Good Morning from Florida's Indian River Lagoon
Good morning from Pelican Pointe Condominiums along Florida's Indian River Lagoon in Sebastian, FL. Today is Monday September 21, 2026.
Welcome to today's Lagoon Life Report, where we explore the weather, wildlife, waterfront communities, parks, local food, and everyday moments that make life along the Indian River Lagoon so special.
Lagoon Conditions
Time: 10 AM
Air Temperature: 77 - high of 84 - quite pleasant!
Humidity: 89% - but a bit sticky
Wind Direction & Speed: NE at 2
Tide Stage: High at 6 AM and Low at 1:30 PM
Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous - rise at 4:30 PM and set at 2:13 AM
Water Conditions: Tanin laden and HIGH! This is a combination of the seasonal King Tides, easterly winds, thermal expansion and the reduction in the gulf stream, and lastly, lots of rain inland.
Today's Lagoon Life:
Today I toured Pelican Pointe condos in Sebastian. Located directly off US 1 across the street from Publix. There are various forms of housing in the development. There are 2 on top of 2 condo buildings, bungalows, a 3 story condo building on the lagoon and 6-8 luxury homes also located on the lagoon.
There is a walk on no-fee 9 hole golf course that intertwines through the neighborhood along with a nice club house, a swimming poll and tennis/pickleball courts. I was very impressed with the Live Oak trees and mangroves by the marina. Yes, there's a marine into the lagoon.
Lagoon Living Tip of the Day:
Give Your Yard a Little More Florida
You don't need to convert the entire lawn into a botanical preserve this weekend.
Start with one patch.
Replace a small area of turf with Florida native plants suited to that spot. Once established, properly selected natives generally require less irrigation and don't need the fertilizer regimen associated with conventional lawns. They also provide food and habitat for native insects, butterflies and birds.
Better still, you can actually see what this looks like around Indian River County before touching your own yard.
Pelican Island Audubon Society has helped establish native demonstration gardens at places including the Indian River County Administration Complex, Vero Beach Elementary School and Vero Beach post offices.
Today's Lagoon Spotlight
🌿 Indian River Lagoon Insight of the Day
Today's Indian River County Do-Gooder: Pelican Island Audubon Society
This organization has been hiding in plain sight for our Dock Report.
Pelican Island Audubon Society has been serving Indian River County since 1964, working to protect the county's animals, plants, natural communities, land and water through conservation, education and public awareness.
And they're doing something I particularly like because it connects directly to ordinary homeowners.
They're putting examples of better Florida landscaping where people can actually see them.
Pelican Island Audubon has helped create a growing network of native demonstration gardens around Indian River County. One recent project at the Vero Beach Main Post Office involved 20 volunteers planting 179 native plants representing eight species. The idea isn't merely beautification. These gardens demonstrate landscaping that can function with less irrigation and without routine chemical inputs while providing habitat for wildlife.
Now they're thinking bigger.
Pelican Island Audubon has been working with Indian River Habitat for Humanity on plans to landscape the perimeter of a new Habitat neighborhood with more than 1,500 native trees, shrubs and flowering plants, creating habitat while introducing homeowners to native landscaping.
💚 Why I Like This One
There's a lovely connection between real estate and ecology here.
We build the house.
Then we decide what the land surrounding it should become.
For decades, Florida's default answer has often been: grass.
Pelican Island Audubon is demonstrating another possibility. A neighborhood can still look cared for and attractive while functioning as habitat, using less water and sending fewer landscaping inputs toward our waterways.
And there's something happening next Monday, September 28, that could make a good Dock Report mention. Pelican Island Audubon has a free public program scheduled at the Garden Club of Indian River County in Vero Beach called "Rooted in Change: Food, Planet, and the Power of Plants." It begins at 7 PM.
They also operate a native plant nursery at Audubon House on Oslo Road, currently open Monday and Wednesday from 9–11 AM and Saturday from 9 AM–noon.
So today's idea could actually become tomorrow's field trip.
Maybe Lagoon restoration doesn't always begin at the water's edge. Sometimes it begins at the edge of the driveway. 🌱🏡🌊
Learn More
Pelican Island Audubon Society
Lagoon Lifestyle & Real Estate
Visit the House Right After a Florida Downpour
A home can look flawless on a sunny afternoon. Heavy rain conducts a much better inspection.
If you're seriously considering a Florida property, try driving by during or shortly after one of our big afternoon storms. Look for standing water in the yard, water collecting against the foundation, overflowing gutters, driveway flooding and how effectively the street drains.
Also notice neighboring lots. Water doesn't care where the property line is. A beautifully dry yard sitting downhill from several poorly drained properties may tell a different story after three inches of rain.
This is particularly useful around the Treasure Coast, where drainage, elevation and stormwater management can vary considerably from one neighborhood to another.
Sunshine shows you the house. A Florida thunderstorm shows you the property. 🌧️🏡
Thinking About Life Along the Lagoon?
Whether you're planning a visit, considering a move, or simply enjoy following life along Florida's Indian River Lagoon, I hope these daily reports help you experience one of Florida's most beautiful regions.
If you're looking for local insight about waterfront living or real estate anywhere along the lagoon, I'd be happy to help.
Every report is another chapter in the story of life along Florida's Indian River Lagoon. Thanks for following along.
Chris Norris
Broker Associate | Treasure Coast Realty
Serving Florida's Space Coast & Treasure Coast along the Indian River Lagoon
ChrisNorrisRealEstate.com
SebastianLagoonLife.com
YouTube: @ChrisNorrisRealEstate