Melliflora LLC

Troy, Idaho

by Terri Schmidt, Co-op Volunteer Writer

Colleen Taugher grew up in a farming family, but she took some detours before starting her own flower farm. She received her education at the University of Wisconsin, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the University of Idaho. Colleen made her living doing art, then worked 16 years at Washington State University in the Office of International Programs where she worked with colleagues at WSU to improve livelihoods for people in developing countries. She said, “I worked with some fantastic people and did some really meaningful work.”

Colleen now lives on an 85 acre farm with her fiancé Steve Shepherd, an entomologist who runs the bee program at WSU. Much of their land is used for raising bees and sheep, and growing hay and alfalfa. About an acre is devoted to Colleen’s flower business, Melliflora. The flower field is beautiful when blooming, attracting photographers who love using it as a background in photos. The business employs four people, two working in the field, one driving deliveries, and one floater who fills in where needed.

Colleen grows over 100 varieties of flowers, including the planting of 9000 new tulip bulbs every year. She has a high tunnel hoop house that allows her to get an early start on the season with flowers like ranunculus, anemones, and Arctic poppies. Colleen says, “I’m so excited about the hoop house, it lets me grow specialty flowers people couldn’t manage in their own gardens.”

Melliflora offers various ways to purchase flowers – from the Moscow Food Co-op, at Saturday Market, delivered to pick up stations, DIY buckets, and the Flower Club. Customers from various towns can order flowers and pick them up at business partner venues – Colter Creek in Moscow, The Filling Station in Troy, and The Blue Lantern in Lewiston. Customers can also order DYI flowers by the bucketful, Colleen asks what colors you like and what you will be doing with the flowers, then specially choses flowers to fit. Colleen uses her design studio to create flower arrangements for special events like weddings.

The Flower Club is popular, you can sign up on Melliflora’s website. Each week members receive “an abundant armload of artfully presented, premium seasonal blooms fresh from the farm... hand tied and wrapped in paper.” Colleen creates stories to accompany the weekly flower arrangements telling how she came up with the selection and what is special about that bouquet. She said, “I love my customers so much!” Colleen interviewed people who are members of the flower club, asking what the membership meant to them. She said, because of the powerful impact of fresh flowers on someone’s life, “every single one of them cried when I was talking to them. It’s important work.”

At the end of the season, Melliflora uses dried flowers to create wreaths, potpourri, and flower confetti to throw at weddings. They make big marigold garlands that start out fresh, but also look pretty when dry.

Colleen said purchasing local flowers not only supports local farmers, who you get to know personally, but “the flowers last so much longer and seem more vibrant.” Buying local helps reduce the environmental impact of excessive packaging and shipping flowers from places as far away as South America and Europe. Colleen said, “The carbon footprint is mind-blowing.”

Colleen has two grown children, Liam and Gregorio, and Steve has a son, Walter. They are both really focused on family. When she has a chance Colleen likes to cook and try new recipes. She has been an equestrian all her life, and finds joy in playing with her current horse, a Norwegian Fjord named Rain.

To learn more about Melliflora click on ‘flowers’ on the website: www.mellifera.farm and read their facebook page: www.facebook.com/melliferafarmidaho or follow on Instagram @melliflorallc