Amy, they changed the zone map so that the MS Gulf Coast is squarely in Zone 9. I'm just north of Wiggins, which is on the border between Zones 8 and 9, but since it hasn't gotten any lower than about 23 degrees in quite a few years, I'm calling myself Zone 9a - if it gets colder, I'll be Zone 8B. Basically, they changed the Zone map back to what it was before the 1980's, when they changed it to reflect some freakishly cold weather in the 1970's.
I lived in Gulfport for 30 years, most of that time being in Bayou View, on a big lot that was low and wet. I used raised beds for my vegetable garden - when I planted tomatoes in the ground, they'd die after a big rain and the water sat. You can grow just about any type of vegetable you want to grow - if you like potatoes and sweet peas, it's about time to plant them. If you don't have good drainage, then raised beds would be the answer.
It's best to stick with the old tea and china roses - modern hybrid teas succumb to black spot and die. There used to be a man who lived close to the airport/golf course who grew hybrid teas, but he wore something that looked like a space suit when he (regularly) sprayed his roses.
Azaleas grow beautifully on the coast - I had some huge ones, Formosa and Mrs. C C Gerbing, but they're all easy to grow.
I used to shop in Long Beach when I lived in west Gulfport, close to the beach, which was back when my children were babies. The house we lived in was so badly damaged it couldn't be saved and was razed - how sad!
Sherry

Thanks for the info Sherry I really appreciate it! I do have a few hybrid teas so I wont be wearing a space suit but I will keep an eye out for it

That is sad about your house! We looked at several houses in Bayou View but ended up down here. I cant wait to start on the yard as soon as we get the drainage fixed. I know as soon as I put some raised beds in dh would say I've got someone to do the yard tomorrow lol

Thanks again
Amy in MS

Amy arrrghhhhhhhhh! STUMPS! We had over a dozen stumps to grind out after Ivan here. I feel for you! I sent you an email re: seeds, happy to send you some for SASE. Mostly flowers/vines and 2 kinds of crape myrtle should do o.k. for you .....Susan/giverny

Amy we lived in Long Beach near the Pass Christian City limits, and lost our house to Katrina. (Not telling that to depress you.) I miss my yard so much - sounds like bragging, but my neighbors told me that we had the prettiest yard on the street. The list is probably too long, but I'll give you and idea what bloomed well:

Crape myrtles ("Natchez")
Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile)
Indian Hawthorne (shrubs)
Sago palms
Ferns
Yellow shrimp plants (absolutely gorgeous in the heat of the summer)
Mexican Petunia (purple flowering shrub, tends to be invasive)
Grey juniper
Sweet olive tree
Camellias (both sasanqua and japonica)
Hidden ginger
Plumbago
Confederate jasmine
Daylilies
Zinnias
Periwinkle/vinca
Impatiens
Dragon wing begonias
Verbena
Petunias
Bouganvillea (sp?)
Mandevilla (sp?)

You've probably already found this out, but Beatline Nursery in Long Beach has some of the most beautiful flowers and shrubs and are the nicest people. We are rebuilding in Pass Christian and I can't wait to be able to get my hands in the dirt again!

Good luck!