BUDA — Buda is known as The Outdoor Capital of Texas, but for the last several years, it has lacked a plant shop, said Rew Holmgren, until he opened Saint Montogren’s Florist nearly two months ago.
Saint Montogren’s Florist opened its doors Saturday, Feb. 1, to offer plant opportunities to the community of Buda. Pictured, the inside of the business.
Holmgren, owner and creator of Saint Montogren’s Florist, grew up surrounded by plant life: “I got into the plants from an early age. My mother has always raised me around plants and flowers, so it’s always been something that came pretty natural to me … She always kept a nice garden and we would garden together. She had a big, beautiful koi pond my whole life and she always had lots of houseplants and lots of outdoor plants, so I was always totally submerged in that life.”
While being surrounded by plants, Holmgren noticed the joy they brought to people and wanted to continue to spread this happiness by creating his own business.
His first big gig, he explained, was out of his own house four and a half years ago when he signed a contract with the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to service its flower vending machines. From then on, he hosted pop-up shops and hosted tables at markets and events to sell his flowers.
He also partnered with a local grocer in Austin and sold his flowers out of Zoi Market in Buda, though he knew he ultimately wanted a storefront and, with the lack of a flower shop in the area, Holmgren knew Buda was the perfect location.
“Over the years, I have tried to get into [Buda] Mill and Grain when an opening would happen, but the space was never a right fit, due to there being a commercial kitchen or something like that. So, I just wanted until the right spot came open and, thankfully, this amazing spot came open in December and I jumped on it,” said the owner.
Holmgren hosted the grand opening of Saint Montogren’s Florist Saturday, Feb. 1, at its new location 306 South Main St., Suite 106, Buda. According to the florist, it was “a total dream come true” to see the community come together and see the unique creativity he put together.
The store’s name is a combination of Holmgren and his partner’s last names, with the addition of “saint” at the beginning: “I love having a name that’s a little bit unique, that's a little bit hard to pronounce. It’s kind of like a double-edged sword. They might be pronouncing your name wrong, but they’re going to remember you and when they get it right, it’s going to be right and you’re going to be memorable. … Keeping the word ‘florist’ in my name was also really important to me because my skill set is a traditional floristry skill set and that’s how I train my team.”
With the goal of customers feeling relaxed upon visiting, Holmgren has curated his space to feel comfortable and inviting, with a green velvet couch and decor that not only serves purpose, but gives the store a walk-in living room feel.
Saint Montogren’s Florist offers custom flower arrangements and delivery to local cities, such as Kyle and South Austin, as well as event and wedding curation and custom moss walls. Additionally, the business does plant care and design by filling a space with plants, while also taking care of them on a schedule. It also sells crystals and other trinkets.
Though it does a lot of professional events, residents can still come in and begin their plant journey, Holmgren emphasized.
Saint Montogren’s Florist opened its doors Saturday, Feb. 1, to offer plant opportunities to the community of Buda. Pictured, the inside of the business.
“You can walk into the shop, you can buy a plant [and] you can buy a pot. We sell small plants, big plants, all of the above, so it’s like a boutique plant stop. We’re not going to have as many varieties in at once as, let’s say, [a department store], but we definitely have very healthy plants that are being very well taken care of by my team and acclimated well to a home environment,” he said.
According to Holmgren, plants at department stores often experience shock because they immediately are taken from perfect environments to a home when a customer buys it and are not given the proper time to adjust to the temperatures. Saint Montogren’s Florist takes the time to slowly acclimate the plants, in hopes of them leading a longer, healthier life.
The staff also teaches customers about their plants and offer both free and paid classes to learn more through a partnership with soil company Rosy Soil, such as repotting: what it is and why good soil is important.
“I know that this can be intimidating at times. I know people spend some money on plants and then, they die and then, it’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to try it again,’ but it’s not as scary as it seems and I have an amazing team of plant experts and floral designers to help you, to guide you, to give you some instruction and also to always be here for you … I want people to feel supported really in their plant care journey, their plant parenthood,” said the florist.
“It was such an honor to bring plants and flowers to Hays County,” said Holmgren. “I definitely think here in Buda on Main Street, a plant presence was so necessary and needed and I’m honored to be the one to bring it here.”
In the future, Holmgren hopes to continue to grow his business and stay in Buda Mill and Grain for years to come.
Saint Montogren’s Florist is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, visit www.saintmontogren.com.
