Yeah, it's an addiction. I even check the forum from work a couple times a day just to be sure I haven't missed something important! One of these days my boss will figure out what I'm doing and cut me off.

Plants do very well inside the screen rooms. The screen cuts a significant portion of the sun - I've heard different numbers but don't know the real one so I won't venture a guess. But it's enough so that most things won't burn up. Many of us have orchids and other bright-light loving plants in our screened in pool areas.

Using plants in containers is a good way to start gardening in Florida too. Wait on the yard until you get more used to the weather and the way sunlight moves across your yard.

Here's some of my patio plants. Mostly orchids, begonias, a couple plumeria and a brugmansia in a big potato chip can.

Kate

I use to live in PSL and now am in Vero.If you move to PSL check out the Master Gardeners they have a fantastic group and an awesome site and I am sure will be able to help you. I only became an MG here and sure wish Id known about the MG program when I lived there.We have a great one here that I belong to but we kind of lack the awesome space.Still , I like Vero better (sorry katkin).
Anyway keep your dreams alive!

Ha, Ha, I like PSL better. :o) But then I've never lived in Vero. But you'll get a frost when I don't. Some times 2 degrees makes all the difference in the world.

Mammie, if you move here, you'll have to come by, I am sure I can unload,,, er,,, I mean share some of my plants with you. :o)

Welcome to the best forum ever! You are going to love this place. We are a wonderful bunch of gardeners.
Goldenpond is right the MG's in St Lucie County have a great program and place at the county extension office. They have great plant sales.

the first year I moved to PSL we had frost(think back katkin). Every croton looked like wilted spinich and they use to have coconut trees on I 95 by the sign for St Lucie West and it did them in.We lost power and lit the fireplace to keep warm.Traffic and population got the best of me there and thankfully Vero still has some small town charm(for now)
St Lucies MG Plant sale is the best!

GP, that must have been before I moved here 12 years ago. I did get a little frost on the ground a couple of times, but not as often as the rest of the city. I am on a canal and have my own microclimate here. My friend is inland in PSL will get frost and I don't.

But you sure are right about how the traffic has increased since we moved here. It takes 10 to 15 minutes just to get to 95 and we are just over the bridge by SLW. 20 minutes in rush hour. ;o(

I've decided you all are not only a nice bunch of people, but you're also a BAD influence! Like I said before, I make myself wait until bedtime to check out this forum and where am I at 11am? Right here!

Solstice, Orchids? How neat and something I've never tried. Also, thanks for the info about the screened pool and plants. I loved seeing your plants and am wondering if I can get a start of your "glove plant" in the background. LOL

Goldenpond, love your name and I hope I'm able to check out the Master Gardners program that you mentioned.

Katkin, you can unload plants on me anytime you want! That would make my day.

Msmarion, thanks for the info about the MG's plant sales. I could get into that! Are you the same one who posts on the KT and decorating forums?

We should hear within a few days if they accepted or rejected our offer on the house. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Oh I have lots of starts of the glove plant and am always happy to share! LOL A few years ago I posted a picture of a very messy potting bench with a propane cylinder stashed under the sink section and several people asked for a copy of the design plans for my propane-heated sink. These people won't let you get by with anything! You're going to fit in very well, I think.

Good luck on the house!

Yes that would be me on the KT but I don't think I've ever been to the decorating forum. You you post on the KT? What a fun bunch! It's like having friends all over the country.

Fingers and toes are crossed in hopes that they except your offer? What part of PSL is the house?

Hi Mammie and welcome! I grow orchids, hoya and my large amaryllis collection on my screened pool deck and on shelves. The nicest thing is they don't get bugs and other vermin and they love the bright light.

Actually that's a clever way of not losing your gloves. I lay mine down and forget where I put them. I love the little old lady wishing me luck. Bless her heart, I wish I knew what she's really wishing for. LOL

Geez msmarion, you've got me! I think West, but not sure. I was so turned around the both times we've been there and saw a gazillion homes. About the KT...I post but not often. Mostly a lurker but it's a lot of fun there and I get some great tips on a lot of subjects.

Cindeea, I hadn't thought about the advantage of the screen keeping bugs at bay. That's great!

How about those lizards? Are they geckos or what? We lived in South Asia and had lizards but they were bigger than the FL variety and those buggers were always in the house. The locals said they were good luck and to ignore them and if you killed one it was bad luck. I left them alone. Although I'm not afraid of them, I like them better outside. I hated their little calling cards they left behind! LOL

I hope I'm not being rude bumping my own post up, but I want to hear about those FL lizards! :)

The lizards are often referred to as geckos but most of the ones you see will be anoles. There's the native green anole - often called Greenies - and the larger, more pre-historic, browner ones that are an invasive species from Cuba. The Cuban Browns are pretty agressive and in some areas have eaten the Greenies almost to extinction. Greenies tend to live higher up in trees and shrubs and you won't find them in the grass or on the sidewalks as much.
No matter what precautions you take, the anoles will find their way into your house. The are harmless so it's not a cause for concern. They can bite but it's pretty painless. You may see kids playing with them and letting them bite onto their earlobes to wear like earrings! I've seen them bite onto a cat's paw or lip and hang on too. The cats were not amused. Actually, my cats and dogs love to chase them and the anoles provide hours of entertainment for all the muffins in the house, especially the cats who have a kitty door for 24 hour access to the screened patio.
I haven't heard they were good luck but I like them and would miss them if I moved further north. In the garden, sometimes they will get bold enough to take a worm or bug out of your hand for lunch. Very cool!
Kate

I love those little guys. The only times I've found them inside is when I carry in a plant that was outside. When I do find one scurrying across the floor, I try and capture it (pretty easy to do, with help) and then release him outside.
For years, my son was into chameleons (store bought) as pets. I'm glad that phase is over. Weekly, we made our trip to the pet store for live crickets. Try and sleep in a house with crickets chirping (in their own aquarium) ALL night long. Oftentimes, we would find a half-dead cricket and toss it out in the yard. Amazing how the anoles are on a 24 hour watch for insects! At least 10 would all come running for that 1 cricket. If you have kids, this could be quite entertaining for them. And cheap. I think we paid $1.00/2 dozen.
Also, if you accidentally step on an anole's tail and it falls off, (which I have carelessly done many times) it will grow back.
Very cool little guys. I agree with Kate. I would never move somewhere unless these guys shared the same property.
Sue.

Ok Mammie if you move to Florida you need to learn east,and west north and south.Its quite simple with an Ocean always to the east.
Being in Real Esatate I have seen many people so frightened by the lizards they moved right back up north. i was horrified to see them chasing the critters with bug spray! I always try to explain the why we don't killl black snakes also but people just usually sneer when I mention them.If you get a anole or frog in the house the best thing I can say to do is throw a paper towel over them(cloth if you are really squeamish),pick them up gently but don't let go if they wiggle and toss them outdoors.
I remember when I first moved to Florida and the kids refused to go into the bathroom A HUGE cuban tree frog was on the toilet seat.
Do not pick them up and rub your eyes.I had to call poison control for my son. Then we had to run cold water over his eyes for 20 minutes.
Now if you see a roach inside,,,, thats another story,chase him down and squash the guts ouut of him!

The black skinks I find to be the most interesting some live by my dry bushes . Once in awhile I catch a glimpse of them real pretty black with blue tails .
I only see them early in Am when I water and than its only once in awhile

Solstice, do you have to be pierced to wear those earrings? LOL That's a new one for me.

Suegrew your post reminded me of our last trip to FL a couple of weeks ago. I was watching an Anoles one morning and saw this large red thing under it's mouth. I thought it was eating a red butterfly but found out later it was part of the Anole! Neat!

Goldenpond, I'm not a bit afraid of them, but I have a real phobia about rodents. When we first moved to South Asia I was in a panic thinking we had a mouse or worse in the house because of the droppings I found but it turned out that it was only a Gecko! LOL So about the Cuban Tree Frogs. Is it something on their skin that is poisonous or what?

Rascy, I don't think I've ever seen a Skink. Are they about the same size as the Anoles?

Hi, Mammie! Welcome to the forum! I'm coming in late to this thread, and I see you have already heard all about our anoles and some of the other critters around here. Skinks are fascinating, btw...some get fairly large. MUCH larger than our anoles. The southeastern five-lined skink has a blue tail when young, and the males develop a bright red head in breeding season. They move in a more sinuous way than anoles, too.

Juvenile southeastern five-lined skink:

Adult:

Another adult, with head beginning to turn red:

Are you planning to move here? If so, you will soon see that Florida has a rich diversity of wildlife, and you will find your garden blessed with all sorts of fun critters. (Okay, some are not so much fun...fire ants and lubber grasshoppers, to name a few.)

Hope you continue to enjoy your visits here. There are so many wonderful and fun people in this group! And SO much knowledge amassed here. Almost any question you can think up will have an answer before you know it.

Marcia

Hi Marcia!

Those are amazing photos and I'm glad to see what a skink looks like. That's sure a pretty blue on the tail.

We are hoping to move to the Port Saint Lucie area and are now waiting to hear if our offer has been accepted. Unfortunately the house we want is a "short sale" and the realtor told us they can be devilishly long to settle. Boo!

Thanks for the welcome. I'm a question asker so you'll be hearing from me. LOL

Devilshly long, eh? Makes ya wonder why they call it a "short sale," doesn't it?

Hope it will go smoothly for you and you will soon be wrapping it all up! Then we can officially welcome you to Florida as well as this forum. Lots of good gardeners in that part of the state!

Marcia