Certified Wildlife Habitat - Marsha Jaramillo, Owner of Markets Of Sunshine

National Wildlife Federation certifies new wildlife habitat in Deltona, FL.

Mrs. Marsha Jaramillo, owner of Markets of Sunshine lives in Deltona, FL has successfully created a Certified Wildlife Habitat through its Garden for Wildlife program...

This was the welcome kit I received from the National Wildlife Federation after I completed the Garden for Wildlife program.  I am super excited and honored to do my part to create natural habitat locations for all of the wildlife in our area.

Since, I enjoy watching wildlife and feel at peace in nature.  My family helped me redesign our yard to make it more inviting and safe for the wildlife not only to give me more watching opportunities, it also helps me to be greener - reducing lawn to mow, cutting down on watering and saving time in the long run to enjoy time outside.

Over the last 29 years our backyard took on a life of it's own and went from a jungle to a well organized and structured environment.  Even our neighbor has complimented us on how lovely it looks now.  We installed more water sources such as a birdbath, planted native edible plants along with our birdhouses and thickets.
We have an abundance of trees that provide needed shelter during rain storms and away from predators.

Living a green organic lifestyle has been a part of our family for over 25 years.  Lyme disease has slowed me down but did not stop my love of nature and the outdoors.  I'm just more educated now and know what to look out for when I venture outside.

I tell everyone if you're going to go walking or hiking look out for ticks.  Check yourself from head to toe when you get back inside and shower right away. Ticks don't like the soap and will fall off of you.  We can be safe in nature if we are forewarned.

Okay, back to my yard transformation and what we have added. Even though we live in a huge housing community there is still lots of woods around the borders of the city on several sides.  As well as lakes and rivers.  This brings lots of wildlife such as raccoons, opossums, birds, rabbits and more to our backyards.  

We were feeding them at night with cat food and vegetables but that brought some unwanted invaders too.  So, we decided to just plant fruit and berry plants and let the wildlife pick and choose what they want.

Be sure to plant organic and not to use any pesticides so the animals can eat a healthy meal without harmful side effects.  The one good thing about using edible plants that bring opossums is the fact that they eat ticks.  So it's a win, win in my book.

Here is a short list of the native plants we have in our garden habitat.

• Florida native orchid
• Live oaks
• Azaleas
• Bromeliads
• Passion Flower

Since, Florida has a long growing season for most of the year we have found some great edible plants that will  give food to the wildlife all year long.  Here's that short list.

• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Mango
• Avocado
• Papaya
• Soon to be planted are ...
• Watermelon
• Apple tree

Do you think that will keep the little critters tummy's full and satisfied? We've already noticed an increase in the bird population as well as butterflies.  We have huge rain trees that draw bees by the thousands when the flowers bloom several times a year.

I have a video of our backyard makeover on my YouTube channel, Here. <<<click to watch

 Planting video click to watch.

The first video in our series of wildlife habitat backyard makeover. click to watch <<<

I'm also a member of the Monarch City USA movement to safe the Monarch butterfly habitats.
You can check it out here. >>> Help preserve the Monarch butterfly - Monarch City USA

Let me know if this inspired you to do your part to give the wildlife in your area a place to feel safe.

Just leave me a comment below.

Sending You Sunshine,

Marsha