Courtesy of We Bite.
The carnivorous plant, Drosera prolifera.
In 2019, when Carlos Detres and his wife Aryn first opened We Bite Rare & Unusual Plants, their carnivorous plant-focused nursery in New Orleans, they were only supposed to operate from that space for three months. Three months turned into a year and a half on St. Roch, catering to New Orleans gardeners and plant enthusiasts with a taste for plants with a taste for flesh.
In 2022, Carlos and Aryn unfortunately decided to close their brick and mortar. Carlos returned to his career as a portrait and fine art photographer, occasionally setting up We Bite pop-ups around the city.
Eventually, in a chain of serendipitous events, their landlord in the Marigny offered them use of a building, and also allowed Detres to make modifications to the space that would maximize its use as an unconventional nursery. As a result, We Bite is set to reopen in a new permanent location on March 2.
[Read our March 2021 story on We Bite, here.]
“It’s exciting to dream a unique experience worthy of this beautiful city and the people within,” Detres said. “It’s been a tough four years since the pandemic, but this moment—bringing back the store and the chance to be around our beloved customers—has been a nice reward.”
Among the many things that have changed since We Bite was first established is the addition of Aryn and Carlos’s now four-year-old daughter. Now, she’s four years old, and eager to help her parents revive their passion project. “She's excited about working with me at the store,” Detres gushed. “She wasn’t yet born when We Bite started, so it’s both beautiful and surreal that she’ll be along with her mom and me on this journey.”
Alongside his wife and daughter, Detres looks forward to helping his fellow eccentric-leaning green thumbs find their perfect(ly unusual) plant companion—something he thinks is more accessible than ever, as the market for rare plants has shifted, making once expensive plants much more affordable. “I can’t wait to share each plant’s story,” said Detres.
We Bite reopens March 2 at 1042 Franklin Avenue in New Orleans. Find them on Instagram @webitenola or at webitenola.com.
