Why You Can’t Miss Kim Bailey & Milkweed Meadows at the GFLP April 11 Native Plant Sale

If you love native plants, butterflies, and creating real habitat in your garden, then one of the true highlights of this year’s Gardening For Life Project Spring Native Plant Sale is Milkweed Meadows—and the woman behind it all, Kim Bailey.

Kim isn’t just a grower—she’s an educator, environmental storyteller, and passionate steward of pollinators whose work is transforming gardens across the Southeast. We are so excited that she is bringing her bounty of native plants to the April 11th plant sale!

“Planting a seed is one of the most hopeful things you can do.” - Kim Bailey

From Classroom Curiosity to Farm-Based Habitat

Kim’s journey began long before she ever dreamed of running a native plant farm. As an environmental educator in Georgia, she wanted children to experience nature where they lived, not just on field trips. Her first milkweed seeds, planted for a school project, instantly attracted monarch caterpillars—a moment that sparked a lifelong passion.

Today, that passion has taken root on Milkweed Meadows Farm in Fruitland, NC, a family farm reborn as a thriving habitat for native butterflies, bees, and other wildlife.

At Milkweed Meadows, Kim grows milkweed and other native plants that are essential for butterfly life cycles—especially monarchs. Monarch caterpillars can eat only milkweed, making it a critical host plant for their survival and migration.

Beyond milkweed, her farm features pawpaw, passionvine, pipevine, and nectar-rich wildflowers that support pollinators at every stage of life. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or brand new to native plants, coming to see (and learn from) Kim’s offerings is a rare chance to take home plants that truly make a difference.

What You’ll Find at the April 11 Plant Sale

At the GFLP Spring ‘26 Native Plant Sale, (a collaboration between GFLP and our friends at The Congregational Church) on Saturday, April 11, from Noon–5 PM in Tryon, NC, Milkweed Meadows is one of the featured vendors bringing a diverse selection of native plants suited to local gardens and wildlife habitats.

Here’s what makes this event special:

🌿 A wide variety of native plants perfect for sun, shade, and pollinator-friendly gardens
🌿 Expert growers like Kim on site to answer your questions
🌿 A welcoming, educational atmosphere open to all ages
🌿 An opportunity to bring home plants that matter—for your garden and the planet