Add several large trees and build a canopy with them. That's where you can start, after that you can get creative, but you need to build shade first.

No pic?
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Hey katmccoy, welcome to Garden web!
Funny you should post this. I recently found some of my "before" pics of the backyard. I put in a triple Christmas Palm, 2 thatch palm on either side and 2 white birds along side them. Now 15 years later, the palms are getting too tall to provide the shade they once did.(Wilma knocked over the tallest white birds, sigh) I have no eye for design and ended up having one side of the tropicals mirror the other, but it works for me. Check out Sanchezia, monstera, ti plants, gingers and heliconias. There are some bromeliads that can take sun. Fruit trees do well in full sun. Key lime anyone? Plumeria and brugmansia are nice, too.
Just make sure you do your homework and find plants that work in your part of Fla. Your local nurseries should be able to help.
Don't make it a burden. Do a little at a time and most of all HAVE FUN!!!!!

Hi
Only thing I would suggest is be very careful with your choices. Particularly trees and vines..Be sure you have the space and look for types that snap rather than topple in strong winds.Don't plant them too close to the house and be careful with species that attract ants and termites.
Same is true of vines. some will give you a fulltime job pruning and all will resist wind on fences. Check for excessive seeding and or leaf drop. Of palms choose self cleaning types that drop the old fronds. The spent fronds are a haven for rats. and boy is it tough to get up there and cut them off.
I would plant the trees first Take your time and don't plant impulsively . There are thousands of species to choose from and don't overplant. If you are a collecter plan on special areas for those species. Shadehouse, gazebos and arbors are fantastic
When I first moved here I spent the first 3 years planting next 3 removing and the next 3 trying to protect what I already hadlol
Floridata is a wonderful source of info both positive and negative. gary