S.E. Daugherty & Sons Farm & Flower Fields: A Nashville Local Gem

I have always been in awe of flowers and their vibrant, peaceful beauty. Growing up, I watched my Mom tend to her garden on a daily basis (nothing has changed to this day!) and gradually learned the names of every flower and their needs. And thanks to Mom, gardening has become a hobby of my own. So when I recently stumbled across flower fields minutes from my house, I couldn’t help but be filled with inspiration to write about my experience of this local family farm that brings joy to so many around the Nashville area.

My Backstory to Discovering this Local Gem

Do you ever unexpectedly discover new places or have little moments that warm your soul and add a little magic to your day? Just fifteen short miles out from downtown Nashville is a family farm that I had discovered all because I decided to take the scenic route home.

On a Sunday leaving church, we took a beautiful, winding, tree-lined road that follows along the Harpeth River back to our house. On the route, we came up to S.E. Daugherty & Sons, a local first-generation farm and nursery that sits at a fork in the road in Bellevue. While we had driven by the farm stand many times, and heard a lot of great things from our friends, we never stopped to explore, and that quiet Sunday gave us the perfect opportunity.

Walking through the farm stand past homegrown watermelon, peaches, hanging dried flowers, bushels of tomatoes and peppers, and even freshly baked sourdough bread on display, the stand was buzzing with activity. Past the nursery, I noticed a woman carrying a metal bucket filled with fresh cut flowers and subconsciously wondered where she found the beautiful arrangement. As I hopped in the car to head home, I looked up over the dashboard and saw a dirt path past the stand, with a few others making their way back holding more buckets of bright flowers. I quickly connected the dots and had to investigate.

I followed the unsuspecting dirt path back through a line of trees, where I walked past a family pulling their daughter in an old red wagon. As I reached the clearing, I was completely mesmerized. Flowers – everywhere – stretching back acres. Rows of tall bright zinnias. Purple and white lizianthus. Vibrant dahlias. Sunflowers. Greenery. With the faint sounds of crickets chirping and birds singing in the distance, it was a tranquil, magical and heavenly scene. After taking it all in, picking my own bouquet, and FaceTiming my Mom to share my find, I left inspired by its quiet, peaceful beauty. I made a mental note to visit on a regular basis as a form of nature therapy.  

After exploring their beautiful fields, scouring their website, and learning more from farm owner Erica Daugherty, I felt compelled to share more about their incredible business. Here are five reasons why you need to make the trip to visit S.E. Daugherty & Sons farm (and support them at your local farmer’s market)!

1. Family Farm Values

As you are reading this, you might be thinking that I described just about every family farm out there. And I will admit, I didn’t grow up around farms – but something about this place touched my soul. While a lot of it had to do with my love of flowers and the magic of discovering their hidden fields for the first time, I also could feel the familial love. Owners Shaun and Erica Daugherty are a husband and wife team with three children who regularly help out on the farm. Their family values exude across the grounds, their website and social media. Photos of their family on the farm are all over their Instagram. Shaun’s grandmother, who introduced herself as “Granny Phyllis,” helped me bundle up my flowers and instructed me on how to care for them as she rang me up (warm water, lemon juice, and sugar!). The whole site radiated love, family, and peace. But it doesn’t just run on love. Another critical value Erica noted that’s instilled at their farm? “Hands down, hard work. You can’t venture into farming and think it is ever going to be easy.”

2. You-Pick Flower Fields

Open daily from 10am-5pm, S.E. Daugherty & Sons’ you-pick flower field is the perfect spot for families, a unique date, or any flower lover looking to add color and life to their home. This site would be the perfect place for a family photoshoot, too! As noted above, flowers include zinnias, lizianthus, sunflowers, dahlias, foxglove and more. Not overcrowded, patrons have free rein over the extensive flower fields surrounded by tree-lined hills. At the farm stand, customers are provided with a bucket and clippers (and wagons, if needed!) to carefully concoct their own bouquets. The farm charges by the stem, but follow them on social media to catch an announcement of a $10 flower bucket day!

I asked Erica what inspired them to grow flowers on their farm. “While we’ve always had sunflowers and zinnias, three years ago when we had our daughter, Shaun had a vision of growing multiple types of flowers in her honor and creating a flower garden atmosphere where visitors can pick their own bouquets and walk the grounds and just take it all in. We are just getting started with the flower fields…the best is yet to come!” I can’t wait to see what’s in store!

3. The Abundance of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

Think of S.E. Daugherty & Sons like a permanent farmer’s market. Open from 10am-6pm, they have an ever-changing assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, dependent on the season. From watermelon, strawberries and cantaloupe, to corn, squash, okra and impressive assortments of every color of tomato and pepper, you never know what you’ll stumble across, which is all part of the fun. Naturally grown with no sprays, you have access to the freshest, healthiest produce that was picked days, if not hours, before your purchase.

4. The Nursery

Looking for a flower, shrub, or tree to add to your garden? You might want to take a peek here and support this local family business before shopping at a big box store. They have a great selection of plants you can bring home right alongside your produce and fresh flowers. Visiting their stand might inspire you to start your own little backyard farm, and they’ve got you covered there, too! S.E. Daugherty & Sons also sells seeds of all the flowers and produce they grow, lovingly branded after their daughter, as Penelope Belle Seed Co. While summer is wrapping up, they have a great pumpkin patch during the Fall months (their favorite season), as well as a Christmas tree lot that I can’t wait to visit!

5. The CSA Program

Interested in a weekly supply of fresh vegetables, ready for pickup at multiple locations, or even delivered your doorstep for certain nearby neighborhoods? Their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription program might be right up your alley. You can sign up for their spring, summer and fall 7-week blocks, or sign up for all three! My friend and next-door neighbor loves her weekly delivery, and is always finding new ways to incorporate her produce into new recipes, which inspires me! According to their website: Each weekly basket is filled with the best of that week’s harvest (most produce is harvested within the 24-hour period prior to the member receiving their basket). To participate in a CSA is a win-win for all parties involved. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship that fosters community. To know where your food is coming from (know your farmer, know your food), you know the quality of produce you are getting each week.

Stumbling across this gem really has made me love my community even more than I already did. This farm reflects so much of the American dream – family, love, and hard work. We need more businesses and experiences like this in our world and they should be supported and celebrated whenever possible! If you are looking for fresh-cut flowers, fruit, vegetables, plants, or even just some tranquil inspiration, head over to S.E. Daugherty & Sons. You’ll be so glad you visited their little peaceful refuge in Nashville.

You can bet the flower fields will be at the top of our to-do list for my Mom’s next visit!