Apr 13, 2011

New Garden And Gift Shop Opens UptownBy Vikki Broughton HodgesThe-Dispatch.com

Tom Tussey and Jeff Miller have opened a new garden and gift shop in uptown Lexington, The Backyard Retreat, at 104 S. Main St.

“We’ve both wanted to do this a long time,” Tussey said. “We both love gardening and the outdoors.”

Tussey, who is completing his coursework to be certified as a Master Gardener, and Miller not only love gardening and working on their back yard on East Center Street Extension but said they often entertain outdoors so they know the kinds of things people are looking for, both decorative and functional. Their home was on the second annual Master Gardeners spring tour of homes several years ago and the back yard has been used for photo shoots for the gardening catalog at Lowe’s.

As shoppers walk in the store, there are birds chirping in the background and fountains gurgling near small trees, some adorned with outdoor lighting. There’s a potting bench covered in a variety of pottery containers and an arbor.

“When you walk in we wanted to make it like you’re walking into an outside courtyard,” Miller said.

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