Generations of Plant Cultivation

Native plants are the foundation of a thriving ecosystem, and our goal is to share a love for these plants with future generations. Last year in 2025, we piloted a partnership with Hixson High School to meet the increasing demand for native plants! This program benefits both us and the students by supporting their horticulture program and boosting our native plant production!

Here at Reflection Riding, we envision a world where neighborhoods sprawl with beautiful native perennials and trees, children play outside, and local wildlife live in harmony with our community. This vision rests on the abundance of native plants, which fill our communities with beauty and wonder. As the demand for native plants continues to grow, we’re exploring ways to get more of these beneficial plants into Chattanooga’s home gardens.

Last year in 2025, we piloted a partnership with Hixson High School. Led by Teacher Lee Friedlander, Hixson High provides students with a Horticulture Science Pathway. During class, the students manage two greenhouses on the school grounds where they propagate edible crops, native plants, and ornamentals. Our Native Plant Nursery partnered with Lee’s program to buy native seedlings from the school; in turn, they receive financial support while providing us with a steady supply of healthy plants to then sell in our Nursery.

"I love knowing students get the chance to learn by actually growing plants and getting their hands in the soil. Hixson High School is doing some really exciting and innovative work with its agricultural science program, and Reflection Riding is happy to support their students as they build these skills. Growing native plants is such a meaningful way for young people to connect what they’re learning in the classroom with the natural world,” says Lauren Russek, Lead Naturalist: Native Plant Horticulture.

This past year, we purchased 1,291 plants total from Hixson High, including orders for both the fall and spring season. Earlier this year, our Nursery team joined HHS students to get engaged with the students and observe their process. We also host seasonal check-ins to coordinate production and explore ways to support each other. So far, we’ve received several exciting native species from HHS: Tennessee Coneflower, Purple Coneflower, Sweet Joe Pye Weed, Plains Coreopsis, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, Widow's Cross Sedum, Eastern Bluestar, Spotted Beebalm, Passionflower, Swamp Sunflower, Smooth Beardtongue, Wild Strawberry, Blue Mistflower, Swamp Milkweed, Butterfly Milkweed, Brown Eyed Susan, Ninebark, and Wild Bergamont.

We’re so excited to continue to develop this partnership. Thank you to Hixson High for spreading the joy of native plants!