Rachel Schwartz, 23News reporter
Roses and carnations line the wall of the shop. Halloween pumpkins and fall wreaths fill the front window sills. Halloween is right around the corner and customers are greeted by a black pumpkin sign that says welcome to Tiger Garden.
Located in room 2-34 of the Agriculture Building, the flower shop is MU’s only student run florist. Just like any normal flower shop, they offer a wide variety of flora, ranging from roses to more unique plants such as air plants.Other offerings include greeting cards, sea-salt-scented candles and stuffed tigers.
Tiger Garden offers bouquets ranging from as low as $14.95 to $99.99. Tiger Garden welcomes walk ins and orders through their website.
The garden has been up and running since 2005. It started as a little room and has since expanded to include a classroom.
As of now, the Tiger Garden staff consists of ten part time students and full time manger Erin Casey-Campbell.
According to Casey-Campbell, employees at Tiger Garden make sure that whoever walks in is assisted, whether that be picking out a vase or selecting the perfect arrangement for their significant other. But customers aren’t the only people she enjoys interacting with.
“My favorite part about working here is working with the students,” Casey-Campbell said. “Everyone but me is a student and is here trying to gain some experience in customer service or in the floral industry…just watching them grow and thrive is my favorite part.”
Tiger Garden works hand in hand with the Panhellenic Association during what they call initiation season, in which the shop sends flowers for bid day activities and initiation ceremonies.
“We have all hands on deck here pretty much all the time,” Casey-Campbell said. “[We’re] just trying to get as far ahead as we can.”
Casey-Campbell says that despite their location on campus, they are just like any other floral shop in downtown Columbia.
“We’re a fully functioning floral shop that services anyone and everyone with a Columbia zip code,”Casey-Campbell said.
