I have always loved butterflies so it was natural for me to start a butterfly garden once we bought our house. Initially, I did what most people do and I planted some things that I thought were pretty and were readily available at the box stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc) but then I happened upon the Facebook Group Florida Native Gardening and the rest, as they say, is history. I began ripping out the things that were not beneficial to the animals and insects of Brevard county and started planting natives instead. I still have some non-native plants that are pretty but I make sure that nothing is invasive, per the Florida Invasive Species Council. The more I learned about gardening and habitat destruction, the more I wanted to plant more native plants in my yard. So, my yard is a constant state of change whether it's from the changes of seasons (seemingly only visible in Florida by the changes in things that bloom) or the adding and moving of plants. As I said, I am learning about gardening as I'm doing this so sometimes I plant something and it doesn't quite thrive in its spot so I find a new spot. It's much easier if  you plant the right plant in the right place the first time but I'm a slow learner in this regard. Or maybe I just like to sweat. Who knows?

Part of the process of my gardening is getting my yard certified all the different ways I can. Certifying your yard isn't required, or even necessary, but if you purchase the sign(s) and put it up in your yard it helps to bring awareness to those in your neighborhood. In completing one of the certification applications, I was asked for a name for my garden. I didn't want to just put "my yard" or "my backyard" or "Jamie's butterflies." I wanted something with meaning to me. I lived in Japan for over ten years and my favorite part besides everything is cherry blossom season. Sakura is Japanese for cherry blossom and I'm always dreaming of going back to Japan so that's how I settled on a name for my garden. It is more than just a small space in my yard and I'm trying to make the whole yard a wildlife habitat for all the animals, yes, even the snakes (but they scare me every time I see one no matter what) and that's how I settled on the whole name: Sakura Dreams Butterfly and Wildlife Habitat. I have a cherry blossom tree. It's not native to Florida but it's not invasive and it brings me joy each time it blooms. Especially random August blooms.