photo by J. Brad Leonard
Putting the Cult in
Horticulture
The Burgeoning Community of Houseplant Hobbyists By Dakota Parks
At the onset of the pandemic two years ago, it seemed like everyone was picking up a new hobby, whether that be learning how to make sourdough bread—or buying houseplants. While houseplants have taken on a cult following on social media in the past few years, their popularity has only continued to flourish as the world began to reopen. If you ask a houseplant hobbyist, potted plants not only decorate and accessorize your home, but they also give people something to look forward to as they watch new leaves unfurl, flowers bloom and life grow at the tips of their fingers. Caring for houseplants is a therapeutic outlet for many, and the hobby connects people to a burgeoning community of likeminded enthusiasts through social media groups, plant swaps and even little free plant libraries scattered throughout the city. Pensacola Magazine spoke with an array of houseplant enthusiasts along the Gulf Coast to learn more about this budding community. For 21-year-old Falen McClellan, plants offer an endless learning opportunity. There is always a new variety of species to discover,
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new growth habits to observe and new care tips to learn. McClellan owns hundreds of houseplants and has been working at Pensacola Seed & Garden for the past five years. “During COVID, and now after, we’ve seen more business than the owner has in 35 years at this location,” McClellan explained. “Plants provided people an accessible and therapeutic outlet during quarantine, as nurseries like us that sold food items were allowed to stay open and smaller specialty nurseries hit the online markets to stay afloat. Plants gave people something to look forward to, care for, feel less alone and a way to connect with communities of other plant people when they needed it most.” This therapeutic outlet is exactly what brought Lacy Bizek, 32, back home to her family farm in Mossy Head, Florida, where she spent months renovating three 100-foot by 20-foot commercial greenhouses that were damaged by a hurricane. Bizek lost her job at the start of the pandemic, where she traveled full time in an RV working festivals and events. In February 2021, she opened her nursery, Anavrin Botanicals, which specializes in aroids and tropical plants. The nursery, which she affectionately calls a “jungle,” is open by appointment only. While she has always been a long-time lover of plants, she explained that the pandemic has allowed her to find her true calling while healing in the process. “The whole process of building this business has really saved my life,” Bizek said. “I’ve struggled a lot with anxiety and depression, and plants have always been very healing to me. I think that a lot of people find comfort in the community that the plant world provides as well. I’ve met some really wonderful people selling plants, and I love to stay in touch to see how the plants thrive in their care and just talk about plants. When I named my business, I chose Anavrin, because it’s Nirvana spelled backwards. It really is my little piece of heaven—my happy place that I want to share with others.” 36-year-old Tarrah Schiller, a healthcare worker and avid plant collector, has decorated her home with antiques, floral prints, rattan furniture and a few hundred house plants. Schiller has