So What's the Real Deal About Artificial Turf???

 Hey Y'all!!! So glad you're back for another post!  

First let me just say thank you for being here, I truly appreciate you!  

So this is a long overdue post on artificial and/or synthetic turf...aaaannnddd it ain't gonna be pretty like the pictures you see of those nice looking artificial turfed yards. 😁  If you're down to get dirty with some hot topics then stick around cause the mud is going to sling, er shall I say the plastic is gonna fly lol!  But it should be fun 😉

So what do you know about artificial turf?  

Yes, it's green all year round.  Yes, it doesn't need water.  Yes, it is expensive.  Yes, it can be a great alternative for pets that tend to tear up sod.  Yes, weeds will grow in it.  Yes, it is very low maintenance compared to sod.  Yes, you can drive on it as small sections in a driveway.  Yes, it does not need to be mowed like sod.  Yes, it's extremely durable to wear & tear.   And yes, it lasts an extremely long time.

That's a good start!  What else do you know about artificial turf?

Do you know what it's made of?  Just in case you don't, the short answer is it's created from a multitude of plastics & chemicals; aka, one or more different polymers like nylon (PA), polypropylene (PP) and/or polyethylene (PE).  

Ok so let's break that down for a hot minute & geek out on some science...

Nylon is a high performance plastic polymer which is exclusively synthetic (man made/manufactured).  Nylon is resistant to wet environments, moderately heat resistant, can be colorized, easy to make & relatively low cost to make it.  You can find nylons in all kinds of things like automobiles, electronics, aerospace, consumer goods, electrical, etc.  Nylons are a petroleum product (made from oil), they are not organic so they do not break down over time & are almost never recyclable.  In order to manufacture nylons, it takes an extraordinary amount of energy with a biproduct of nitrous oxide that has extremely high greenhouse emissions.

Polypropylene is another plastic polymer that is highly durable, a high strength rate, can withstand extremely high heat & corrosion resistant. It's another petroleum product. It's probably one of the most highly used thermoplastics in the world to date.  It's used in just about everything from fabrics, food containers, household items, even the health & beauty & medical industries rely heavily on this polymer.  When you flip the plastic lid on your shampoo bottle hundreds of times & it doesn't break off,  you can thank polypropylene.

Polyethylene is the third plastic polymer on this trifecta of a synthetic plastic list. It too is a petroleum product.  It's probably the most popular polymer due to it's cost effectiveness, durability & strength factor.  It's extremely flexible yet strong, has excellent moisture repellant & has chemical corrosion resistance. You see polyethylene in items like the plastic liners of paper food containers, plastic bags, tape, shrink wrap, plastic food wraps, injection molding, etc.  Polyethylene is the most common microplastic found across the planet.  It's even been documented to recently have been found within our own brain cells.

At this point let's summarize what we know for far shall we...

-We know polymers are a plastic product.  

-We know they are considered to be the major contributing factor to the microplastics we are finding across our planet, in animals & in our bodies.

-We know they are made of strong molecular bonds to make sure they are a long lasting durable product.

-We know they are synthetically made (not organic matter) & do not break down over time.  So regardless of the recycle symbol on a product made with any or all of these polymers, none of them are considered truly recyclable.  

-We know they have an extremely high resistance to heat which means they can hold high heat temperatures without becoming flammable.

-We know they are toxic to make & consume an extraordinary amount of energy to produce with greenhouse gases as it's biproduct.

-We now know that we have invented the perfect plastic polymer to create a synthetic product that can withstand harsh environmental elements for a very long period of time without fail.

-And we know it produces toxic waste during the manufacturing, and while it is in use at your home leaching into the soil & after it's used it ends up in a landfill breaking down into micro plastics all along the way of it's disastrously long shelf life of hundreds if not thousands of years.

Enter the era of artificial turf!

Originally invented in 1965 by the Monsanto Company, yes that Monsanto Company that's been creating chemicals to kill things including us for decades now.  They originally called it ChemGrass but then later had a name change to Astro Turf as it was first installed at the Houston Astrodome in 1966.  Since then the sports world has embraced artificial turf as a common medium to play on.   Leagues like soccer, football, baseball & even tennis has come around to accepting this as a new technology to play on.  Public spaces & playgrounds now use it as an alternative to play on.  

Though let's sit on the idea of at what cost to us & our planet?  How truly accountable & transparent are these chemical companies?

How is artificial turf used in South Florida?

Here specifically in SE Florida, people typically use artificial turf at their homes for a few main reasons:

-The #1 reason I hear people tell me they want artificial turf is because of a "problem area".  Like in a hard to grow area that might not get enough sun for sod or a tight narrow mechanical area like a walkway with generators, a/c & pool units or an area that's just dirt & they want a cleaner area.

-#2 is typically "low maintenance" - artificial turf doesn't need traditional landscape maintenance like mowing, watering, fertilizing.  Though it does need regular blowing off of landscape debris & removal of weeds.  Every year it should have a top dressing of silica sand to keep the blades looking good.  

-Used in conjunction with our new "modern style" aka banal architecture😂imho : typically found as a patterned type of a style within driveways, walkways & patios.  Or just as a huge area in a backyard instead of doing landscaping or sod.

-#3 is typically used for dog runs & kids play areas to help minimize the area becoming a dirt pit.

Now don't get me wrong, I totally get it, there may be practical reasons for using artificial turf at your home, office, school, etc...

....But and these are some big BUTT's here...

The environmental impact of artificial turf is staggeringly tragic for us and our ecosystems.

So if you have artificial turf on your property, especially large amounts of it in full sun, you might already know this factoid I'm about to lay down....artificial turf will increase not only the ambient temperature but the actual temperature of the artificial turf anywhere from 20 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.   Our typical summers (without heat waves) on average are in the 90's with a feels like temperature of 100-114 degrees.  Some days it can be 88 degrees but with a feels like 104 and 70% humidity.  So if your artificial turf now increases the ambient temperature in your yard between 20-40 degrees & it's 92 outside with not a cloud in the sky, your yard's temps will go up to feeling like 120-160 degrees not only in the air but the turf will be just as hot if not hotter.  When concrete & things like artificial turf create these areas of massive heat they're called urban heat islands.  Without a natural balance of cooling off, our urban areas are now staying hotter longer & staying hot throughout the night instead of cooling down like how they should.  Because remember what we learned...artificial turf is made of polymers that have extremely high flammability resistance.  So they can get really hot & hold their heat.  They also do not absorb moisture so the humidity factor remains very high unlike a natural landscape that helps offset these environmental stressors.  What kid or dog wants to play hot lava literally on hot lava turf?  🌋🔥🌋

And if you haven't been privy to the latest research and/or current news on plastics...it's has been becoming a huge problem not only in America but globally, did I mention that before lol.  Just recently, Aug. 6th, the Miami Herald posted an article that the Miami Dade School Board is taking a hard look at whether to continue using artificial turf and/or to remove it all together.  Their reason was mainly the heat factor but other countries like the Netherlands are in the process of getting rid of it altogether.  Citing their concern for higher rates of cancer currently being found in children & pets that have used artificial turf on a regular basis.  As well as the shear amount of cancer causing chemicals that not only make up the artificial turf but as well as the 'rubber crumb' used instead of silica sand that settle in between the grass fibers to keep the turf fibers upright and playable.  The crumb is way more toxic than the turf...put those two together & it's a double whammy of terribleness!  For the Netherlands it's not just about the toxicity of the product it's also an environmental concern.  Bravo Netherlands for being a role model bravo!

This is in Phoenix, AZ. WOW!

And were any of you part of the FIFA Fever?  Did you know that FIFA mandated all of the soccer games were to be played strictly on natural sod...no artificial turf!  Their concern is for the health of the players due to the high amounts of carcinogen causing chemicals present in artificial turf.  So why do we still make it and let ourselves, our kids & pets play on it?  Think about that one for a hot minute...here's a hint big $$$ business, lobbyist & our elected officials.

Yes, you can truly get burned from artificial turf

In my humble opinion, we truly need a major shift in our perspectives on how we not only perceive beauty in our landscapes.   But also how to care for our environment better.  I.e. more trees less palms, limit or eliminate the amount of artificial turf on residential properties, create a greening-up initiative for our cities, go to your city commission meetings to raise awareness about this, start a community effort to change city/county/state ordinances, a national ban, the list goes on...but you get where I'm going here.  

Much like plastic surgery, natural is always the best way to live!

If we change our environmental standards we have an excellent chance of redirecting the tragic trajectory we are riding on.  Right now most of the world's population have heard about the environmental impact humans have had on the planet in a short amount of time.  So we are aware.   Internationally we have a massive pump & dump attitude...that whole it's all about me & for the right now, don't care about what happens in the future.  A not my problem attitude.  It's all about the almighty dollar, corporate greed without accountability.  Let me get mine now.  And thinking we won't have massive repercussions from our current pollution problems.    And yes it's a gigantic problem but the optimistic side of that is, we can actually change the way we view how we treat this planet.  Shifting our perspectives in turn will change the way we live our lives.  It will change the way we teach the younger generations how critically important it is to be a good stewardship of our planet.  We the people can make a change for the better.  When we make changes happen then corporations & the government listen, then they change.  Did I get on a soap box here, yes, but I think it's pretty darn important that we start talking about these things instead of letting other people & corporations make decisions on our behalf while being quite about it.

This can be a super overwhelming concept, especially when our current state of worldly affairs is pretty darn tootin' dramatic right now.  But I'd say saving our planet is pretty important, we only have one planet to live on and right now we are doing her a big dirty.  So let's get it together & say no to plastics in our landscapes, no to plastics in our kids playgrounds, no to plastics in schools & workplaces, no to plastics on our athletic fields.  Let's say yes to natural plants and sod.  Yes to changing how we think about plastic.  Yes to supporting local community efforts to help make a difference.  Yes to supporting those in our government that also support ways to help save the planet.  Yes to helping educate others in these efforts and yes to loving our planet more than we ever did!

"...If you love something, you give it a lot of attention...and if you give something a lot of attention, you very often learn to love it.  And that spiritual investigation requires that you pay attention to the world.  And that by paying attention to the world often leads you to love the world." - Mary Oliver

With that my friends I leave you to contemplate how you are going to say yes and in what ways can you make a difference in your community for a cleaner more accountable way of living.  Let us all know your thoughts on this or if you have some fantastic ideas to share or even just some super cool poetry quotes!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this & I'm so happy you're here!

Best wishes & as always Happy Gardening!

Sheri

xoxo

How to turn your space into a certified wildlife habitat

 Come inside, come inside, come innnsiiiide y'all!   It's way too hot to be chatting outside today even if you have a cold one & a fan in hand! 😊  So how is everyone doing?  So glad you're here today and spending some time with me.  I know our time is valuable & I'm grateful you're here.  Plus you get to cool down a spell.  

Today I want to chat with you about turning your space into a certified wildlife habitat.  I get asked all the time what the process is.  And surprisingly many people think it's either complicated or maybe their yard wouldn't be acceptable or it's not big enough or they don't have enough plants. Once I explain how easy it is & that all kinds of habitats are accepted the sigh of relief spreads across their face. 

So what's the point in certifying your area as a wildlife habitat? Why does it matter?

Great question!

One of the main reasons is because it's a good way to support the efforts from organizations like National Wildlife Federation (NWF) & the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) who help conserve areas for our native wildlife.  As well as working with indigenous tribes to learn about their traditions & history with the land, to help them rectify environmental injustices.  And work with politicians to help create policies to protect our countries wild areas among other important environmental work.  These are only a few of the important scopes of work organizations like these do on a daily basis.

Another major reason is to help spread the word & work by leading by example & to help educate your neighbors & neighborhood.  It's not obligatory to purchase one of the yard signs, but by having one of these organizations yard signs, will help others see your intentions with what you planted & why you created it.  This is a great way to signify to your neighborhood "hey come check out what we did, you can do it too!"  Especially for those people who literally have no idea about the importance of keeping as many natural spaces as possible.  Trust me, you'd be surprised at how many there are!   You'll also be delightfully surprised at how interested your neighbors and passer-byers will be at your cool certified wildlife habitat.  Annnnd it's a great segway to start a dialogue with others about how important it is to save, rewild and/or create green spaces for our critters.  Imagine how many garden parties and/or garden tours you could have, how fun it could be!

I recently came across a lovely blog called "Nurture Native Nature" & this person put together a perfect explanation for some great reasons to certify your place.  One of their main reasons is they feel that by putting the yard signs where people can see them in the yard can allow others to understand the intent with their landscape design, as mentioned above.  They planted mainly natives that can look unkempt to some people, like a wildflower garden can.  Depending on where you live, natives can have seasonal changes, which can also make people think the yard is bare or not landscaped when really the plants are dormant or have died back.  They also go into detail about what they do in their garden to support local wildlife. This person is in the Atlanta area & absolutely love their instagram page as well, full of great content!

Having the signs posted at your place also helps the people looking at your garden understand how we can co-exist with nature especially in urban areas.  It burns my chaps when I see people turn to artificial turf quicker than considering live plants.  Helloooo, it's plastic full of forever chemicals (PFAS) that literally increases the heat in your yard like a furnace!  It's already hot enough why add more fuel to the fire.🔥🥵

Plus the more people see the certified wildlife yard signs the more normalized it will become.  Talk about being a trend setter!

So what are the requirements? 

An ideal space that will meet the requirements for certification must provide food, water, cover, a place to raise young & sustainability of at least 3 actions that will help ensure a clean & healthy environment.  

Food - a minimum of 3 sources of food - for example: pollinators would need nectar plants & host plants - birds & mammals would need plants, seeds, berries, bugs, flowers, nectar

Water - at least one clean water source - for example: birds & mammals need it for bathing & drinking - insects need it for breeding & hydrating themselves

Cover - a minimum of 2 sources - animals need shelter to raise their young, take cover from bad weather & predators & can be an area as a food source.

Place to Raise Their Young - a minimum of two sources - animals need areas to nest, protect, feed & raise their young - this could be a multitude of things like nesting boxes, trees, shrubbery, ground boxes, fallen logs, etc.

Sustainability - at least three ways you can help the soil, air & water stay clean & healthy - like composting, using fallen leaves as mulch, removing invasive species, replacing sod with plants, reducing light pollution, etc.

The application fee is $25 (tax deductible), you get certified, a paper certificate, one year membership to NWF, a one year subscription of their wildlife magazine & their free e-newsletters.  The metal outdoor yard signs are sold separately & start at $35

NWF even has a quiz you can take without supplying your email to see if your space fits the profile.  The quiz provides answers you click on.  It asks the following: what is the type of place you want to certify, the size of the space, the percentage of native plants in the space, what types of food sources you have on site, what sources of cover do you have for protection, what type of places you have for animals to raise their babies, what types of water sources you have & how you are maintaining a sustainable habitat.  And at the end they give you a 20% discount, yay!

You can also certify your yard as a butterfly wildlife habitat with North American Butterfly Association (NABA).  Which is super cool as well!

If it turns out you don't have a space that you can certify, not to fret, you can still donate to these non-profit organizations.  Or you can certify your school, your business, your place of worship, farm, apartment, a neighbor, friend or family member as a wonderful gift. 💕 Surprise, I certified your yard! 😁

It's that easy...so what are you waiting for!?!  Get your place or your school or your friends place certified...you'll feel so good you did & the animals will thank you!

I thank you for being here & spending some of your precious time with me! 🥰

Until next time my friends, stay hydrated & happy gardening!

Best Wishes,

Sheri

xoxo

Things to do South Florida Style = Palm Beach County version

Happy Summer ya'll!!! 

This is such a great time of the year to be in Florida...the weather is gorgeous & the amount of people on the road noticeably lessens & there is always some kind of activity going on especially outdoor events.  Whether you live here or if you're visiting South Florida, I put together a list of things I think you might enjoy to get a bit of our South Florida lifestyle into your system.  So get comfy cause this one is going to be a bit long as we travel around Palm Beach County exploring some of it's exciting experiences.

First on your to-do list is you must visit at least one of our beaches...pick any one, you can't go wrong....Palm Beach County probably has the most amount of public access beaches which include cities like Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Juno Beach and Jupiter.   I added links to some great websites giving you more information on each of the areas I mentioned.  But don't let my suggestions stop you from exploring on your own to some local-yocal-off-the-beaten-path spots.  It really depends on what you're looking for in a beach destination & how long you're considering staying. 

 Something to keep in mind when visiting almost every beach is parking & paying for parking (which is a huge bummer).  Some beach parking can be ridiculously expensive, I'm lookin' at you Boca Raton! Red Reef Park is a beautiful beach but daily parking is $35 per car during the weekdays aaaannnd wait for this... $50 per car on the weekends!  WTF Boca!?!  These beaches are part of the park system so you pay an attendant at the gate which from what I understand the money goes to maintaining the park but it's a steep price for most people.  If you're only going for a few hours look into one of our beaches with street parking.  It will be considerably less as they charge per hour at a kiosk, like Boynton Beach's Ocean Front Beach Park or just north there's free parking at Ocean Inlet Park.

The second 'must do' here in South Florida is to visit our parks whether it's a state park, county park or city park, we have some great ones.  Some are even aquatic parks!  Here's a handful of some parks I think are worth the mention but by no means are these a total list.  

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton - a 20 acre nature preserve with nature trails, an educational nature center with marine aquariums, butterfly garden, a brand new observation tower & they help rehab injured sea turtles. Gumbo Limbo even host cool events like sea turtle hatchling releases. There's no entry fee but donations are always welcome.  Bathrooms & handicap accessible.

Florida Atlantic University also has a marine science laboratory there

Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park in west Boca Raton - this 880 acre park has it all: water park, dog park, amphitheater, pickleball, tennis, racquetball/handball, golf course, nature centers, nature trails, pavilions, boat launch, waterski lessons, playground, walking & biking paths, an all day adventure for sure!  Bathrooms & handicap accessible. 

Pondhawk Natural Area in Boca Raton - almost 80 acres of preserved & rewilded wetland area that has paved & natural trails for walking & biking. Parking is in the library so you can spend some time reading in nature, how great is that!? Free but no amenities at this park.

Sugar Sand Park in Boca Raton - this 132 acre park is quite unique with it's carousel, children's science museum, preforming arts theater, south Florida's fencing club, baseball fields, outdoor hockey rink, nature trails & one of the county's super cool outdoor playgrounds!  Trust me it's pretty awesome, so awesome that it can get busy but well worth a visit. Free for the park, though there is a charge for the museum & carousel.  Bathrooms & handicap accessible.

Yamato Scrub in Boca Raton - we love this "park" if you can call it that, though it's really a snapshot of what this area would look like if we never developed here. It's a preserved section of our scrub ecosystem with a paved walkway as well as natural trails, truly a hidden gem! Free but no amenities

Hillsboro El Rio Park South in Boca Raton - this cute park is relatively new but literally has it all- a great place to drop in to let the kiddos burn off some of their energy on their playgrounds, they have one for older kids & one for toddlers which are shaded, there are grills, a basketball court, pickle & tennis courts, pavilions, sand volleyball, soft launch for kayaks & canoes into the natural canal, walking & biking paths & exercise equipment and the best part is it's all free! Bathrooms & handicap accessible.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach - just SW of Green Cay & has about a 3/4 mile loop boardwalk through what is the Southern Region Reclamation Facility which they used as part of a natural filtering system for the county's water treatment, pretty cool right!?  It's also part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.  Free park & has bathrooms & handicap accessible.

Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands in Boynton Beach - a beautiful 1.5 mile loop boardwalk in the wetlands so you can see a firsthand perspective of what is typically inaccessible to most people, a nature center & great bird watching since it's part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.   Free park & has bathrooms & handicap accessible.

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in west Boynton Beach- one of our favorites, has boardwalks into the wetlands, boat ramp into the Everglades, bike trails & a great birding location since it's part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.  There is a small fee you pay through Recreation.gov. Bathrooms & handicap accessible. 

Wellington Environmental Preserve in the west area of the county in Wellington - Wellington is considered a horse lover's paradise - this is approx. 410 acres of a preserved wetland area that has a combination of paved, boardwalk & natural walking, biking & horse trails with an observation tower & a wind phone, yes you heard me correct lol.  You'll feel like you visited the Everglades.  Free park, has bathrooms & handicap accessible.

Peanut Island Park in Riviera Beach - this 80 acre park is actually an island that is a favorite of mine.. as a kid we used to swim from the marina to the island or would inner tube it to the island & pretend we were castaways.  My grandparents lived a few blocks from the marina so we spent alot of time in this area, good times indeed.  Since then this island became so popular with boaters that the county stepped in to help protect it.  They now have a water taxi to bring you there for a day trip. There's beach areas around around the entire island, snorkeling, swimming, camping, canoeing/kayaking & an observation tower.  It truly is something very special & glad it's being safeguarded. Bathrooms available.

Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach - this is probably our largest park in the county, coming in at about 1,700 acres!  There are two areas, one half on the north side of Forest Hill Blvd & the other half on the south side.  It has an equestrian center & trails, lit baseball/softball fields, boat launch ramp, water skiing, canoe/kayak access, disc golf, dog park, bike & walking paths, mountain bike trail, BMX track, pump track, exercise course, fishing areas, nature center, gold course, pavilions & picnic areas, playgrounds, grass volleyball court, tennis/pickle ball courts, a really unique rope course, lakes, nature trails and a unique water park experience with inflatable slides... goodness did I miss anything?! lol This park pretty much has it all like the Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park does. The park is free but some of the amenities will has a cost associated with it.  Bathrooms & handicap accessible is most areas of the park.

Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach - love this gem of a botanical garden! It is right behind the West Palm Beach airport so when you land, head straight for the garden to relax.  They host monthly events like a free Saturday for West Palm Beach county residents, & a dog day.  Plus gardening & horticulture workshops, lectures, health & wellness events like yoga and tai chi, art classes & plant fairs.  There is a $20 adult admission with special prices for seniors & kids.  Super handicap accessible with bathrooms.

We could go on forever about our amazing parks but let's switch gears & talk about some of our cool attractions.  Some are very iconic, some are new, some are indoors while some are outdoors. 

Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach - a very unique & beautiful place to visit with six distinct historical gardens, ancient bonsai's, rotating museum exhibits, events throughout the year as well as a cafe.  There is an $18 adult admission fee with special pricing for seniors, students & kids but definitely worth the visit!

Lion Country Safari in The Acreage in West Palm Beach - this might be a distance for many people to get to but it truly is a unique experience.  First opened in 1967, this 300 acre wildlife park was created to mimic the animals natural habitats while they roam freely about, you drive through their habitat.  Talk about up close & personal!  They also have one-on-one experiences to feed & interact with certain animals like their giraffe's. There's a cafe & other food/refreshments, pontoon boat cruises, water park, mini golf & nature walks.  LCS also does quite a bit of wildlife conservation efforts in the US & other countries to not only help save the habitats but the animals as well.

Rapids Water Park in West Palm Beach - a tried & true water park that's been around as long as I can remember, one of the originals that's held on through financial ups & downs.  Though is only open for the six months of the year (June to November).  They do offer specials but a one day admission is typically $45 per person.

Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society in West Palm Beach - not only does the Palm Beach Zoo have a wide array of different animals but they also have a botanical garden, water fountain to play in, a carousel, animal experiences, cafe & they help with the conservation of wildlife & their habitats & part of our Florida Panther Project. How awesome is that!?  Aaaand kids are free in June & July!  Adult admission is $30 with special pricing for seniors & kids.

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter - This wildlife sanctuary not only helps rehab & release Florida's injured wildlife but is also a sanctuary for those animals that can't be release back into the wild.  So they turned part of their property into a visitors area so you can see the resident animals, walk along nature trails, be a part of their daily programs, educational experiences & lectures.  They also host events throughout the year.  It truly is a wonderful place adults & kids will love.  Admission is by donation but you can even donate online if you don't get a chance to visit.  Every dollar & donation is vital in their hard work & continued efforts to help save our state's wildlife.

A visit The Girl's Strawberry Patch in Delray Beach is sure to be memorable.  This is a super unique retro styled fun place where you can enjoy homemade ice cream, smoothies & bowls, pick strawberries when in season, peruse their mega candy shop & they have a petting zoo!  Farm & petting zoo adult admission is $9.95 & seniors & kids are $8.95

Their family also owns The Boys Farmers Market & Grandma's Bakery next door.

If shopping is more your style, we have some terrific indoor & outdoor malls...

Town Center in Boca Raton - is a fantastic indoor mall to shop, people watch & believe it or not many people come just to walk the mall for exercise.  It's a very pretty mall & very well maintained with high end boutiques, restaurants, a putting green & charging stations.

Mizner Park in Boca Raton - this is one of our family fav's we frequent often. It's a gorgeous outdoor shopping destination that is beautifully landscaped & decoration at holiday time. Full of upscale retailers & delicious restaurants.  It also has a cool bowling & sports lounge, movie theater, an amphitheater with a free summer concert series & residences.  It really gives off contemporary tropical vibes with a high end twist.  

Just south of Mizner Park is the historical Royal Palm Place in Boca Raton - another local fav, this is an outdoor plaza full of eclectic boutiques, galleries, salons, jewelers, retailers & fantastic local restaurants you won't find anywhere else.  Beautifully landscaped with sculptures throughout the plaza, so many cool Instagram spots for sure!  They also host a green market in the south end by the clock tower every Sunday.

The famous Worth Avenue in Palm Beach  where the famous & bougie people shop & promenade just to be seen in the latest fashions.  There is even a walking tour in this historic shopping district.  Lots to see, shop, dine & experience with a true historical Florida vibe.  You'll never know who you might see strolling down Worth Ave.  They even host events throughout the year.

The Gardens Mall is in Palm Beach Gardens - is another beautifully maintained two-story indoor shopping mall full of retail, restaurants & local events.

Visit some historical & fabulous hotels like The Breakers in Palm Beach.  This stunning hotel has had some major renovations over the years, elevating it to another level.  It has all the amenities anyone could ask for when visiting Florida.  Even if you're staying elsewhere, you can come to dine, drink and/or visit the estate.

Another must see hotel is the historic The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach which recently had a fantastic makeover elevating it into a modern version of its historic self.  Truly worth a visit even if just to sip a cold one in the eclectic posh lobby.

If sports & sport related activities are more your jam, we also have a handful of skating rinks throughout the county whether you prefer ice or roller or like both.  It's a great way to cool down in our summer months whether it's on the ice or in the AC lol.

Palm Beach Skate Zone in Wellington is an ice rink.

Astro Skate in Greenacres is a super cool retro roller rink.

Boca Ice in Boca Raton is an ice rink with fun activities on the ice.

Or try your athletic skills at K1 Speed with indoor go-karting in Riviera Beach...trust me it's super fun for adults & the kiddos!  They also have food, drinks & game rooms with group rates & specials.

And did you know that the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter not only hosts spring training for some MLB teams like the St. Louis Cardinals & the Miami Marlins but they also have minor league baseball & our state leagues there year round.  My cousin plays for the NY Mets minor league (MiLB) & we had so much fun watching one of their practice games with the Cardinals MiLB team.  The Roger Dean Stadium is located in a beautiful residential area called Abacoa with lots of shops & restaurants...a super hip place to be!  Plus they have lots of activities for families & kids with family priced specials for different events.  While the NY Mets MiLB have their training camp further north up in Port St. Lucie at Clover Park 

Palm Beach County also has some amazing museums to visit; some are of a more traditional style while others are quite unique.  These are just a snapshot of some of our more popular ones we have.

Aviation Museum on the Beach in Juno Beach - For those aviation lovers this ones for you, a beautifully crafted museum full of historical items, stories & commercial airplane models to peruse through.

MAC Art Galleries in Jupiter & Delray Beach - a fine art gallery full of art installations from some of the leading contemporary artists of our time.  Truly an art lovers location.

Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Palm Beach - Henry Flagler's historic house of the Gilded Age has not only been preserved but turned his estate into a museum that not only houses the oil tycoon's personal art & antique collections, but also has visiting art exhibitions, lectures, musical & seasonal events.  The Flagler Museum is also on the intracoastal waterway with spectacular views of the city & a historic kapok tree as grand as the estate.  Admission is $28 adults & $14 for kids bathrooms & handicap accessible.

The Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach - it's in the same neighborhood as the Flagler Museum, so you certainly could visit both in one day if your limited on time in the area.  This is one of my personal favorites & love walking their serene tropical gardens.  Founded in 1936 there are outdoor sculptures, traveling art exhibitions, lectures, events, a library & auditorium.  They offer adult & children's programs as well as annual concert series.  While the garden is free with bathrooms & is handicap accessible, some of the events & programs will have a cost associated with them.

Cox Science Center & Aquarium in West Palm Beach - A great place to beat the summer heat while learning & having loads of fun!  The science center has a planetarium, aquarium, summer camps & interactive exhibits.  Adult admission is $26 with different pricing for kids & seniors.

Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach - another favorite of mine where every Saturday is free for Palm Beach County residents all summer to Sept 5th though admission is $18 for adults with special prices for seniors, students & kids.  This is a more traditional fine arts museum with a very contemporary vibe with not only multiple permanent collections but they have rotating exhibits as well so there's always something new to experience.  But what makes them even more special is they have a beautiful sculpture garden! Annnd if it couldn't get any better they have a cafe, offer art classes & workshops for adults & kids, host lectures & events, art after dark & live musical entertainment.

So here's some fun places that are for those with alternative interests.

Past Present Future Comics in West Palm Beach - People into gaming & comics will love one of our county's long time favorites, I know I do!  Full of unique, one of a kind, vintage, rare & new items like figurines, comics, manga, t-shirts, cards, art, games, Japanese snacks, POPS, you name it they probably have it. Everyone there is super friendly & knowledgeable.  Plus they have gaming events too!

Book Exchange & Comics in North Palm Beach - full of vintage, used & new books, comics, dvds & manga.  A reader's paradise especially when you find that hidden gem in the stacks! 

Retrohouse Comics in Lake Worth Beach - this is a full on comic book store for the diehard comic book heads.  It's not a huge space but it's loaded with all genres of comics and manga.  They also offer some unique services like resurfacing dvds, bluerays & game discs.  As well as inhouse comic pressing to improve grading results.  Plus they have CGC certified comic book grading. Right in the heart of Lake Worth with so many other cool boutiques & restaurants to visit.

Realistic Comic Books in Lake Park - another great place for the comic book lover in your life, they too are CGC certified. Plus you can shop & ship directly from their website just incase it's raining outside lol

Famous Faces & Funnies 2 in Boynton Beach - a great place for those who love more than just comics, they have a huge collection of anime, POPS, toys, collectibles, comics, manga & games.  Plus they have signing events, Kid's CON & new release events.  They have a Melbourne store as well.

How many of you have actually climbed a real lighthouse!?! I've visited the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum back in my college days in Jupiter & it's pretty special but it's definitely for people who are physically fit in order to climb the stairs & kids have to be at least 4ft high.  But they do have a sweet museum & other historic houses on the grounds with gardens & nature paths to walk through.  Of course the views of the gorgeous inlet can't be beat even if you don't make it to the top.  Plus there's loads of delicious restaurants near by.  The lighthouse was built in 1860 & they do offer guided tours. Adult admission is $15 with special prices for seniors & kids. Some areas are handicap accessible though limited.

How about visiting the Silverball Retro Arcade in Delray Beach!  One of the absolutely best arcades around with all kinds of vintage pinball machines, arcade games, food, drinks & all kinds of combination admission specials. Perfect for adults & kids.

Ok I know most of you have never done this! How about taking a cruise on the water in a tiki hut!? Yes, I said cruising in a tiki!  In Riviera Beach, Cruisin' Tiki's will take you on a truly Florida style waterway experience.  They offer different cruise events depending on what you & your guests are interested in whether its a sunset cruise, a half day, night time, 4th of July firework event, going to the sandbar or Palm Beach Island.  You can book it for your own group up to six people or go with others if it's just a few of you.  Either way, fun is the on the itinerary with Cruisin' Tiki's!  It is BYOB & remember to tip your captain!

Or have you ever done this?!  For those more adventurous souls, visit some of our county's areas not accessible for most people by another truly unique Florida experience via airboat!  You'll see some of our most beautiful parts of the state this way.  Some companies will have boats to accommodate multiple person groups though it's always standard procedure to book in advance for airboat tours whether your two or ten.  And a reminder that all airboat tours are strictly for wildlife viewing & education.

There are many airboat companies out there so by no means is this all of them but to name a few:

Airboat Rides of West Palm Beach

Master Gator Airboat Tours of Palm Beach County

Swamp Monster Airboat Tours

Airboat Rides Jupiter

Well y'all, thanks so much for sticking around to the end of this journey around our beloved Palm Beach County!  I know this was a long one but it's a huge county & hopefully it's inspired you to either get out there & enjoy these treasures in our own backyard.  Or if you're visiting from out of town it's helped plan your stay.  Let me know if you have any gems you think would be perfect to share here and/or your thoughts if you've visited any of these places.  Thank you for being here with me today, you truly mean the world to me!

Until next time, wishing you all the best & happy gardening!

Sheri 

XOXO

Can we change the way we currently think about nature...is it too late to save our planet?

 
Hellooo my nature friends!   

Whew boy it's been a scorcher of a week here in SE Florida!  Though I'm sure

where ever you are in the world you're probably experiencing some serious heat right about now just like us.  I think we tend to forget that not only do we humans feel the effects of

these extreme hot weather seasons but so do our planets animals, plants & ocean life.

So much so that mature trees can die in just a handful of months given heat stress & drought.   And while most animals can at least move to find a more suitable habitat not all are successful in their relocation efforts.  Especially if they are a migratory species that rely 

on specific habitats for mating or food sources throughout the year.

So what can we do to help our current state of ecological affairs?  

Even though the task can feel daunting & we may feel helpless that we aren't doing enough...

don't fret my friends, even the smallest contribution you do can make an impact.

Plus by being a role model &/or teaching others what you know &/or have learned is a huge help in making our world a better place not just for us but for our flora & fauna as well.  Think of it this way, if it weren't for our extremely complicated ecosystems that make this planet habitable...

we would not be here!

Let's get into it shall we!?!

The first few are easy actions everyone can do.  Our voices, freedom of speech & our right to vote is our #1 friend.  See where I'm going with this, hee hee.  By being vocal to our local, state & national governments.   Let them know how important our public lands, parks, greenways, green spaces are to keep habitats alive for our flora & fauna.  They need to hear how much value there is in preserving our green places which in turn will help our planet keep us alive.  There are so many creative ways we can make small incremental changes that can keep within a city's annual budget.  Because you know that'll be their first excuse.  Ask them to outlaw artificial turf which is full of PFAS (forever chemicals).  And in case you didn't know, it actually increases the temperature of your yard up to 40% to 70% hotter than the actual outside temperature.  So if it's 90 degrees outside which is common in summer here, not only will your kids & pets will be playing on turf that is approx. 140 to 170 degrees (third degree burn temps) but your yards ambient temperature will be just as hot.  Some cities have created micro ecosystems even if it's the tiniest of spaces, even if it's a parking lot or an abandoned lot or a street median.  Every place and space counts, less concrete/pavement/synthetic turf the better.

Another way is to donate to some of our amazing international, national & local organizations that rely on our financial help to enable them to be able to get in front of our government for environmental policy changes.  Some of you may not feel comfortable being vocal, so let these valuable organizations be your voice by supporting them with a donation.   Most of them are non-profit so financial donations are the key to continue their work of protecting our environment from disappearing.  Because once it's gone, it's gone forever.

Here's a real challenging yet very important one....reduce the amount of plastics/petroleum products in your life.  Now this one is certainly not as easy as it sounds but starting small is the key to success.  Also by shifting our mind set as to how we purchase food, store food and our daily use items will also make it easier to embrace change.   We definitely had our challenges with this one but we started with the things we knew we could successfully accomplish and afford.  For example, I bring my own non-plastic reusable bags to the grocery store.   We purchased glass food containers to store food in the cabinets and refrigerator, so when I get home from the store I'll remove the food item from the plastic container & transfer it into a glass one.  We use a combination of snap-lock containers, ball jars & saved jars from other foods like honey, pasta sauce, etc that I can reuse.  Use ceramic and glass dishware & glassware (I know with little kiddos it might not be viable).  Buy products in paper or glass containers that can also be recycled.  Buy renewable grown products like items made from bamboo or recycled products.   Email or write to the companies you use to let them know how you feel about them using petroleum products for their packaging.  If their sales go down they listen.   We purchase fruits and vegetables not wrapped in plastic.  We changed our bedding to all cotton & make sure to purchase clothes made of cotton. We try to purchase wood furniture, no more Ikea crap.   No black plastic kitchen utensils, only wood or certain silicone based non PFAS ones.  Now with that said, some of  the big items that we struggle with are kitchen garbage bags, toothpaste, toothbrushes, certain food items and certain clothes like bras and shoes.  Of course there are things that are full of plastic that are almost impossible to get away from; cars, computers, garbage cans, kids products, furniture, kitchen utensils, detergents, ugh the list goes on.  The less forever chemicals & microplastics in our bodies, in our children, in our plants and animals the better!  I'm not sure what the alternatives are if any, since our lifestyles are so imbedded in some of these.  I'm sure some of you have some great ideas to share here.  

Another way is to start a gardening club if there isn't one in your area or join an existing one or create a gardening social event or a plant swap or a vlog/blog or a social media platform.  Host these events in a park, I bet others in the park would be mighty curious to learn more.  These are all things you can do whether you live in a house with a yard or an apartment with a balcony planters or a community garden or even if you have none of these. Imagine all of the conversations that can take place at these events, a meeting of the minds, hee hee.  A great way for like minded people to build a movement that can spread out to teach others about how important saving our ecosystems are.  Imagine all the great ideas as to how we can change the way we are currently doing things into a better way of living for our future selves & generations.

Get involved in your local government!  What a great way to make a positive impact in your community.   Vote out the leaders that continue to sell out your community.  Throw your hat in the ring for a seat at the table.  Show up to the commissioner meetings, city council meetings, county agenda meetings, your state even, let your voices be heard, bring your gardening friends!  Have a pre-garden party before a commissioner meeting to get the juices flowing.  Make sure your city has practical & Florida Friendly Landscaping ordinances; i.e. homes & business should have a certain amount of trees, palms and shrubbery, less sod & no artificial turf.  Ask your city officials for a meeting to discuss ideas for environmental changes & stop overdevelopment. When we lead by example, others will follow.  Especially when there is proof in how the new change is working for the better. 

The fact that our local & state government continues to allow the overdevelopment of our state and nation is absolutely despicable and frustrating to watch them gladly get away with it.  They slash and burn native habitats to the ground, habitats that might be the only one left of its kind...for what another Walmart?!  Yes, Miami-Dade county let that happen adjacent to the Miami Zoo despite huge efforts by the community, scientists/ecologists & organizations to stop this from happening.  That unique rare habitat is now lost forever to cheap Chinese plastic products.  Palm Beach county, Broward county & Miami-Dade county have all sold out to track home developers that are currently building in our Agriculturally designated areas.  Areas zoned only for agricultural.  Guess how that happened?  When people complain how expensive food has been over the past 8+ years, a huge reason is because Florida is no longer a leader in our farming industry.  We import most of our fresh food due to this kind of selfish unsustainable development.   But don't loose hope, we can make a change in how we view the world, how we view our lifestyles, how we support certain corporations trying to do good, how we support regenerative farming practices (support our farmers in general).  We can do better, we know what the right thing is and we have to hold the ones that are larger than ourselves accountable for their bad behavior every step of the way.  Our children are also a hope of an ecologically sustainable world for us & our planet.  The more they learn how important a healthy planet is, they'll create new ideas, new ways of thinking & create the change that needs to happen on a larger scale.  To replace the old with the new! Yay, that get's me excited! When we shift our current lifestyle to a more sustainable one, only then will our planet will reward us with keeping us healthy & alive.  

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...let's keep this conversation & action going!

As always best wishes & happy gardening,

Sheri

xoxo