An Hour in Nature with Allison Taylor, co-founder of Le Prunier.
Raised on a Northern California farm surrounded by horses, orchards, and the rhythms of the land, Allison developed a deep, lasting connection to nature early in life. Today, that foundation continues to guide her — bringing clarity, calm, and a sense of grounding, and shaping both her personal philosophy and the brand she has built with her sisters. Read more in our latest Hour in Nature interview
What are your fondest memories of spending time in nature?
Without a doubt, waking up to ride horses with my grandfather as a child on our farm in Northern CA. Those are the happiest, most joy-filled memories of my life. He taught me to ride at the age of 6 and it’s since become a life long passion. We’d saddle up after breakfast and ride for hours through our orchards along the Feather River, often stopping to pick fresh fruit and walnuts straight from the trees. My great-grandfather founded the farm in 1916, where he built a home that 3 generations of my family were raised in. I spent as much time on the farm as I could as a child. When you’re raised that close to the land, you gain a profound appreciation for nature that has kept me grounded throughout my entire life. Time moves slower there, and I feel like I’m forever searching for ways to recreate that same feeling now in my everyday life. I’m always happiest in nature and not a day goes by that I don’t feel incredibly grateful for those memories. They’ve profoundly shaped my sense of self in the world.
How do you bring nature into your home?
Fresh flowers, always. I’ll go to the farmer’s market and spend time making arrangements on the weekend. The subtle pops of color throughout the house always bring me little moments of joy throughout the week. I also love to cook so having fresh herbs and veggies from the garden nearby is a must.
What is your favourite natural scent, and why?
The rain, fresh cut grass, or dare I say, farm animals, haha. The smell of horses instantly brings me back to my childhood, and I played soccer competitively my whole life so fresh cut grass is very nostalgic.
Is there an animal or plant that you’ve always felt particularly drawn to, and can you explain why?
I’m such an animal lover at heart, but horses and dogs are perhaps my favorite. I have a 14-year-old lab husky mix named Koda that I rescued from a shelter in LA over a decade ago and that dog is without a doubt my soul mate. The companionship and pure love that humans can share with a dog is just truly so special. And I think horses are the most healing, beautiful creatures – they embody such quiet strength and wisdom. Everything about them is magic.
How does spending time in nature influence your mental health? Can you think of a specific experience where this effect was particularly strong?
It’s beautifully clarifying. I come back to nature whenever I need to recalibrate and it always helps quiet the mind.. One of my favorite things to do is drive up Highway 1 in California. It’s truly the most breathtaking coastline drive. I recently visited Esalen in Big Sur which has been on my list for far too long and it was just as incredible as I had always envisioned.
Is there a sound in nature that you believe everyone should hear at least once in their lifetime?
We grew up with a beautiful, century old Elm tree in my front yard as a child, so our home constantly had this incredible eco-system of birds that were thriving at all hours of the day. It was so beautiful to just step outside and hear them. I could listen for hours.
