My name is Malvika, and I am the botanical artist behind A Wildwood Botanist, a magical little nature inspired shop.
Over the years, I have travelled alone to many places in the world, and in the solitude & mystery of the outdoors I have felt a profound sense of wonder, healing, & joy.
This storefront is the culmination of a lifelong dream to create a space that captures the enchantment of nature. A botanical realm that inspires curiosity and creativity, and reminds you to pause and absorb the beauty and magic that surrounds us. A Wildwood Botanist is home to the botanical art that I create myself, along with a variety of artisanal goods, all curated to invoke the essence of nature.
I hope you come visit the shop in Libertyville, Illinois to be transported to a botanical dream.
My botanical journey began from a deep love for flowers instilled in me from watching my dad spend endless hours in his garden, and continued to grow as I began to forage wildflowers and learned the traditional ways of floral preservation. Almost all dried flowers in the shop are grown by my family, foraged by me in the wild, or grown by local farmers. I dry them all myself in the traditional methods used for centuries. I love creating my pieces that bring the magic of nature into our homes, and I hope they inspire you to look for magic in the seemingly mundane.
When not in my dreamy little shop, you can usually find me on a forest hike, collecting wildflowers along the roadside, beachcombing for treasures along Lake Michigan, stumbling upon hidden midwestern farms, amongst the butterflies & flowers in my garden, traveling to unknown places, or curled up in my cozy home with a good book.