What better place to look for lawn inspiration than The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP)? They have released their predictions for the top landscape trends of 2020.



Photo courtesy of NALP Facebook Page - Love Your Landscape


“Foundational landscape elements remain on homeowners’ wish lists, but modern updates and technology are now a top priority. With a wave of design and technical innovations, our members report that ornate hardscaping, contemporary features, lush gardens and smart irrigation are all trending and will influence landscape designs across the country in 2020,” says Britt Wood, CEO, National Association of Landscape Professionals.


5 Landscape Trends

Ornate, Geometric Hardscaping 

Hardscaping refers to the non-living elements of landscaping, such as a wood patio, a stone wall, or paver walkway. Professional are predicting an uptick in hardscape features, including walkways, waterfall features, retainer wal ...

The water temperature in our back bays and rivers is between 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s according to the tracking devices that the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) monitors on their website here. 




What does this mean for the Florida manatee?
It’s chilly! Time to move further upstream to slightly warmer waters. 
What’s the magic tipping point for these warm-blooded Florida natives? The Lee County parks and rec website states that water tempters below 68 degrees equal prime viewing time for the migrating manatees.

Where do they go?
Manatee Park! That’s no joke. There&rs ...

We enjoy calculating and reviewing the home sale statistics at the end of each year. While we typically know what to expect based on how busy the past year has been, there’s always something within the stats that surprises us. 


This year, we were somewhat surprised to find that the number of homes sold AND the volume of homes sold in 2019 were the highest recorded within the past 10 years. Our data included the cities and surrounding areas of Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs and Estero - as these are the primary markets we serve in addition to Sanibel & Captiva Islands. 

Number of Homes Sold

Includes Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs and Estero 



Volume of Homes S ...

If your household is anything like ours, feeding the kids, the dogs and ourselves is quite the task, yet alone watering the plants. I suppose a hired house cleaner or weekly phone reminder could be of assistance in keeping our leafy green plants thriving inside our home. After all, we really do enjoy the presence of these natural beauties and the air-purifying qualities they bring to our home. 


7 House Plants - Easy To Keep Alive

We’ll start small and work our way up.

1. Succulents - While small in size, succulents have taken over the wedding and home decor scene as of late. They come in a variety of shapes and colors, and are relatively cheap to purchase. They thrive in direct sunlight (yay, Florida), and are easy to maintain. W ...

It is kind of like making snowmen, except your sculpture doesn’t melt in the sun! In fact, sand sculpting is better when coupled with sunshine, warm weather and the sound of the sea. 


Better By The Sea
That’s why Southwest Florida is home to the Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship every year in late November! Talented artists come from around the country to craft their works of art that leave us speechless every time. 

The patience and practice it must take to create a masterpiece like the ones below are true works of art. And they somehow find a way to get more creative every year!


Photos courtesy of Flickr user James F Clay 
A Staple To Fort Myers Beach
It is the largest sand sculpting competition in the United States, and it’s been hosted on Fort Myers Beach for decades. The event attracts out-of-state tourism, media attention and is a favorite for locals too. 

The week-long event includes the main exhibit area, plus s ...