Another successful Space Shuttle launch as seen from the backyard Another successful Space Shuttle launch as seen from the backyard 
Ice formed by the protective sprinkler system during a "hard" freeze in Orlando's winter.
By selecting plants with the purpose of helping the wildlife of the area, Dr. Wittman created a refuge in minature around his home in central Florida. By emphasizing native plants and select non-natives, a low maintenance yard and habitat was created to encourage other plants and animals to move in and stay. All of the images on this page are from the quarter acre lot on which the house was built. The area was clear cut of its native vegetation decades ago in order to put in an orange grove. The planet's changing climate resulted in hard freezes (early 1980's) which killed the citrus trees and "paved" the way for houses to be built.
 Beautyberry Calicarpa americana |
Florida Native Plant |
Food source for mockingbirds, cardinals, brown thrashers, squirrels and even people.  Beautyberry Calicarpa americana |
 Blue Curls Trichostema dichotomum |
Florida Native Plant |
 Blue Curls Trichostema dichotomum |
 Blue Porterweed Stachytarpheta jamaicensis |
Florida Native Plant |
 Blue Porterweed Stachytarpheta jamaicensis |
 Spotted Beebalm Monarda punctata |
Florida Native Plant |
 Spotted Beebalm Monarda punctata |
 Plumbago Plumbago auriculata |
Southern Africa Plant and Florida Native Insect |
 White Peacock butterfly Anartia jatrophae on Plumbago Plumbago auriculata |