B.Willow didn’t come into existence purely out of my love for houseplants. Rather, it was born from a deep respect and admiration for the natural world. A true passion project and ode to the 'more-than-human world,' I named B.Willow after 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. 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.
As a kid, I spent hours exploring the outdoors, climbing trees, studying decomposing logs, and digging for treasures. When I became a teenager, I spent hours chatting on AOL instant messenger and simultaneously 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. It wasn't until I participated in an environmental studies program in New Zealand during my junior year of college that I realized how disconnected from nature I had become.
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. I am immensely proud of the work we have done helping people feel more connected to nature through a love of houseplants. I look forward to seeing you in the shop, and thank you for your support!
- Liz Vayda, Owner & Founder of B.Willow
