Preston Drum is not new to the plant world, having grown up with parents who were both horticulturalists.
Originally from the inner city of Charlotte, NC, Preston has a diverse professional and creative background in education, music, and art. He has since transferred his creative energy to garden design and stewardship, recently leaving his teaching job to focus on his business — creating naturalistic gardens that support surrounding ecosystems. He uses sustainable garden design methods that prioritize attracting wildlife, conserving water, and bolstering biodiversity.
Preston’s journey into native plant landscaping began in 2019, shortly after moving to his house in Burnsville, Minnesota — a city 15 miles south of downtown Minneapolis. He transformed part of his front yard into a rain garden using grant money from the city. From there, the rest of his property followed suit, with what Preston describes as “a big explosion during COVID.”
Now, he runs his own native plant nursery, Northern Holler Nursery & Gardens, out of his home in Burnsville. He also offers garden design services, a side of the business that grew organically after a mentor asked for his help and encouraged him to pursue more design work.
Preston is an active community volunteer, working to benefit both the local environment and to bring neighbors together. He now works alongside his city’s natural resources department to grow plants for local restoration and planting projects. He is also the designer, grower, installer, and steward for multiple projects at his son’s elementary school. One of his most recent projects is a garden along the school’s front entrance, filled with hundreds of plants he grew himself — an endeavor Preston jokes “nearly killed him.”
Preston explained that Minnesota has a strong culture of restoration ecology dating back to the 1970s and 80s. Companies like Prairie Restorations and Prairie Moon Nursery are devoted exclusively to designing, restoring, and managing native prairie plant communities.
Even with this culture in place, Preston says he still struggles to source specific native plants for his gardens locally and sees a clear need for more native plant nurseries.
When I asked about how his neighbors have responded, Preston said reactions have ranged from “tolerable to complimentary.” Overall, neighbors seem to appreciate seeing the nursery in action. Preston shared that one of the most rewarding aspects of running his home nursery has been the way it’s allowed him to connect with neighbors and build community.
Preston’s future goals include continuing to grow his native plant and landscape business, which is now entering its second year. He also has a longer-term goal of starting a Miyawaki forest project. The Miyawaki method is a Japanese tree-planting technique that creates fast-growing, dense forests with high biodiversity.
Preston’s energy and enthusiasm for his work are clear when talking to him. Like many of us, he finds solace in knowing that his efforts meaningfully contribute to fighting climate change and biodiversity loss. He draws inspiration from the community of like-minded people fostered by organizations like Wild Ones, and ultimately, he just wants to leave the world a better place for those who follow him.
Jaclyn Ryan is a member of the Wild Ones Mountain Laurel (Connecticut) Chapter. Passionate about native plants and backyard ecology, she documents the discoveries her family makes in their wildlife-friendly yard on Instagram @backyardscientists.
This member garden is a Certified Native Habitat!
This program celebrates members creating spaces for wildlife and pollinators. Your garden can be part of the movement!