Lonely Bouquets looking for new homes Local florists spread flower power in fun new campaign In the run up to the (inter)National Lonely Bouquet Day (Sunday June 30th) florists around the UK are joining forces with their global counterparts by giving away bouquets of flowers to total strangers ... often with awesome results. The brain child of American born, Belgium based Emily Avenson, the Lonely Bouquet campaign is all about spreading the natural cheer of flowers. Florists leave small but perfectly formed bouquets of flowers in random places complete with tag that asks someone to give them a home. The only requirement is to let them know where the bouquet went! Commenting on the campaign, Caroline Marshall-Foster, media spokesperson for the Flower & Plants Association and Editor of Florist Magazine, who, along with Alison Bradley, Editor of Fusion Flowers has been working with Emily to spread the word said; “Just like the bouquets being left around the UK, I found out about the campaign quite by chance and thought it was such a cool idea I flagged it on our Facebook page. The take up has been amazing. As florists we know all about the benefits of giving flowers; how they make people smile, cheer them up and naturally raise endorphins, so it’s lovely for us to have an excuse to share the power of flowers in such a fun way.” Caroline continued: “Some of the stories from people who have found the Lonely Bouquets are incredibly heart-warming but then that’s what flowers are all about ... the easiest way to say anything to anyone on any occasion and be sure of creating a smile.” Currently nearly 200 independent local florists around the UK are already involved in the Lonely Bouquet initiative with more joining in every day. All of which means that everyone in the UK … from Land’s End to John O’Groats should keep an eye out for randomly placed bouquets looking for a new home. Who knows there could be one on a park bench near you! Note to Editors For more information, the latest list of local florists taking part and any other enquiries contact Hannah Dunne or Caroline on 020 8939 6472. Happy recipients include the mum of schoolboy George Gourlay (pictured) who found a bouquet left by Glasgow florist Roots, Fruits and Flowers on Kelvinbridge. Blue Geraniums bouquet was found in Totnes by Becky Matthews on Father’s Day and placed on her Dad’s woodland grave. Maureen Cairns of Great Lumley received hers courtesy of her son who found the bouquet left by Serendipity Floral Designs in Leeds. Like many florists around the UK, The Poundbury Florist has been leaving bouquets every day in the run up to the day with ten scheduled for the 30th. Happy Dorset finders have included a man in Dorchester who left them on the grave of a woman who held his grandma on the day she was born and remained a close friend and neighbour throughout the rest of her life. Further afield … this campaign is now running around the world … a volunteer working at an AIDS centre in Hillcrest South Africa, was another happy finder. Hannah Dunne for F&PA will be working with Hammersmith florist Rushes on Thursday 27th June and leaving bouquets around the area. If you want to follow the trail with her please call. About us The Florist has been the UK’s only independent trade magazine for the whole floricultural sector since 1949. For more information visit theflorist.co.uk The Flowers & Plants Association is responsible for promoting the best the flower industry has to offer and has a wealth of information about the world of flowers and plants … visit flowersandplants.org.uk for more details. Launched in 2001, Fusion Flowers is the UK’s biggest design led floral magazine. For more information visit fusionflowers To find out more about Emily Avenson, Fleuropean and the Lonely Bouquet idea visit thelonelybouquet
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 09:59:07 +0000
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