Walking into Mountain Border Floral & Gifts in Hope, one is immediately struck by the enticing smell of the boutique. The flower and gift shop has been around for over 26 years and is located in a historical building on Hudson Bay Street.
It served as a fort over 100 years ago during the gold rush, before it was converted into a store. One might even be so bold as to say it has a kind of magic, inspiring romance on the dreariest of winter days. It boasts a seasonal collection of winter flowers that includes arrangements titled 'Isn't it romantic,' 'Victorian romance,' and 'Isle of white.'
The rustic and welcoming shop is heart warming, whimsical and inspiring. Filled with plants and flowers of all kinds, it's hard not to be moved by the bouquet of colours and the smell of uplifting aromas.
Candles, soy blocks (that can be melted down and the oils used as cuticle softeners) of tantalizing combinations, coffee mugs, trinkets and unique keepsakes fill the inviting space.
Shop manager and apprentice florist Mary Bourke greets The Hope Standard at the door with a warm smile, as the shop's mascot Jasper (a black cat) sleeps in a brown box on the counter.
One thing is clear, Bourke loves what she does, and emphasizes that running a flower shop is not work at all. Bourke imparts that her team is complimentary and working with head florist Elaine Peterson is a joy.
"We have a large variety of house plants — we order from growers all over the place," she says of the large and varied in-house selection which is mostly seasonal.
Make no mistake, Bourke can order anything. They get shipments from places as far as Ecuador.
"We do everything here, weddings, graduations, funerals — you name it," said Bourke.
Long-stemmed roses (red is a favourite) are one of the more popular flowers at the shop, especially with Valentine's Day around the corner and they are largely imported from South America, Ecuador and Columbia because of B.C.'s dwindling key rose nurseries.
The shop also carries seasonal tulips and bulb baskets to name a few. In the fall big mums are popular and in the summer hanging baskets. Mountain Border Floral & Gifts promises to deliver service, cater arrangements to the customers specification and to do it within an affordable price range.
"We can create something for $10," said the shop's florist Elaine Peterson. "Besides creating a finished product we are all about the service, we take ideas and we go ahead and do it. It's nice if they love the bouquet."