RANGELY | The closing of one business on the other side of the county led to the birth of another. After graduating from Rangely High School, long time Rangely resident Tarrah Patch went to school for floral design. She had spent some time creating floral arrangements at a flower shop in Fruita but always dreamed of one day opening her own shop. Earlier in the year Patch’s friend had mentioned seeing a Facebook post about a Meeker flower shop liquidating its assets. Patch couldn’t resist the rare opportunity of acquiring that equipment and with the help of FloraBella’s Annie Ellis, her husband and co-owner Josh Patch, Colorado CPA, Makala Barton, and many others, The Wildflower in Rangely opened on Oct. 24.
Just like a wildflower, the quaint little shop seemingly sprouted out of a crack in the wall at 101 South White Ave. The door to the shop had always been there but was rarely noticed on the east end of the Rangely True Value building, which used to be Strain Drug Store in the 1960s. With a black paint job and a matching awning, the door really “popped” from the tan brick exterior and became the talk of the town in mid-October. In fact, behind the counter at The Wildflower was the original pharmacist’s office and pickup window. To add more historical appeal, the 10-foot-tall, seven-piece floral cooler which had been at the Meeker flower business, originally came from Rangely’s Flowersmith Exchange.
The Patches have been overwhelmed with community support and they look forward to providing fresh flowers and plants for all occasions and holidays. They source their flowers and plants from Colorado and Utah and they deliver. The Wild Flower offers affordable monthly flower subscriptions and convenient ordering options. You can find out more about the newest homegrown Rangely business on their website www.wildflowersandplants.com. They are on Facebook and Instagram, or you can call 970-572-0131, or drop in Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
