B.Willow didn’t come into existence purely out of a love for houseplants. Rather, it was born from a deep respect and admiration for the entire natural world — from rocks and animals to plants, insects, the cosmos, and waterways. A true passion project and ode to the 'more-than-human world,' B.Willow takes its name from the Weeping Willow tree. As a child, my earliest memory of feeling a sense of awe and wonder for nature was gazing upon a willow tree, watching its branches sway gently in the breeze. I didn’t understand it at the time, but this experience was one of many interactions with nature that engaged my senses, made me feel calm, and ignited a lifelong curiosity for the world around me.
Growing up on several acres in rural northern Maryland, I spent countless hours exploring the outdoors, climbing trees, studying decomposing logs, and digging for treasures. When I became a teenager, the allure of the internet stole my attention. I spent hours on AOL instant messenger (IYKYK) and started to experience anxiety and extreme insecurity. I didn’t know how to healthily process any difficulties that life handed me. I never considered how simply going outside might make me feel better, like I did so often as a kid. I had become incredibly disconnected from nature. It wasn't until I participated in an environmental studies program in New Zealand during my junior year of college that I began to reconnect with the natural world. Despite not knowing much about New Zealand or what a backpacking program would be like, I took a risk and stepped out of my comfort zone. Doing so profoundly changed my life.
During the program, we reflected deeply on nature's role in our lives. Up to that point, I had never thought about it or considered how privileged my childhood was to be able to play freely and safely outside without supervision. We read the book "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv, who argues that children are increasingly disconnected from nature, a phenomenon he calls "nature-deficit disorder," which negatively impacts their health, creativity, and well-being. Louv advocates for the importance of reconnecting children with the natural world to foster their physical and mental development. For my Psychology thesis, I learned about Rachel Kaplan's theory of 'soft fascination,' which suggests that certain natural environments and elements, such as gentle streams, rustling leaves, and sunsets, capture our attention in a calming and effortless way. This type of fascination allows the mind to rest and recover from mental fatigue, promoting psychological well-being and restoring cognitive functions.
I couldn’t believe how disconnected from nature I had become and how it took me traveling across the world to have this 'a-ha' moment. I also couldn’t stop thinking about how inevitable our negative impact on the environment would be if so many people lacked a connection to nature. Restoring or making this connection felt like it should be step #1… otherwise, calling for environmental improvements might not really resonate with people. After college, I got a Master’s in Environmental Science from JHU. I had trouble finding a job that felt like it would be a good fit, but I remained focused on doing something that would help reconnect society with nature, especially children. This thought process has been the driving force behind everything that B.Willow is, has been, and will be.
In 2014, I founded B.Willow, and by 2017, I opened our retail and workshop location, despite having no prior experience in business, marketing, or retail. My background in Psychology and Environmental Science instilled a deep passion for nature, mental wellness, and sustainability, driving every aspect of B.Willow’s growth. After a decade of learning the intricacies of running a business, I am now able to dedicate more time to our plant conservation efforts. I am immensely proud of the work we have done helping people feel more connected to nature through a love of houseplants. Channeling this love into preserving native plants and biodiversity is B.Willow’s next chapter, and I am very excited to see what we can do over the next 10 years! I look forward to seeing you in the shop, and thank you for your support!
- Liz Vayda, Owner & Founder of B.Willow
