Story by Paije Maas | Photo by April Rohrbach

Owning a plant can be nerve wracking to some people. Each plant type holds a different level of maintenance and as a college student, you’re lucky if you can even maintain laundry.
The Botany Shop has made it both educational and inviting with their knowledge and uplifting spirits when you enter their shop. Once you leave, if you did not purchase a new plant child, you will be leaving with more knowledge than you had entered with and possibly a new hobby.

Meet The Owner

April Rohrbach is a “plant obsessed millennial” and the owner of The Botany Shop. Being an owner of a plant shop you would assume Rohrbach has a few plants in her collection. She has 150 in her collection and says that Hoyas are her favorite genus of plants and has around 18 different species of them. In her free time she plays roller derby with the Ellensburg team, Rodeo City Rollergirls. She is also a dog mom of an English Bulldog named Lilly that she adopted with her boyfriend, Scott

Blossoming of The Botany Shop

Rohrbach states that it all started with a dream that she believed was too wild to ever come into existence. Like many other new and older store owners, the global pandemic became an issue for a grand opening.

“It took many months of research and planning, with lots of meetings, to get to a point where there was a possibility to open a brick and mortar shop, especially with the uncertainty of opening a business during a global pandemic,” Rohrbach says.

Yet she rose right out of the ashes and found the vacant shop space on 3rd avenue and opened on May 28th of this year. It has been five months since the shop’s doors opened and there has not been one day that wasn’t filled with multiple customers.

“Plant Parenthood”

While the world was going through its fair share of trials, the plants were thriving more than ever.

“People want to nurture and take care of a living thing and millennials and gen z are waiting to have children later in life and are also not wanting the responsibility of a pet, that’s why plants are the best match,” Rohrbach says.

Watching a small thing grow into something beautiful right in front of your eyes because of your tender love and care is very rewarding. She says that plants are a form of encouragement for us to slow down and appreciate nature’s beauty in our home.

“Research has found that plants are important for mental health too. They can reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood and productivity,” Rohrbach says . While being a “plant parent” is a hot trend at the moment, it is also one that has a long shelf life.

Beginner Plants

If the idea of being a plant parent interests you, here are her recommendations for first time owners.

“My top two go-to plants for beginners are zz plants and snake plants,” Rohrbach says. She says that these plants are indestructible and can tolerate a wide variety of light conditions. Whether you live in a dorm room that may not get direct sunlight or an apartment that receives all around sun, these plants are completely foolproof. Rohrbach claims that these plants thrive on neglect which makes them a perfect candidate for beginners.

A couple other plants perfect for beginners are pothos and Monstera deliciosa.

Impact on Ellensburg

Rohrbach says that the people of Ellensburg have expressed that this shop is exactly what Ellensburg needed, which was her goal from the start.

“I think having an inclusive, safe space like The Botany Shop where anyone is welcome to come hang out, see some really interesting exotic plants, and pot up some plants to take home will continue to benefit the community here in Ellensburg,” Rohrbach says.