Georgia horticulturist turns his passion for gardening into a blooming success

What started as a childhood dream has turned into a Georgia man’s life’s work.

In this inspiring feature from Dalton, Georgia, The Farm Monitor introduces us to Sam Brown, the owner of Fiddleheads Garden Center.

Brown’s journey into horticulture began with a marigold and his grandmother’s love for gardening. He shares how the joy of gardening and strong local ties have shaped his success.

What started as childhood curiosity blossomed into a lifelong passion and eventually, a full-fledged garden center business rooted in local plants, community connections, and resilience.

From losing his job in 2011 to launching and expanding Fiddleheads into a go-to destination for plants and garden lovers, Sam shares how the joy of gardening, strong local ties, and a deep commitment to Georgia growers have shaped his success. A story about plants, people, and purpose—don’t miss this feel-good journey from backyard roots to blooming success.

Fiddleheads Garden Center also has a butterfly house that’s open from early May through the end of September.

For more information, please visit their website: Fiddleheads Garden Center

Related Stories
Rooster is a full-time farmhand, right-hand man on Shawn Raff’s cattle and dairy operation in Eatonton, Georgia.
Buzzard discusses her upcoming appearance on the Dirt Diaries podcast with host Kirbe Schnoor and the importance of sharing authentic stories about agriculture.
Strong demand supports sweet potatoes, but grading challenges and rising costs weigh on returns for Southeastern growers.
The Cotton-4 are pushing hard for new value chain investments. Still, many U.S. cotton producers face unsustainable losses, and weakened regional textile capacity threatens the survival of the Carolina “dirt-to-shirt” supply chain.
The newly elected Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA), Dale Parker, joins us on-set to share his vision for his state’s cattle industry.
Jael Cruikshank, the newly elected Western Region Vice President, shares her story on this week’s FFA Today.
The agriculture workforce remains strong and diverse, offering meaningful pathways for students pursuing careers that support the food and farm economy.
Singer-songwriter Shea Fisher joined the program to discuss her latest projects and her appearance on the Dirt Diaries podcast.
FarmHER Katey Jo Evans of The Frozen Farmer joins us for a sneak peek of the latest episode of Dirt Diaries: The FarmHER + RanchHER Podcast.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Marilyn Schlake with the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics joined us for a closer look at the evolving role of livestock sale barns.
RFD NEWS correspondent Frank McCaffrey recently spoke with Dr. Mike Vickers, a South Texas rancher, who says illegal border crossings have dramatically declined in the last year.
Auction manager and West Texas A&M University student Presley Graves joined us to discuss the growth of StockShowAuctions.com and its impact on youth in agriculture.
Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening joined us with the latest update on storm conditions and impacts across the state.
Mike Knotts with the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association joined us with the latest on storm impacts, power restoration, and safety considerations following the ice storm.
Brooks York with AgriSompo joined us with his outlook on crop insurance and risk management following the recent winter storm that tore through most of the United States, including the Midwest.