Our Story
Our Story
In the 1940s, my grandparents, Melvin and Thessie Daniel, purchased farmland just outside Coats, North Carolina, and built a life rooted in agriculture. They raised tobacco, livestock, and a family, establishing a legacy of hard work and stewardship that continues today.
Their eldest son, my father, Dorsey Daniel, developed a love for farming early in life. After studying agronomy at North Carolina State University, he worked as a forage crops researcher for NC State while continuing to farm family land and raise cattle.
As Dad liked to joke, "The problem with cows is that they get out."
After one too many calls to leave work and round up escaped cattle, he decided there had to be an easier way to farm.
"Christmas trees stay where you put them."
What began as a practical solution became a thriving Christmas tree farm that welcomed families for decades. My husband, Ruben, and I worked alongside my father for many years, learning not only how to grow trees but also how to care for the land that had supported our family for generations.
After my father's passing, we continued operating the farm, but balancing the demands of the tree farm with careers in the landscape industry eventually became unsustainable. After nearly seventy years of cultivation, we made the difficult decision to step back and let the land rest.
What followed was unexpected. Native grasses, wildflowers, birds, and pollinators returned, transforming former fields into thriving habitat. Watching the land recover deepened our appreciation for North Carolina's native ecosystems.
As we considered the farm's future, one idea kept rising to the top: a native plant nursery. Between us, Ruben and I have spent nearly three decades in the landscape industry, and creating a nursery focused on plants that support wildlife and healthy ecosystems felt like the perfect way to continue the farm's legacy.
Native plants have long been a passion of mine. In the winter of 2025, we partnered with the fourth generation of our farming family, my father's grandson, Jay Ouber, to bring that vision to life.
Today, Pine Top Nursery honors our family's agricultural heritage while looking toward the future. We are committed to growing high-quality plants, educating our community, and helping create landscapes that are beautiful, resilient, and environmentally beneficial.
We are honored to continue this legacy and excited to share it with you.
