How it started

A little about the person behind Millers Cove Native Plants...

I'm Milly (yes, my name coincidentally sounds similar to my location/business!) I was born and raised in East TN and bought my first home in West Millers Cove ten years ago. Since then, I’ve been slowly filling the sunny grass lawn with islands of plants. Longtime hobbies of bird watching and nature photography inspired me to research what to plant to attract birds to the yard. Becoming a parent to two young kiddos was even more motivation to bring nature to me and native plants seemed the best way to do just that. Like many gardeners, I have little formal training, but years of trial and error and the passion to keep learning and trying again has helped to hone my growing skills.

I struggled to find natives at local garden centers (there are a few great TN native plant nurseries, but a bit far from me) and didn't love the idea of getting plants shipped from across the country, so I started growing from seed, and that’s how the nursery was born. I figured there had to be others like me in Blount and surrounding counties, so I applied for a nursery license and set up the Plant Stand to offer a fun new way to get native plants. I've always loved the experience of going to a self pay farm stands and wish there were more of them around! If potted plants could be considered 'artisan,' our plants would be - they are all grown with care by me in my yard, rather than in industrial greenhouses to be shipped and sold at big box stores.

Gardening for wildlife with native plants has given more life to my yard, and more meaning to gardening. For those who love nature and want to care for the environment, it can often feel like we have little control to make a difference. But we CAN control what we plant in our yards (or patio or balcony if you don't have a yard of your own). Growing plants that help to sustain wildlife does make a difference - for those animals and for you!

• Goldfinches love Liatris seeds

• Cardinal flower stays busy with hummingbirds

• Not all plants in my yard are native, and that's ok. These Gulf Frittilaries found the lavender plant suitable.

Thanks for following along. Please share our site with anyone in the East TN area who is interested in gardening, nature, or might like to drive through the mountains to visit a roadside plant stand and support a local small business.