There’s a new green oasis blooming on the Westside, and its roots run much deeper than houseplants. Monarch Nursery officially opened last month, founded by British-born Angelenos Jasper Watts and Anton van der Woude — two friends rebuilding after major personal and professional upheaval.
Watts lost both his family home and business during the Altadena fires, while van der Woude’s hospitality company, Our/Los Angeles Vodka, struggled to survive the economic fallout of the pandemic. Now, the duo has traded chaos for calm with a fresh venture centered around plants, design, and community.
Located in Santa Monica, Monarch Nursery offers everything from tropical plants and colorful flowers to gardening inspiration and personalized advice. But according to the founders, the space is really about creating connection.
“We want it to feel like a neighborhood destination,” Watts says. “When the Altadena fires hit, I was running my business – an organic plant biostimulant company where I learned the ins and outs of commercial horticulture- from my garage. I lost everything at once. After the fires my family headed west and ended up in El Segundo, as we were able to get our kids into school there. The nursery is actually a block from where I used to live when I first came out to Los Angeles 20 years ago, so it’s a full circle moment.”
“After 15 years of building brands within the beverage space and having had one of my own, it was time for a change, moreover the alcohol industry is no longer as lucrative or as exciting as it once was. I was keen to use my commercial skillset for a greater purpose and help scale a solution to one of the world’s many problems, so I took some time out to focus on CEA research, specifically Vertical Farming. After a challenging year an opportunity presented itself to enter the horticulture industry in a different way and having been an avid gardener all my life, I jumped at it,” said Anton van der Woude.
The nursery combines Watts’ background in horticulture and his previous business savvy running a start-up clothing company called Rogue Status, with van der Woude’s branding and business expertise from the spirits industry. Together, they’ve created a welcoming, laid-back atmosphere that already feels like a hidden local gem.
Customers can expect lush greenery, carefully selected plants, and even a few handmade creations from Watts’ children, who help out at the family-run shop on weekends.
For both founders, Monarch Nursery symbolizes a fresh chapter and proof that even after devastating loss, something beautiful can still grow.
Written by Jennifer Buonantony
