We had the good fortune of connecting with John Flanagan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, is there something you believe many others might not?
Perhaps it’s more of a colloquialism, a wive’s tale, or a cautionary moral, but the expression which begins with a feline’s inquisitiveness and ends in its demise has always rung untrue to us. Curiosity, by nature of its unrelenting thirst, is a cornerstone of our small business. Starting a brick and mortar store in the 21st century is a lesson in constant reinvention. What succeeds one month, flops the next. Staying interested, staying amazed by the process is what keeps our business fresh. And yes, being naturally prone to boredom doesn’t hurt. At The Faun’s Daughter we sell curious plants to the curious plant collector, not cats harmed!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In addition to our concierge potting services and our collection of rarities, the two things which most set The Faun’s Daughter apart are our bi-weekly workshops and our mounted plants.

Our workshops are an ever-changing enumeration of arts & education topics. We’ve covered everything from the Japanese moss art of Kokedama to holiday wreath making, macrame knotting to Hawaiian lei weaving – just to name a few classes. While participants learn, they are also fully hands-on in an act of creativity. And as American playwright Jonathan Larson said, “The opposite of war ins’t peace. It’s creation.” It’s deeply special to us; every two weeks we get together as a community and stand for all things good and growing in this often hard world.

As a career songwriter and performer, creativity is at the heart of all things I do. But aside from putting a pen to paper or holding a microphone, I’ve yearned to create with my hands, to make something physical. That is where the impulse to create in-house wall-mounted plant plaques came to be. Our wooden plaques all feature epiphytic species (meaning they grow on trees in nature – not as parasites, but as a way to gain hight in a dense jungle canopy with thousands of other plants competing for precious sunlight). My best days is the shop are spent quietly making these living art pieces. Like any art, the challenges lie in capitalism, in marketing, in brand awareness. But a firm belief in doing good work, staying curious and creative, drives everything we do at The Faun’s Daughter. It takes time to build something great.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A week’s schedule is too daunting to compose. This itinerary is designed for an out-of-town tourist, someone for whom the thrill of “Hollywood” is a dream. I remember well the shock of my first visit to Los Angeles in 2011. Hollywood was much grittier than I anticipated, but my years here have taught me where to find the charm. Some suggestions will seem obvious – as there are many must-see attractions in our corner of the city.

8:00am – Wake up, 24oz of water, stretch, journal.
9:00am – Explore Griffith Park’s Fern Del with a coffee and a book. Pro-tip: look up! Find the stag horn ferns in the canopy.
9:45am – Begin hike to the observatory for a Rebel Without A Cause photo opportunity in front of the Hollywood Sign.
11:00am – Settle in for a little brunch at Alcove Cafe, big menu, big charm.
12:30pm – Vintage hunting. Explore the second-hand shops and small businesses situated on the Los Feliz/Silverlake border.
1:45pm – catch an art film matinee at the Los Feliz 3. You’ve never been in a tinier, more delightful movie theater.
4:30pm – happy hour at Gracias Madre in West Hollywood
6:30pm – come to a workshop at The Faun’s Daughter, of course.
8:15pm – Dinner at Night + Market WeHo Pro-tip: try the Vegan Larb. It will blow your mind.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Only a year ago, we were just signing our lease, getting our keys, and transforming a former pilate’s studio into the plant shop that would become The Faun’s Daughter. All of the work that got us to where we are today would be impossible without friends – old and new – who contributed to our journey, whether by picking up a paintbrush or purchasing a plant. We want to dedicate our shoutout, however, to an individual who’s imprint touches every plant and person that enters The Faun’s Daughter: Dianne Stevenson of DK Design Hub. Dianne, a longtime friend and professional associate, designed our logo based on eccentric creative language, paring down from double-digit design options to the national-park-inspired shield and monstera signage that identifies us today.

Website: www.thefaunsdaughter.com

Instagram: @thefaunsdaughter

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thefaunsdaughter

Image Credits
Ashley Morgan

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