Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcelo & Jeremy Dasilva.
Hi Marcelo & Jeremy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Fort Christmas Nursery began very organically and grew from a shared passion that Jeremy and I have for plants, nature, and creating a meaningful life together.
Jeremy and I have known each other for more than twelve years, and we were married four years ago. While we both appreciate gardening and the outdoors, Jeremy has always had a particular passion for plants and landscaping. Several years ago, we decided to make a major life change. We sold our home in downtown Orlando, in Baldwin Park, and moved to a farm in the rural community of Christmas, Florida.
Our decision was motivated by several factors. We wanted more space, the opportunity to live closer to nature, and a quieter lifestyle. For Marcelo, the move also provided a shorter commute to the Kennedy Space Center as traffic throughout the Orlando area had increased significantly over the years. The farm allowed us to create the kind of life we had always envisioned, one that includes not only plants and gardens, but also animals. Today, our farm is home to goats, chickens, and ducks, which have become a special part of our daily life and contribute to the peaceful, rural atmosphere that inspired the nursery.
When we moved onto our property, we quickly realized that our corner lot was very open along both roads. We wanted additional privacy and decided to create a natural hedge using Podocarpus shrubs. We purchased several dozen plants with the intention of allowing them to grow before eventually planting them along our fence lines.
As we began installing the plants, neighbors and people passing by frequently stopped to ask whether we were landscapers or if the plants were available for sale. Those conversations sparked an idea. We decided to purchase a few additional plants and offer them for sale, with the simple goal of using the proceeds to help fund the landscaping of our own property.
We started advertising within our local community, and little by little, customers began requesting more than just privacy plants. They wanted flowering shrubs, fragrant plants, shade trees, Florida native species, and unique varieties to enhance their landscapes. As demand grew, so did our inventory and our passion for helping others create beautiful outdoor spaces.
What began as a small patch of Podocarpus plants eventually evolved into a thriving backyard nursery. In just a few years, Fort Christmas Nursery has grown far beyond our original expectations. Following this year’s frost season, we were especially grateful to help many homeowners replace and restore their landscapes.
At its heart, Fort Christmas Nursery was never simply about selling plants. It was born from our shared love of gardening, our rural lifestyle, and our desire to beautify our community. Our goal is to help families create beautiful outdoor spaces while making Central Florida a greener and more beautiful place to live.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a completely smooth road, but the challenges have helped us grow and improve. One of the biggest challenges is that Fort Christmas Nursery started as a hobby that Jeremy and I genuinely enjoyed. We loved working with plants, learning about different varieties, and helping people find the right plants for their homes. However, the nursery grew much faster than we ever anticipated.
As demand increased, we quickly realized that what began as a hobby had become a real business. Customers rely on us to be open during posted hours, provide quality plants, answer questions, and deliver excellent service. With that comes a responsibility to maintain healthy inventory, ensure customer satisfaction, and build a reputation that people can trust.
Our goal has always been to create a five-star customer experience, and that takes a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes. In addition to caring for thousands of plants, we also manage purchasing, inventory, accounting, marketing, website updates, social media posts, phone calls, emails, and customer appointments.
One of our current challenges is balancing growth with available resources. Marcelo continues to work full-time at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center while helping run the nursery during evenings and weekends. As a result, much of the business is still operated by just the two of us. There are many days when we wear every hat in the company—from plant caretakers and sales associates to accountants, marketers, and customer service representatives.
While the workload can be demanding, we are grateful for the support of our customers and community. Every challenge has reinforced our commitment to building a business that provides quality plants, honest service, and a welcoming experience for everyone who visits. We see these growing pains not as obstacles, but as signs that we are building something meaningful.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our motto is simple: “Same Growers, Better Prices.”
Fort Christmas Nursery was founded on the belief that quality plants should be affordable and accessible to everyone. What started as a small backyard nursery has quickly grown into a thriving local business serving homeowners, gardeners, landscapers, and plant enthusiasts throughout Central Florida.
We specialize in a wide variety of Florida-friendly shrubs, trees, flowering plants, and privacy hedges. Some of our most popular plants include Podocarpus, Frostproof Gardenias, Hibiscus, Crape Myrtles, Magnolias, Ixoras, and many other varieties that thrive in Florida’s climate. We work directly with growers across the state, allowing us to source healthy, high-quality plants while keeping prices competitive.
One thing that sets us apart is that many of the plants we offer come from the same growers that supply larger retail stores and nurseries. By operating with lower overhead and a more streamlined business model, we are able to pass those savings directly to our customers. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to create a beautiful landscape without overpaying.
This year has been especially exciting. We were overwhelmed – in the best possible way – by the number of customers who visited our nursery. The tremendous support from our community has encouraged us to begin planning our next phase of growth. We are currently working toward expanding from our backyard nursery to a larger location along the main road, creating additional space for inventory, customer experiences, and future wholesale opportunities.
While we currently focus on plant sales and do not offer installation or delivery services, that decision allows us to maintain our commitment to quality plants at reasonable prices. Looking ahead, we hope to expand our wholesale offerings to better serve landscapers, contractors, and other professionals in the trade.
Beyond the plants themselves, we are proud of the unique experience and personality of our business. We are located in the historic community of Christmas, Florida, on Reindeer Road – a location that many people initially think is a joke until they visit us. We embrace that charm and strive to create a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere where customers can browse, learn, and enjoy the beauty of nature.
More than anything, we want people to know that Fort Christmas Nursery is about community. Our mission is to help families, businesses, and neighborhoods create beautiful outdoor spaces while making quality plants affordable for everyone. If we can help make Central Florida a little greener and a little more beautiful, then we consider that a success.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success means different things to different people, but for me and Jeremy, success is measured by the impact we have on our customers and our community.
Of course, business growth is important, but we believe true success comes from providing excellent customer service and earning the trust of the people we serve. One of the most rewarding experiences is seeing customers return for a second or third visit, bringing along friends and family because they had a positive experience with us. Those referrals tell us that we are doing something right.
Success is also reflected in the recognition we receive from the community. Being invited to participate in local events, trade shows, interviews, and community activities is an honor because it shows that people value what we are building and the role we play in helping beautify Central Florida.
On a personal level, some of our favorite moments happen after a customer leaves the nursery. Many of them send us photos of their completed landscapes, gardens, and outdoor spaces. Seeing how proud they are of the results – and knowing that we played a small part in helping create that vision – gives us a tremendous sense of satisfaction. Those moments feel like a mission accomplished.
We also measure success by how far we have come. What started as a small patch of Podocarpus plants has grown into a nursery offering a wide variety of shrubs, trees, flowering plants, Florida native species, and fruit trees. Watching that growth while continuing to respond to customer requests and community needs has been incredibly rewarding.
Most importantly, success means making quality plants accessible to more people. Not everyone has an unlimited landscaping budget, and we take pride in offering healthy, high-quality plants at reasonable prices. If we can help someone create a beautiful yard, improve their property, or simply enjoy gardening without overspending, then we consider that a success!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fortchristmasnursery.com/
- Instagram: @fortchristmasnursery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Fort-Christmas-Nursery-61558122671752/
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/fortxmasnursery
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/fort-christmas-nursery-christmas
