The University of Missouri’s student-run floral shop, Tiger Garden, is in full swing for Valentine’s Day, bringing this year’s Dolly Parton-inspired “I Will Always Love You” theme to life.
Located inside the Agriculture Building, the shop’s vibrant window display and fresh blooms make it impossible to walk by without stopping to take a look.
The week leading up to Valentine’s Day is the result of months of planning and teamwork. The holiday’s preparation began in November, when student leaders envisioned the Dolly Parton theme and immediately started brainstorming decorations, products and floral designs.
Even with 26 employees on staff, there are no shortage of tasks to complete during the week. Students rotate through a variety of roles: delivering orders throughout town, putting together centerpieces in an assembly-line style, managing the front of the shop and designing floral arrangements. On top of the 400 to 700 orders expected for Valentine’s Day, the team is also preparing for four events requiring hundreds of wrist corsages, balloons and centerpieces.
All of this work pays off for the students – literally. Valentine’s week is one of the biggest contributors to student wages at Tiger Garden, generating an estimated $8,000 in revenue that goes directly toward student labor.
What makes the student-run shop extra special is the meticulous care and personalized touch with each crafted arrangement. It creates a vibrant learning environment, along with a meaningful way for the community to support student work.
“Because our students all have their own design identity, we have a lot larger variation in what we can offer,” said Lesleighan Cravens, the supervisor of Tiger Garden.
Working at Tiger Garden is not an opportunity exclusive to CAFNR students. Students from any major are welcome, even those with no floral experience. Tiger Garden pays students as they learn, giving them the chance to build skills and begin their floral design journey.
Amber Sayre, a freshman studying plant sciences, said every day is different when working in the shop.
“I love the variety,” she said. “One day I can be working with the plants and then the next day I’m helping make an arrangement or making candy bouquets. There’s always something fun to do.”
Another student employee said she loves taking part of the job home with her.
“I always leave the shop smelling like the shop, which is a good thing,” said Kylie Nuckolls, a senior communication major. “It’s like my personal perfume.”
No matter a customer’s price range or vision, Tiger Garden has something for everyone. Valentine’s options range from single roses to show-stopping arrangements with names like Diamond in a Rhinestone World, Coat of Many Colors, Jolene, Love Like a Butterfly, Denim and Pearls and Islands in the Stream.
Beyond florals, the shop also offers candy bouquets, gift baskets filled with spa essentials, candles, tote bags, air fresheners, crewnecks, hair clips, balloons and more, making it a one-stop shop for thoughtful Valentine’s gifts.
For customers eager to tap into their own creativity, the Bloom Bar located outside the shop offers a variety of individual stems like roses, hydrangeas, carnations, greenery and more. Shoppers can simply pick their favorite blooms, choose a ribbon inside and wrap their own custom bouquet.
Anyone can stop by Tiger Garden to snap a selfie with Dolly Parton’s iconic hair painted in the window or check out its website at mutigergarden.com and browse the full Valentine’s collection.
This story was written by a student in AGSC_COM 2150, which gives students the opportunity to explore public relations and journalistic writing with real-world experience in CAFNR.