscapes and kernels of truth, some of the gorgeous work priced in the six figures. But there’s also a wide collection of handmade bags, wooden sculptures and sassy bracelets for more moderate prices.
A portion of the proceeds go to benefit the Green Movement, Brown says.
With a laid-back swagger, Brown continues. “We live pretty minimally. And all the funds we get from donations and our art sales are delegated to green projects.”
I’m not sure what I was expecting when I decided to visit Hong Kong Willie. Certainly not the breathtaking art inside, and definitely not the history behind it. I’m feeling thick-headed for not visiting years ago, and say so.
Brown offers a last bit of insight:
“I’m a big believer in predestination and timing. If someone is not ready to view art, the door is closed. Every piece of art that is made, and every project we do is done for a reason. It doesn’t matter if that reason shows up the next day, or walks in six years later; every piece of art will find a home.”

Blue Marlin Dream of Key West.
$225,000  Hong Kong Willie Art















 

Sunday

Florida Famous Artist . Updated 4/27/2026

Florida Famous Artist  Raised on Tampa city dump


 

 


 Gunn Highway Landfill
The Gunn Highway Landfill is located
off Gunn Highway in Tampa, Hillsborough
County, Florida. The county operated the landfill
 as a trench-type facility for the disposal
of MSW from 1958 to 1962.

Blue Marlin Dream of Key West.
$225,000  Hong Kong Willie Art















  Hongkongwillie Florida Famous Artist was once told to keep telling the story and they will keep coming,and they always do."Every piece of art that is made, and every project we do is done for a reason. It doesn't matter if that reason shows up the next day, or walks in six years later; every piece of art will find a home." Famed, by the humble statements from the Key West Citizen, viable art from reuse has found its time.
















Florida Famous Artist of Google,Facebook ,Twitter ,WEIRD FLORIDA: ROADS LESS TRAVELED

Charlie Carlson visits one of the weirdest guys in the world,  Hong Kong Willie. WEIRD FLORIDA: ROADS LESS TRAVELED
Weird Florida Hong Kong Willie episode


FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
S.L. GIMBEL FOUNDATION.
IN THIS EDITION OF "

WEDU ARTS PLUS 112 Hong Kong Willie



New Tampa Patch 

By Tristram DeRoma 

The Story Behind the Eye-Catching Art at I-75 Exit 266 Tampa Florida

Florida Famous Artist Joe Brown, better known as "Hong Kong Willie," makes art with a message at his home/studio near I 75 Exit 266 Tampa Florida.
Sometimes, it’s the smallest experiences that have the biggest impact on a person’s life.
While attending an art class in 1958 at the age of 8, Florida Famous Artist,  Joe Brown recalled being mesmerized by the lesson. It involved transforming a Gerber baby bottle into a piece of art.
“The Gerber bottle had no intrinsic value at all,” he said. “But when (the instructor) got through with me that day, she made me see how something so (valueless) can be valuable.”
By the time class was over, Brown learned many other lessons, too, such as the importance of volunteerism, recycling, reuse and giving back to the community. He recalled being impressed by the teacher's volunteer work in Hiroshima, Japan, helping atomic bomb survivors.
"One of the last words she ever spoke to me about that was, ‘When I left, I left out of Hong Kong,’ ” he said. After turning that over in his young brain for awhile, he decided to use it in a nickname, adding the name “Willie” a year later.
You've probably seen Hong Kong Willie's eye-catching home/gallery/studio at Fletcher Avenue and Interstate 75. But what is the story of the man behind all those buoys and discarded objects turned into art?
Brown practiced his creative skills through his younger years. But as an adult, he managed to amass a small fortune working in the materials management industry. By the the '80s, he left the business world and decided to concentrate on his art. He spent some years in the Florida Keys honing his craft and building his reputation as a folk artist. He also bought some land in Tampa near Morris Bridge Road and Fletcher Avenue where he and his family still call home.
Brown purchased the land just after the entrances and exits to I-75 were built. He said he was once offered more than $1 million for the land by a restaurant. He turned it down, he said, preferring instead to make part of the property into a studio and gallery for the creations he and his family put together.
And all of it is made of what most people would consider “trash.” Pieces of driftwood, burlap bags, doll heads, rope — anything that comes Brown’s way becomes part of his vocabulary of expression, and, in turn, becomes something else, which makes a tour of his property somewhat of a visual adventure. What at first seems like a random menagerie of glass, driftwood and pottery suddenly comes together in one's brain to form something completely different. One moment nothing, the next a powerful statement about 9/11.
One Man's Trash ...
Trash? There is no such thing, Brown seems to say through his art.
He keeps a blog about his art at hongkongwillie.blogspot.com. .
In his shop, he has fashioned many smaller items out of driftwood, burlap bags and other materials into signs, purses, totes, bird feeder hangars and yard sculptures.
He sells a lot to the regular influx of University of South Florida parents and students every year who are are at first intrigued by the “buoy tree” and the odd-looking building they see as they take Exit 266 off I-75.
Brown Sells More Than Art
Of course, the real locals know Brown’s place for the quality of his worms.
If there’s one thing that Brown knows does well in the ground, it’s the Florida redworm, something he enthusiastically promotes, selling the indigenous species to customers for use in their compost piles. Some of his customers say his worms are just as good at the end of a fishing hook, though.
“To be honest, what made me come here is that they had scriptures on the top of his bait cans,” said customer John Brin. “Plus, they have good service. They’re nice and they’re kind, and they treat you like family.”
Though Brin knows Brown sells them mostly for composting, he said they are great for catching blue gill, sand perch and other local favorites. He also added that he likes getting his worms from Brown “because his bait stays alive longer than any other baits I’ve used.”
For prices and amounts, he has another blog dedicated just to worms.
Of course, many people also stop by to buy the smaller pieces of art that he and his family create: purses made of burlap, welcome signs made of driftwood, planters and other items lining the walls of his store.
He’s also helped put his mark on the decor of local establishments too, such as Gaspar’s Patio, 8448 N. 56th st.
Owner Jimmy Ciaccio said that when it came time to redecorate the restaurant several years ago, there was only one person to call for the assignment, and that was his good friend Brown.
"I’ve known Joe all my life, and we always had a good chemistry together,” Ciaccio said. "He’s very creative and fun to be around, and that’s how it all came about.”
Ciaccio says he still gets compliments all the time for the restaurant’s atmosphere he created using the “trash” supplied by Brown. He describes the style as a day at the beach, like a visit to Old Key West. “They’re so inspired, they want to decorate their own homes this way,” he said.
It’s that kind of testimony that makes Brown feel good, knowing that others, too, are inspired to create instead of throw away when they see his work. He simply lets his work speak for itself.







John 3:16

King James Version (KJV)


 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Hongkongwillie Art
MYSTERIOSITY

 



$176,000 U.S. Dollars