Veteran turns passion for gardening into Cloverdale storefront Divine Vines and Decor

Air Force veteran Aretha Dix knew she'd see less of her South Carolina family when she retired from Maxwell Air Force Base and settled down to raise three girls with her husband in Montgomery. But things got a lot harder when the pandemic hit.

Her father had just suffered his fourth stroke, and they all were struggling with trying to find a new normal from a distance.

"We started digging deep," Dix said. "We started getting to those things that help us feel good … things that spark those memories."

Like her father, she loved gardening. She started using those skills more and curating spaces at home for meditation, prayer and education. Now, she's turned that coping mechanism into a storefront.

On Saturday, Nix will officially open Divine Vines and Decor at 1043 Woodley Road, next to Jubilee Seafood in Montgomery's Cloverdale neighborhood. It sells live tropical plants and other gardening items as well as gift items, and there's a selection of decor including vintage furniture for rent.

The store hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and other hours by appointment.

Dix said while she hasn't been able to get back to South Carolina to see her parents during the pandemic, they've continued to talk, and she relied on their gardening tips while setting up the store idea. She said she hopes the store helps others keep growing, literally and otherwise.

"I feel like part of my dad is here with me," Dix said Wednesday at a ribbon cutting.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brad Harper at bharper1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Veteran turns passion for gardening into Cloverdale storefront Divine Vines and Decor

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