Meet the Owners
Joe Walthall
Joe, son of Donna and Jody, came to work full time at Native Nurseries upon graduating from FSU with an economics degree in June 2010. He manages the fiscal responsibilities of the nursery, is the buyer for our wild bird shop and a member of the retail staff. Joe is also a very talented chef (we all wish he’d bring samples to work with him more often).
Elizabeth Georges
Elizabeth started working at Native Nurseries in October of 2013. Since graduating from UNF with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics she has delved straight into learning about the natural wonders of native plants. She also has an artistic talent that we are happy to utilize. Outside of work she enjoys exploring the panhandle, swimming, hiking with her dogs and woodworking (she and Jody built a canoe together)!
Seth Dunaway
Seth Dunaway started back in January of 2008. He has been a core member of the landscape crew and retail staff. After ten years of mentoring under co-owner Jody, Seth has decided to follow in his footsteps as Landscape Designer. His cheerful attitude and smile is much appreciated by customers and co-workers alike. When Seth isn’t working, he's spending time with his dogs and enjoying the outdoors.
Meet the Staff
Liz Marshall
Liz Marshall started working at Native Nurseries in 1987 after completing the Horticulture Program at Lively Tech. She is the annual/perennial buyer and co-manager of the Wren’s Nest Gift Shop and a member of the retail staff. She also custom designs/plants containers for our customers. Liz has a large circle of friends and family, and spends as much time with them as possible, preferably at the beach.
Norma Skaggs
Norma Skaggs started working at Native Nurseries in January, 1990, after completing the Horticulture Program at Lively Tech. She has held the responsibilities of herb and wildflower buyer, tree and shrub buyer, book buyer and has taught various workshops here at the nursery. She is also a member of the retail staff. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, gardening and dancing in her leisure time.
Brian Bryson
Brian Bryson started working at Native Nurseries in 1991. He is a talented landscape artist, and most of the drawings in our newsletter are his. We sell prints of his many bird and seashore/boat watercolors here at the nursery. Brian also painted the mural in the Children’s Nature Nook and the various signs in the store. The cardinal on our new street sign is a reproduction of Brian’s artwork. Brian also designs and install water features. Check out some of the ponds he’s designed and installed for our customers. He’s a member of the retail staff and is currently being trained by Jody in landscape design. In his spare time, Brian enjoys making blackberry jam and sailing and (like Jody) built his own sailboat.
Jordan Vermillion
Jordan moved back to Tallahassee from Asheville, NC in winter of 2018 knowing Tallahassee was a much better place to be. He was originally hired to work with the landscape crew, however, his customer service along with good work ethic landed him on the retail staff. He is a great extra hand and is currently our main garden product buyer. Outside the nursery he enjoys spending time with his dog, Kylo and playing the drums…
Chase Brestle
Chase started September of 2018 after graduating from Florida State University with a major in Environmental Science and Policy. He is a part of our retail staff, managing the wildflower section and ordering pottery and statuary. Also he is working with Norma in our aquatic plant section and teaching workshops on birds. He enjoys spending his free time traveling in the great outdoors, bird watching, kayaking and hiking. He has seamlessly blended in with the humans and no one can tell he’s a snake plant.
Caroline Manuel
Caroline is a Tallahassee local that joined the Native Nurseries team in July of 2020. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. In addition to being a painter, she shares an enthusiastic love of gardening and nature, and relishes in getting to learn new things everyday. Caroline is our herb and veggie buyer and co-manager of the gift shop. When she is not gardening at home she is exploring the outdoors or hanging out with her two pet rabbits, Reggie and Clover.
Louie Sandstrum
Louie has been with us since February 2019 starting as a “waterer/bird seed bagger guy” to our main "tree and shrub guy". He is an FSU grad with his degree in Environmental Science & Policy with a minor in Biology. He is very active in the plant community here in Tallahassee as an ESP board member & FNPS member with previous internships at Tall Timbers and the RK Godfrey Herbarium.. He also plays viola for Big Bend Community Orchestra.
Jackson Strauss
Born and raised in Tallahassee, Jackson’s roots to the town & the nursery run deep. His mother cultivated flowers for us before he was even born! Now an Eagle Scout, Jackson practically grew up in the outdoors. He joined the team during the summer of 2019 as a part-time retail assistant. He graduated from Leon County High School in 2021 and, following his father’s footsteps, trains to fight fires! He puts out metaphorical fires around the nursery all the time: keeping us stocked with bird seed, potting soil, and making lava rock bird baths. When not at work, Jackson loves swimming in the springs around Tallahassee and visiting his pet goldfish who lives in a horse trough outside his house.
Rosey Melucci
Rosey grew up near Weeki Wachee and moved to Tallahassee in 2018. Before joining our team in October 2022, they worked at the Tallahassee Farmer’s market and with other local businesses. Rosey enjoys spending time in the sun and walking in the woods, observing plants and fungi.
Haley Bennett
Before joining the team in January of 2023, Haley served as an Americorps member of Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park. She has a background specializing in the eradication of invasive species and is eager to switch gears and experience the botanical wonders of native plants. Haley is a member of the retail staff and what we love most about her is she is always “fishin’ for something to do.” She grew up in Wakulla County and enjoys reading, writing, and playing with her cat, Myrtle.
Juniper “Yana”
Juniper eagerly joined the team in spring of 2023 as an assistant member of our retail staff. Away from the nursery she delights in creating art and meditating.
