The Botanical Bar ushers in a growing season for community

The Botanical Bar is preparing for major expansion. Victoria Beaty has tended the soil of her community through the Botanical Bar for the last four years, first by selling plants at farmers markets in 2020, then at her own brick-and-mortar store, which opened up on College Avenue in 2022. Through the years, Beaty’s mission has been the same: promote self-care through the care of houseplants. The Botanical Bar is designed to be a welcoming place to shop, pick out a plant and learn to take care of it — after all, the store’s tagline is “Plants are everyday therapy.” Adding even one small plant can change the energy of a space, Beaty said, and taking care of a plant can remind people to take care of themselves. “Adding greenery to your space is a very easy and inexpensive way to just bring life,” Beaty said. “The whole goal is for you to have something to take care of, so inadvertently, you take care of yourself.” However, buying the plants is only “one access point” in promoting wellness within her community, Beaty said. So, the Botanical Bar is not just a one-stop-shop for all things houseplants, it is also a safe...