Local Amanda Gruetzner said she has always been crafty but never found a way to express her passion that felt just right. After running a successful Etsy shop selling faux floral hoops and hand-painted items, she decided she wanted to step it up a notch, but she said she was unsure what her next venture should be; however, while traveling to see Taylor Swift perform in Nashville last spring, a seed was planted within her that has since blossomed into a flower shop on wheels.

“I was inspired,” Gruetzner said. “I saw a flower truck for the first time in person, and I just stood in front of it and fell in love. I had that feeling in my stomach and heart that said, 'This is it. This is what you’re gonna do.’”

Since opening Beautifully Wild Flower Truck in December, Gruetzner has invited people to stop and smell the roses, or peonies.

“It’s always peonies,” Gruetzner said.

The inspiration


The name for the flower truck was inspired by Gruetzner and her husband Matt’s dog, Cabela, who passed away six years ago.

“My husband and I got her, a red heeler, as a puppy when we were dating,” Gruetzner said. “Cabela was the flower girl in our wedding and the biggest adventure seeker with the biggest heart. She was my right-hand girl for eight years.”

Shortly after Cabela received a lymphoma diagnosis, Gruetzner said she was watching her son, Mason, play one evening when she began wondering how she would describe Cabela to people who had never met her after she passed away.

“Instantly, 'beautifully wild' came to me, because that is exactly what she was,” Gruetzner said. “Naming my shop after her was just another way I could hold onto her and her memories, and express how much she meant to me as the years went on.”


What’s special about it?

At any given event, the bed of Beautifully Wild Flower Truck holds up to 20 metal buckets, each filled with a different type of flower. At the pick-your-own bouquet bar, people are invited to hand-select each flower for their personalized arrangement, which is then hand-wrapped and tied by Gruetzner—with the option to include a hand-written note or card.

A closer look

The mobile flower shop has no stationary address but is available at a range of local pop-ups and event bookings each month. Those wanting to check it out should follow Beautifully Wild Flower Truck on Instagram or Facebook to keep up with where to find the truck.


Gruetzner said the truck is available to be booked for personal events, such as wedding and baby showers, birthday parties, private gatherings and more, in addition to store openings, public events and farmers markets.

Beautifully Wild Flower Truck will be at the following Bastrop spots through Valentine’s Day, including:
  • Jan. 20: Found Fine Art
  • Jan. 28: Kana Wine Tasting Lounge
  • Feb. 10 and Feb. 14: KC Outfitter
Looking ahead

Gruetzner said she gets her flowers from wholesalers in Austin; however, she plans to begin working with Central Texas farmers in the spring to source her stems, with a goal of using her personal garden in 2025.

“Beautifully Wild Flower Truck brings so much joy to not only myself but anyone at any age,” Gruetzner said. “Flowers aren’t controversial. Everyone loves them and they just make people happy.”