Here is a good link for you for Florida friendly landscaping. http://www.floridaplants.com/xeri.html

One of the most helpful links is here
http://www.floridayards.org/fyplants/index.php
For help planning your landscape beds, try this Interactive Yard link: http://www.floridayards.org/interactive/index.php

I'm here in SE Fl too, zone 10. Personally I like to do as much xeriscaping as possible in our area. Looking at your island out front, it looks to me like the Robellini Palm is in dire shape. I don't know if you can nurse it back to health. Strongly consider getting someone out to take a look at it right away.
Here is what a healthy Robellini looks like.

Try this link for some guidance
Guide to Florida Landscape Plants for the southern half of the Sunshine State
http://www.south-florida-plant-guide.com/

Let me see if I can come up with a short list of easy plant material for you
Here is one good link with many of the plants I use
http://www.virtualherbarium.org/gardenviews/LearningCurveSFPlants.html