Hidden Gem Alert: Pine Hill Nursery Has Music, Wine, Pizza & Plants All in One Spot
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Plants, Music, Food & More at Pine Hill Nursery
This Michigan Nursery is a Destination
Up North, tucked along US-31 between Traverse City and Charlevoix, (near the north end of Torch Lake) Pine Hill Nursery appears to be a typical plant nursery and garden center when you’re driving by.
Turns out, you can’t tell how big this place is, or what’s actually inside, from the road.
And, it’s far enough away that going here takes intention. But if you’re in your gardening era like I am, this place needs to be on your radar.
Kicking Myself For Not Stopping By Sooner
When I finally made time to step onto the property, what I found made me pretty excited.
It’s a full-blown 7-acre destination complete with waterfalls, ponds, and (here’s the kicker) a legit café serving wood-fired pizza and local wine.
They have 7 greenhouses packed with plants, many of which they grow right on-site.
As you can see, it’s so much more than just a place to grab some petunias and call it a day.
The Set Up
Pine Hill is Northern Michigan’s largest nursery. Family-owned for over 40 years, they’ve ditched invasive species in favor of native Michigan plants and water-wise selections.
The display gardens alone are worth the trip.
Winding paths take you past professionally landscaped beds and lots of spots that look like photo backdrops. It’s definitely a great spot to gather garden inspiration.
Old-time buildings also serve as a canvas for the plants to work their magic. It’s beautiful.
And, as you’d expect, the place is brimming with high-quality plants of every kind.
The Best Twist: The Garden Café
Here’s where Pine Hill really goes from “nice nursery” to “wait, what!?”.
They’ve got a full Garden Café & Wine Bar right there, in a sweet old building nestled among the greenhouses.
It’s a real farm-to-table operation.
They’ll use herbs and vegetables grown on-site when possible.
In spring they’re open Thursday through Sunday from 9 to 3.
You can eat pizza on the patio, surrounded by display gardens, sipping a local beer or wine.
Come summer they add dinner service Thursday through Saturday with live music in the evening. (Check their FB page for updates.)
Their menu rotates seasonally but expect things like fresh salads, their signature Rusty Burgers, wraps, and yummy wood-fired brick-oven pizzas.
They’ll also host your garden club meeting, bridal shower, or book club if you call ahead at 231-599-1131.
And of Course, the Gift Shops
Beyond the plants and café, Pine Hill’s gift shops are dangerous if you’re into this kind of stuff.
You’ll find all the garden finishing touches: hummingbird feeders, wind chimes, gazing balls, fairy garden accessories, garden stakes, and fountains.
They’ve also got pottery, locally crafted goods, clothing, jewelry, and those kitschy Northern Michigan things that are so fun to give as gifts or keep for yourself.
On the practical side, they have a good selection of organic fertilizers, seeds and bagged and bulk soils and mulch.
You can pay for delivery if you want large quantities of something – schedule that at the checkout desk or over the phone.
Another huge bonus for Pine Hill Nursery: Staff will actually help you pick the right products instead of just pointing vaguely at an aisle and wishing you luck.
At least five different employees asked me if I needed any help on my visit. They were all super helpful and willing to offer advice or just strike up a conversation, depending on what I was after.
The Traverse City Connection
If the drive to their flagship Torch Lake store is too much, or if you find yourself in Traverse City area, Pine Hill also runs a smaller location in Traverse City.
Same hours, same helpful staff. It doesn’t have the café, waterfalls, or sprawling display gardens, though. It does have the plants and gift shop, though.
Address: Pine Hill Village Gardens – 1126 Carver St, Traverse City, MI 49686 (just east of Garfield Ave.)
PS – Gift certificates work at both locations and never expire
When to Visit Pine Hill Nursery
Pine Hill’s Torch Lake location is seasonal, running April through December.
Spring hours are
- Monday through Saturday 9 to 5:30
- Sunday 10 to 4.
The address is 886 US-31 North in Kewadin. It’s “a little out of the way but way worth the trip,” as they put it, and I agree.
If you’ve got the time, make the trip up to Torch Lake.
If you go for plants, plan to stay for lunch. It’s certainly a solid way to spend a Saturday.
