My dh & I grew up in Jupiter since the late 50's & lived almost all our years there. I'm now 57 & dh is 66. Went to Jupiter schools all our school days. About 24 yrs. ago, we moved 8 miles north into Martin County & built a house in Hobe Sound. We moved up here roughly 3 years ago.

Jupiter was paradise when we were growing up long before the "boom" that IMHO totally ruined the place. Imagine; we were made fun of when we told people we lived in Jupiter ~~~ that was before anyone wanted to live there.

The heated dog bowl (with a perching rock in it) is what we use here, too. The lake will freeze over, and eventually it'll get so cold that the bowl will too, overnight anyway, but the bowl will hold some unfrozen water throughout the daylight hours at least.

Oh my goodness! It gets so cold the dog bowl one will freeze overnight?!!?? Yikes!

I grew up in West Palm Beach...Lake Worth to be exact..... I left in 1977 and haven't been back. Grew up "out in the country". Know what you mean about "boom"....Military Trail was a 2 line road (if you know where that is) !!! LIVED at the beach....now you have to pay to get to the beach because so many condos have been build....

Well hey neighbor! Yes, I know exactly where you're talking about. I have been there many times. We used to have to go to WPB to shop for clothes or shoes before there were malls & usually took Military Trail once we got to Lake Park & could get on it. Do you know they have now extended it straight into Jupiter?

flaflwrgrl said:Oh my goodness! It gets so cold the dog bowl one will freeze overnight?!!?? Yikes!

Yes. Last winter especially, it was tough to keep unfrozen water outdoors at all. The heating element just couldn't keep up.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

My sister went down to our "home area" in the '90's and stood at a spot that should have taken no more than 10 mins to get to our house.....said it took her 45 mins with all the traffic and trying to figure how to get there....

I did a google earth search of the area about a year ago...the entire place including my "home" was completely bulldozed down and was all "xerox houses".

I prefer to remember it the way I was and not to ever go back.....loved my childhood and the time I spent out in the woods etc...that is where I first learned to love nature ..... don't want to lose those memories....

I know just how you feel. Ditto that.

>> the entire place including my "home" was completely bulldozed down and was all "xerox houses".

I call those "The Borg".

I started calling them "xerox" because they are all just copies of one another over and over....no personality...

I agree.

There's another name including the word "brick" which suggests that a giant passed by and dropped a series of identical ... bricks.

The manner of dropping identical, boring houses is the same manner by which a bird deposits gifts of seed in our gardens.

There, that should be a G.P. way of saying it.

Rick, you did it again.

Just tryin' to keep it clean!

Kim, we had our yard NWF certified about 10 years ago. I dont remember exactly, but the fee was less than $50. It came with paper documentation and a metal sign. We posted the metal sign on the gate in our suburban backyard to raise awareness and to show that it doesnt take much effort to help wildlife. The girl scout troups and some teachers in the local elementary come here to bring caterpillars (and sometimes tadpoles) back to their class or home.
NWF sends me some emails but have never been intrusive.

I'd love for you to tell me some of the things you did to your yard Chris!! I've wanted to get my yard certified for as long as I can remember and would enjoy hearing from a "pro"!!

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, klc. I followed the link, filled out the form giving honest answers and am proud to know that my small yard is qualified to be certified. No, I'm not gonna pay the money, just happy to know that it's possible to live on a tiny lot in a trailer park and make a space that is a haven for wildlife. The sign would have been nice, but I am happy just knowing I'm doing a good thing.

Congratulations!!!!!! I know you're proud!!!





Please please please tell me some of the things you have done for your critters!!! what plants?? what do you attract??? any pictures???

First ask yourself if your yard looks like the left half of this photo or the right half.
If you said 'left' I can't offer any advice. If you said 'right' that's a good answer.


Fourteen years ago this lot was just bare sand, fallen leaves, and empty beer cans...and a few rusted car parts. In one area of my yard I created what I call my "Mini Woodland Garden" which contains a variety of plants that provide cover, pollen, nectar, seeds, etc. for a variety of creatures. American Beautyberry, Bottlebrush, Society Garlic, Evergreen Wisteria, Red Trumpet Vine, Rose of Sharon, Canna, Veronica, Rosemary, Lilyturf, wild Blackberry brambles (I don't plant them)...that's all I can remember off the top of my head, but there are lots more plants in that area.


Just last year I discovered how to protect Anole eggs (with some help and encouragement from @Gleni half way around the world, thanks!) and the baby lizards taught me the importance of heavy cover with something to attract a meal small enough for a little lizard's mouth. The baby lizards thrived while protected by the Sweet Autumn Clematis and they had lots of critters to keep them company.


At the back of the yard I keep a buffer near the fence; about 3 - 4 feet of wild vegetation. I only cut back what gets out of hand. There are always stacks of empty pots and some stacks of lumber and those make a nice home for some.

The only other thing is to provide water; shallow pans/containers of rainwater, some with pebbles so the honeybees don't drown.

I want to add one more photo but will do that later. The dinner bell just rang!