Botany began in 2018 as an idea rooted in care—for plants, for place, and for the people who call South Bend home.

Founded by Ben Futa and Paul Sexton, Botany grew from our shared belief in the power of plants to connect people and strengthen communities.

Although we were living in Madison, Wisconsin at the time, both of us were born and raised in South Bend, and returning home was always part of the vision.

When the pandemic reshaped daily life in 2020, it brought that vision into focus—and revealed something missing. South Bend didn’t yet have a public, plant-centered gathering space to call its own.

So we decided to help build one.

In early 2021, Botany took physical form with the opening of The Botany Shop, a local and independent plant shop that began as a pop-up inside Thyme of Grace. (pictured above)

Soon after, we put down permanent roots in South Bend’s Near Northwest Neighborhood—a place shaped by creativity, care, and locally owned businesses.

As Botany grew, so did the neighborhood around us. In the years that followed, other local and independent shops opened nearby, forming a walkable community that now includes a women’s collective, coffee shop, yarn store, and bookstore.

 Together, these spaces have helped cultivate a neighborhood grounded in connection, creativity, and shared stewardship.

Today, Botany includes an indoor plant and gift shop, outdoor public garden, plant nursery and retail space, and urban farm—each rooted in the same purpose.

Together they form a connected ecosystem focused on plants, people, and place, on a mission to empower more people to grow more plants in more places.

I like to say it takes a village, and I'm grateful you're part of ours. 

I'm excited to welcome you back soon. 

Ben | Farmer & Founder