Florida is overrun with lizards. When folks move here, there is inevitably a conversation about how many lizards (technically Florida anoles) there are running about. Having lived in Florida for 99% of my life, I’m pretty used to it. As a kid, I was happy to catch as many as I could. I even think I was one of those kids who clipped a lizard to my ear and walked around. What can I say, kids do silly things sometimes.

Not only are some kids prone to chase after lizards, but so are some dogs. Pearl is a bona fide huntress. When she is on our patio, she is laser-focused on one thing. The removal of all lizards from her kingdom. She isn’t that great at it. What we really end up with is a whole bunch of lizards that are missing their tails. Usually, she just isn’t fast enough. Sometimes, though, she ends up in an intense standoff. It’s kind of funny to see a dog unsure of what to do in front of a tiny lizard. They often rear up like little velociraptors, and then she really doesn’t know how to proceed.

Last week, she was giving chase to one particularly snippy lizard, when suddenly she came running with a confused squeal. It turns out this little lizard had found a safe spot away from her snout by hitching a ride on her ear. Just like a kid trying to show off in elementary school! In this case, she definitely didn’t mean to do it. Kim managed to remove the lizard and then safely hide it from Pearl’s view. As she always does, Pearl checked the last place she’d encountered the lizard for the next hour or so and then forgot about it as she went in pursuit of other, easier prey. I think it is safe to say that the lizard won this time around.

This weekend, we aren’t talking about lizards (and I promise I won’t have one hanging from my ear), we are talking butterflies! The seminar Saturday is all about the various types of butterflies that call Florida home, and I’ll teach you the amazing plants, including a great selection of Florida Natives, that will make your garden the most popular butterfly hangout around.

And with Fall officially starting this Saturday, we’re in pumpkin mode. Pumpkins have arrived and will be ready for our first Fall Kickoff event. Plan to join us on Saturday the 30th as we Make Fall Happen in Florida with our Pumpkin Patch, Pumpkin Wall (great for pictures!) Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, garden seminars, Full Tilt Sandwiches food truck (available for purchase), and gift card giveaways. We’re also hosting 2 sessions of the Pumpkin Succulent Arrangement Make & Take (tickets are required, purchase here); the 2 pm workshop sold out, so we’ve added another one at 3:30 pm. We are so excited to share all these fun Fall festivities with YOU, our Kerby’s Community! Happy Fall, y’all!