Where it’s more than just flowers, it’s a whole vibe!
ABOUT US
Growing up in Charlestown, I had always struggled with substance use issues. But for the grace of God, I finally decided to seek treatment which brought me to a sober living in Norton, MA. One of stipulations of sober living is reintroducing you to the world and maintaining a “get well” job. I got hired at Roche Bros in Norton and worked in the Floral Department. Prior to this, I had no experience or knowledge of flowers. Flowers helped me connect to God and I found a way of meditation working with flowers. I got transferred to the Mashpee store, where my floral expertise progressed thanks to amazing teachers. I quickly worked my way up the ladder and became a Floral Manager at the Norton store.
Like most people, life ebbed and flowed for me. I wanted to quit Roche Bros and continue to just wait tables. While in the program, we were taught to seek spirituality by means of our own understanding. I became interested in Tarot cards and the metaphysical world. I met with Beyond the Gate, who did Tarot Reading. I told her I did not want to connect with the dead, but she couldn’t help to let me know that my Grandmother was with us and that she wants me to continue to do flowers. My grandmother was Mrs. B, who started “Mrs. B’s Gardens” in the Charlestown projects in the 1970s. She loved flowers and taught local kids how to plant and care for flowers and beautified the Charlestown projects. I decided to listen and I quit my manager job at Roche Bros, hoping I could start my own flower company.
On Imbolc, February 1st 2020, the seed was planted for Baby Boyle Bouquets. Unbeknownst to me, the pandemic was right around the corner and would turn my life upside down. I had quit my job at the Roche Bros and the restaurant that I worked at closed temporarily. Worried about paying my bills, I started making flower arrangements during the pandemic. I made arrangements inside my sober house and people continued to order. The business bloomed.
Mother’s Day 2020 was my first big holiday and with the help of friends from home, the Scent From Heaven campaign bloomed. I wanted to honor friends that died from substance abuse by giving their mom’s free flower bouquets for Mother’s Day. In 2023, we honored over 150 mother’s in Massachusetts with bouquets and raised over $5,000 for sober living scholarships.
Circumstances made me move back home to Charlestown. I continued my business and made flower arrangements on my mother’s balcony in Mishawum. Doors continued to open and people wanted this to succeed, which led to opening up my shop at the Charlestown Working Theater. As the world opened back up, Baby Boyle Bouquets had to leave the Working Theater. Thanks to RISE Construction Company, we were able to open up shop at our current location on Spice Street. The most fulfillment comes from being able to give back to the community through different organizations (Friends of Doherty Park, Friends of Charlestown Elderly), help teens local to Charlestown find work and fun in flowers, and a commitment and ongoing partnership with the recovery community (Turn it Around, Charlestown Collation, Recovery on the Harbor, Chapters Recovery).
Although there have been ups and downs in this business, like flowers, we continue to grow, we continue to bloom – a beautiful process of becoming.
