Exploring Life & Business with Mitchell Swindell of Detroit Wildflower Nursery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mitchell Swindell.

Mitchell, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi there! My name is Mitchell and I am the owner of Detroit Wildflower Nursery. My gardening assistant, Mako, is a Siberian husky and German shepherd mix. He helps dig the holes.

Mako and I were born and raised in Metro Detroit. In 2014, we moved into our current home located on a wooded, one-acre lot that was mostly lawn. As a first-time property owner, I felt an obligation to share my land with local wildlife and help restore the forest. However, my inexperience and naiveté only led to long grass and unhappy neighbors. A year after moving in, a noxious weed notice plastered on my front door took me to city hall to learn about something I had never heard of before– native plants.

A light bulb went off. I started listening to native plant podcasts and reading whatever material I could get my hands on. I began propagating my own plants, learned how to identify invasive species, joined my local Michigan Botanical Society chapter, and even certified my property with various organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation, Monarch Watch, and Saving Birds thru Habitat.

Soon after installing my first native plant garden, I started to see wildlife that I never saw growing up as a kid. To this day, I continue to be amazed at the incredible diversity of wildlife that native plants attract. Stepping out onto my back porch has become a daily adventure. Mako likes watching the butterflies, too, but he doesn’t like the bumblebees as much.

Native plants have been some of my best teachers. They’ve taught me about biology, ecology, geology, entomology, hydrology, and mycology. They’ve taught me about indigenous peoples’ cultures. They’ve taught me virtues such as patience and perseverance. They’ve taught me about the animals that depend on them and the living soil that they depend upon. They remind me every day that everything is connected.

For me, gardening with native plants is more than just gardening– it’s creating habitat and restoring balance. I find it extraordinarily healing, grounding, enlightening and empowering. The nursery allows me share some of that experience with my community.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I started my backyard nursery operation back in 2017 with some dirt and Solo cups. It has grown slowly and organically over the years. There have been a few bumps along the way, but any gardener will tell you that trial and error is a part of the process. I think that applies to life in general as well. Things don’t always, and usually don’t, go the way you want or expect, so you should always be ready to pivot and try something new. When something works, stick with it and improve upon it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We specialize in growing plants native to Michigan and the Great Lakes region. Our plants are organic, wild, and grown from seed, most of which is locally harvested. We have a variety of edible, deer-resistant, and bird feeder plants available for sale online or in person by appointment only. Gift cards are also available.
Why should you choose native plants? Native plants support life and are the foundation of ecosystems. They build essential ecosystem services, literally, from the ground up such as clean air, water, food, habitat, and fertile soil. They also save time and money with less maintenance, fertilizers, and pesticides. Visit our website to learn more.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t some external achievement; it’s a sense of fulfillment and joy. Growing native plants from little, tiny seeds, and watching them sustain wildlife where there was none… it doesn’t get much more fulfilling than that. I’m very excited to share that experience with others.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: detroitwildflowers.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detroitwildflowers
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/detroitwildflowers

Image Credits:
@detroitwildflowers