Birds & Bees Nursery in Southeast Portland to close in 2026 after 14 years
A long-running neighborhood plant shop prepares to wind down operations
Birds & Bees Nursery, a Black- and women-owned plant nursery in Southeast Portland, is set to close in 2026 after 14 years in business. The owners, Portland-born Caitlin Gaul and Amanda Simard, opened the nursery in 2012, building the store out of a longstanding friendship and a shared interest in gardening.
In a public announcement, the business said it plans to sell through remaining inventory over the coming months as it works to pay down debt accumulated while keeping the store stocked. A specific final day of operation was not publicly listed at the time of the announcement.
From a small storefront to a larger Southeast Portland location
The nursery began as a small, single-building shop on Southeast Gladstone Street before relocating to its current site at 3327 S.E. 50th Ave. Over time, Birds & Bees became known for native plants and supplies geared toward urban gardening, serving customers with limited yard space as well as those planting larger outdoor areas.
Financial pressure cited after a prolonged period of weaker sales
The closure follows several years the owners described as difficult for the business. The announcement stated that sales in spring 2025 fell sharply, leaving the company unable to pay off yearly debt it typically retired and requiring additional borrowing to maintain inventory levels.
In the same message, the owners framed closure as a necessary financial step and asked for community support during the wind-down period while inventory is sold and obligations are settled.
Key facts at a glance
Business: Birds & Bees Nursery
Location: 3327 S.E. 50th Ave., Portland
Opened: 2012
Planned closure: 2026 (specific final date not publicly provided)
Owners: Caitlin Gaul and Amanda Simard
Stated reason: sustained business challenges and debt pressures after a significant sales decline in spring 2025
Community response and what happens next
Following the announcement, customers posted messages reflecting long-term patronage dating back to the nursery’s earlier location and thanking the owners for plants and guidance that contributed to home gardens across the city.
Birds & Bees indicated it intends to keep operating in the near term while it sells remaining inventory and works to pay down debts, but did not specify a last day.
The announcement places Birds & Bees among a number of locally rooted retail operations that have recently faced heightened pressure from shifting consumer demand and the rising costs associated with operating physical storefronts. For Southeast Portland gardeners, the immediate practical effect will be a gradual reduction in inventory as the shop winds down toward closure later this year.