There’s nothing like the joy and comfort found in the beauty of flowers and plants, particularly when we adorn our homes with them…whether a single flower we pluck on a walk and place in a glass on our kitchen counter, a bouquet gifted to us as a symbol of love or celebration, or succulents and houseplants keeping us company in every room of the house. Owner of Saint Montogren’s Florist, Rew Holmgren, has always appreciated how grounding and life-giving plants can be.
“I was drawn to art, beauty, and design,” he says, “and that curiosity led me straight into beauty school after high school. I fell in love with styling — understanding how small details can completely transform how someone feels in a space. That path eventually led me to flowers. The joy they bring to a moment — whether celebratory or quiet — felt instinctual to me, like a calling I kept circling back to. Saint Montogren’s grew out of that connection.”
As Rew thought about starting a florist shop, he craved a place that had a strong sense of roots and community, charm, diversity, and room to grow. He found all that in Buda, and connected with the Buda Economic Development Corporation, which offered the support he needed to ultimately build a team of passionate floral designers and plant people. “Creating a space where the community can come for their botanical and floral fix — a place that feels welcoming, creative, and alive — is truly the heart of what I do,” says Rew.
Saint Montogren’s offers fresh floral design, houseplants, crystals, incense, and thoughtfully curated gifts. They deliver throughout Buda, Kyle, and South Austin, and offer in-store shopping with grab-and-go arrangements available daily. They also do floral design for events and weddings. They offer flower subscriptions for both homes and businesses, a convenient way to bring fresh beauty into our spaces on the regular.
You won’t find crystals at every flower shop, but Rew loves these pieces of “earth candy,” as he refers to them. “Emotionally or energetically, many people use them as tools for intention — reminders of calm, protection, focus, or reflection.” They’re also just plain pretty.
Of course the essence of Saint Montogren’s is plants. Rew believes they’re an essential part of any home’s design. “Fresh flowers, in particular, are transformative. They do wonders for the mind and soul. Even a few fresh blooms on a bedside table or in a bathroom can elevate your morning routine. An arrangement doesn’t have to be elaborate — it just needs to be alive.”
It's hard to argue with the benefits and beauty plants can bring to our spaces, but many of us may be daunted by how to most effectively use them in interior design or even how to keep them alive. When it comes to flowers, Rew reminds us that they’re not meant to last forever. Their beauty is to be enjoyed in the moment. And while keeping them in clean, cool water can help them thrive, his best advice when your arrangement starts to wither: buy more next week, and enjoy those! Plants are more forgiving and can bring life into our homes for years with the right light, water, and placement. “Aesthetically, I love grouping plants together,” says Rew. “Bunching them creates visual impact and mirrors how plants grow in nature, but scattering a few statement plants throughout your home can also create moments of calm and interest. It’s about balance and intuition.”
Rew’s passion for plants and beauty is contagious. A visit to Saint Montogren’s is sure to inspire even the tiniest effort to create intention and atmosphere in our spaces. “I love the idea that bringing something living into your home — even something small — can change how a space feels and how you move through it. That awareness is what I hope people take with them.”
“I love the idea that bringing something living into your home even something small can change how a space feels"