Meet the group bringing summer beauty to McGhee Tyson Airport, and fresh herbs to Potchke

For young adults with disabilities, the period after high school graduation can present uncertainty in many forms. A Blount County nonprofit, Special Growers, aims to remedy that.

Special Growers' job training program employs "any disabled individual that has a positive attitude and desire to develop new skills," according to its website. Employees work in its gardens and greenhouses to grow fresh herbs and flowers for the community.

Herbs are grown for local restaurants such as Blackberry Farm, Emilia, A Dopo and Potchke, and flowers are delivered to residents and businesses around Blount County.

"We were founded on the aspect of taking individuals out of high school with very limited job opportunities," said Kent Davis, board president and founder. Special Growers can be a "transitional step" that prepares staff for future employment opportunities, although employees are able to stay with Special Growers as long as they'd like. There are currently about 50 individuals employed by the nonprofit.

Special Growers bring new flowers to McGhee Tyson Airport

If you've ever flown into or out of Knoxville, you've passed by the water feature at McGhee Tyson Airport. If you've looked closely, you might have noticed the flowers - what the airport staffers call "the color" - in between the larger greenery around the water feature's perimeter.

The flowers are rotated quarterly "to represent what is blooming in East Tennessee," said Caitlin Darras, senior public relations specialist at McGhee Tyson. Typically, this rotation is handled by the grounds maintenance group APHIX, which also oversees maintenance of the water feature.

This summer, "the color" at the airport is courtesy of Special Growers. On May 21, the team stopped by to plant an assortment of vegetation, including begonias and coleuses. APHIX agreed to adjust its contract with McGhee Tyson for the summer so that employees at Special Growers could be compensated for their work, which also includes weekly maintenance of the flowers.

"Special Growers was just a wonderful fit," Darras said of the airport's decision to hire the group this summer.

Special Growers staff members are excited about the opportunity, too. "It's incredible. It's an honor to be here, to see our work in a beautiful facility, to be with other kids who have disabilities, to have other people just like you," said Vanessa Cleary. "We know what we're capable of."

"I also love Special Growers because of the beauty of God's creation," said staff member Emily Knapp.

The plants added by Special Growers will be on display at the airport through mid-August.

Hayden Dunbar is the storyteller reporter. Email hayden.dunbar@knoxnews.com.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Flowers grown by nonprofit Special Growers greet travelers at airport