A flower cannot blossom without sunshine!

Hello again!

Summer has finally arrived in full force in Missoula.  It's time to beat back your exploding gardens, sweat through your friends' wedding, float down the rocky Clark Fork River, and stand a while in our walk-in cooler - kept at a chilly 42 degrees - to cool off after a morning run or the Saturday market. 

And, hey, while you're in there, why not pick out a luscious gerbera daisy?

First off - WOW!  Thanks to our generous, anti-packrat community, we collected about $130 in two weeks for the Missoula Food Bank as a part of our vase donation program.  When you bring us one of your reusable vases or containers, we donate $1 each to a local charity or nonprofit.  The response was immediate and overwhelming, and we're grateful to our customers and community members for reaching out to help folks in need.  Return to our blog for information on who our next donation recipient will be.

One of our customer service gals, Jewell, is celebrating the summery season by entering the Garden City Lady Arm Wrestling Competition, part of the ROCK THE HOOD! Northside Westside Block Party on Saturday, July 14.  The event is free, kid-friendly, and a good excuse to hang outside all day with some Northside and Westside neighbors from noon to 9 p.m.  Check back here or on our Facebook as Jewell develops her Flower Power competition costume and arm-wrangling technique.


Boss Lindsay is mere moments away from delivering Baby Irwin #2!  The days of her waddling around the store are soon over, and we will post pictures as soon as she lets us.  Since the due date was July 4, we thought she should name the little one Liberty Belle - what do you think?  Justice?  America?  Hannah Montana?  Got any great baby name ideas? 


We also have two full-grown newcomers to the shop!  We would like to welcome our new driver McGregor (be sure to address him in a Sean Connery accent when you see him; he's never heard that one before) and customer service rep Kayla. 

And, finally, we urge to to be extra safe this Fourth of July as wildfire season has sparked somewhat early this year.  Practice fire safety and common sense, and, if you're interested, check in with local authorities on how and where fires are spreading near you.  We hope you have a happy Independence Day, and as always, if you need a red rose, blue delphinium, or white lily, don't be afraid to stop in and ask!

Happy July!

Busy Bitterroot Bees

Okay, okay. We know. We've been bad. Not updating the blog, keeping all of you in the dark for a whole year. But we're turning over a new leaf (blossoming, if you will), hoping to update regularly, keeping you in tune with the happenings at Bitterroot Flower Shop and our lovely little Missoula.

Wedding season is in full swing, and Lynda and the designers are busy every weekend creating fabulous bridal bouquets, boutonnieres, and centerpieces for our happy couples.  People are getting creative this year - we have done arrangements with dusty miller, cornflower, and of course, local flowers and grasses from Blue Willow Farm in Stevensville.

Katie made this gorgeous thing last week: Casablanca lilies, cornflower, hydrangea, freesia, Queen Anne's lace, and a big cascade of blue and white ribbons.

We still have weekends and flowers available for weddings this summer as well as next, so if you're tying the knot anytime soon, consider asking us to help make your special day extra-special.

Something else we're proud to announce is that we've finally figured out what to do with all those vases community members donate to us.  You know the ones- you've gotten flowers from your kids or coworkers and once the flowers are spent, unsure of what to do with the vases, you tuck them away into corners of shelves all over your house.  Maybe once in a while you are able to reuse one, but mostly, they take up space and collect dust. 

But have no fear - Bitterroot Flower Shop is here!  When you bring in a reusable vase, we donate $1 to a local charity of our choice.   Right now, we are giving to our neighbors at the Missoula Food Bank.  We are happy to help you clean your shelves and your conscience all in one go, by feeding our community and our spirits!  Check in here or on our Facebook to find out which charity will be next. 

And, as always, BFS knows how to keep it real in the summer, and our employees are not only friendly and creative, but they can cook, too!  Our last employee potluck was filled with delicious sides and salads of all kinds, but Jeff was the man of the shop, grilling up some mean lean turkey burgers, corn on the cob, and colorful mini bell peppers.  Yum!