About Us

Bex Kula Hildrew 

Bex's love and reverence for plants started as a toddler, spending many summer days in the woods and garden her Dziadzi (grandfather) as he shared his knowledge of foraging, identifying, and cultivating.  As a teen, she started down the path of learning the medicinal and magical uses of plants. In her early 30s, she finally had the chance to formalize that education with workshops at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as online courses with The Herbal Academy of New England. She also holds a degree in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design and was the founder/director of the Tulane Arts in Medicine program in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

 

Manda Spodnick-Reed 

A Connecticut native, Manda grew up spending a lot of her time outside. Playing in the woods, building houses out of moss for the faeries and enjoying spring and summer afternoons under her family's apple tree, observing all the animal life and plants popping up around her. She also spent the warmer days gardening with her grandmother and mom, getting her hands in the dirt and tending to their array of plants. She dove into the world of herbalism while living in Boulder, CO, taking classes at the wonderful local apothecaries, as well as online with Rosemary Gladstar. She is a massage therapist, Reiki practitioner, is certified as a holistic doula as well as in postpartum support, full-time green witch, mama wolf and avid lover of all things outdoors. She recently complete a 9-month apprenticeship with Twin Star Herbal Education and Community Apothecary in New Milford, CT

 

CATTAIL APOTHECARY, LLC

Cattail Apothecary was founded by Bex in the Autumn of 2016. It was borne off a whim, of the desire to simply "sell off the extras" of batches of products she made for family and friends.  It immediately bloomed into a fully realized company and after four and half years it continues to grow and transform.