Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Twilegar.
Hi Megan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 1999, my sister and I found a small piece of raw land for sale on N Mississippi Ave in Portland, OR, and purchased it with the intention of establishing a small urban nursery. Inspired by the shoe-box structures and false fronts of the West, we finished our tiny storefront in 2001. We were the first to build anything new on Mississippi Ave in decades.
The flagship store on Mississippi began with a focus on organic outdoor ornamentals that we propagated ourselves and an emphasis on urban farming. Pistils Nursery helped spearhead the chicken husbandry movement that captured our city for many years.
With the rise in popularity of houseplants, our vision grew to encompass indoor tropicals and botanical oddities. In 2014, we built the iconic Solarium off the back of our flagship location. We had a vision of bringing plants into our daily lives – into our homes – with the intention of enriching our connections to the natural world.
After 25 years in business, Pistils Nursery has become a trusted resource for sharing our love of plants with others. We have a robust landscape design build division of the business along with interior plantscaping design services. In 2027, we will open a new location, a design studio as well as a space to host workshops and various events.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Owning a small business is a tough row to hoe. But doing something you love and are passionate about makes it worth the effort. Our business has thrived by being nimble and pivoting to stay current with trends in order to keep our customers engaged. Today Pistils Nursery is a destination business for people all over the world.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Pistils is a place of discovery and awe for so many crossing its threshold for the first time. We have plants that our customers have never seen before and a line of handmade goods that are produced in house – cork mounts, terrariums, kokdama, and cedar board mounts. We strive to share knowledge in a way that does not alienate but rather beckons further exploration in the natural world.
We are most proud that as a small business we have been around for 25 years and are here to stay.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Portland has an amazing community that is excited to support small businesses. Every neighborhood is full of small shops and restaurants, and our community rallies around unique businesses. We’ve felt love from our immediate neighbors, the greater Portland community, and people from all over the country who travel to see what we’re doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pistilsnursery.com
- Instagram: @pistilsnursery
