Good Morning from Florida's Indian River Lagoon
Good morning from River Rocks along Florida's Indian River Lagoon in Rockledge FL. Today is Wednesday September 16, 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: 85 with a high of 85
Humidity: 74% and it rained all day!
Wind Direction & Speed: 11 from the E
Tide Stage: High at noon and low at 6 PM
Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent - rise at 12:30 PM and set at 11 PM
Water Conditions: White caps in the lagoon and incredibly high tide with the east wind. It's like winter time!
Today's Lagoon Life:
Rain rain go away. I'm writing this the next day and it rained all day yesterday. We watched the radar and it looked like 1 cloud was circling over us all day. It would go offshore and pick up moisture, blow back in and dump on us and repeat the cycle about every 2 hours. It did make for this beautiful rainbow I swear came from a friend of mines house! Photo taken hands free while driving! I have a whole YouTube Channel with videos of me driving through nature too.
Lagoon Living Tip of the Day:
Plant Something That Feeds More Than You
An edible Florida landscape doesn't have to mean rows of vegetables and a backyard that looks like a farm.
A fruit tree, herbs, native berries or a small vegetable bed can produce food while also creating habitat, supporting pollinators and reducing the amount of conventional turf you need to irrigate and fertilize.
And here's an interesting variation: grow something specifically to give away.
One extra tomato plant isn't much.
But imagine an entire neighborhood where everyone grew one extra thing and shared the surplus.
That's where gardening stops being landscaping and starts becoming community. 🌱🍅
Which takes us beautifully into today's organization.
For example I'm heading to the Yoga Garden tonight to volunteer in their permaculture garden and then tomorrow morning I'll be back at Chozen for some volunteer gardening. More to come on that story and chapter of my life here on the lagoon.
Wildlife & Nature
I loved watching the pelican and turkey vultures ride the thermals on the drive up the lagoon today. With the heavy onshore breeze the wind hits the bank of the lagoon and is pushed up creating great lift for the birds. Pelican fly due south by flying diagonally without flapping their winds.
This was the most cherished shot of the day though. I've never seen the tail stump growing back from a chameleon!
Today's Lagoon Spotlight
Featured Community Do-Gooder: Little Growers Inc.
Today's Do-Gooder might be one of my favorites we've uncovered since moving the Dock Report north into Brevard.
Little Growers Inc. is a Melbourne-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combines gardening, sustainability, food security and youth development.
That's already an interesting stew.
But here's where it gets even better.
One of its current programs is called The Cassava Project. Little Growers provides free cassava cuttings to local residents who are willing to grow them and then share part of their eventual harvest with families in need.
I love the simplicity of that.
They aren't merely collecting food.
They're creating more people who know how to grow food, and then connecting those growers back to their community.
The organization also works with young people through programs designed to develop future leaders in sustainability. Its Melbourne location is at 823 Brothers Avenue, and plans for an aquaponics farm space are also underway.
🐦 And They're Growing Habitat Too
Little Growers recently received funding for another clever project: installing five free bird-friendly gardens at Brevard County homes and businesses.
The gardens are designed to provide native birds with habitat, water and food.
So think about everything happening in that little patch of dirt.
Plants feed insects.
Insects and plants feed birds.
Gardens absorb rain.
People grow food.
Extra food feeds neighbors.
Children learn where food actually comes from.
That's a lot of mileage from a garden bed.
💙 Why They Matter
Environmentalism can sometimes feel enormous.
Restore an estuary. Fix stormwater. Recover thousands of acres of seagrass.
Necessary work, certainly, but intimidating work.
Little Growers operates at almost the opposite scale.
Here's a plant.
Put it in the ground.
Learn how to grow it.
Teach a kid.
Feed somebody.
Then do it again.
There's something wonderfully Lagoon Lifestyle about that.
Healthy ecosystems grow from the ground up. Healthy communities often do too. 🌱🐦❤️🌊
Learn More
Lagoon Lifestyle & Real Estate
Visit the Neighborhood After Dark
Most buyers see a home during the day, often when the house has been polished, lights are on and everything is behaving nicely for company.
Before you buy, go back after dark.
You may discover things you couldn't possibly learn during the showing. How well is the street lit? Is there traffic noise you didn't notice earlier? Are neighboring properties brightly illuminated? Can you hear a nearby bar, highway or train? Does the neighborhood feel comfortable when you're coming home at 10 PM?
If possible, visit on a weekday and a weekend.
You're not just buying the property you toured for 45 minutes.
You're buying Tuesday night at 9:30.
A house gets a showing. A neighborhood deserves an audition. 🌙🏡
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