Wednesday, February 24

A Small Hint of Spring





The blossoms of campanula.

My neighbor who broke her leg and spent nine weeks in rehab is home now. Last week I went to visit, carrying a vase of campanula. The stems of it were "pulled through" a blue hydrangea the size of a dinner plate - and I thought it looked great!

The small lower branches on the stems had to be removed so they could be pulled down through the hydrangea, so I kept them and put them in this new flat ceramic container, which has a flower frog glued at the base of the opening, so that the stems will remain upright. This container is perfect for one to three small stems! I love that color too. I'd have almost everything green if I could (but then I'd get bored with it, wouldn't I?)

*******

The Flower Shuttle meets every Tuesday, and we had scads of flowers this week and last. There were probably 75 people there doing arrangements, and I did one after another after another for over two hours. It's really fun for me, since there are usually many different types of flowers to choose from. I'm really glad my friend talked me into volunteering there. If you have a similar group in your area, I recommend it. If you don't have one - start one!


Edit: Some of the comments merit an answer. You don't have to be good at flower arranging to do this. Some of the arrangements made are really appalling (to me) but the people who receive them would not ordinarily be on the receiving end - and they are grateful for the beauty of the flowers and the gestures made - so they don't care about the quality of the arrangement.

The florists in town support this group completely. In fact, the woman who started it used to be a florist (now an artist). Many of the flowers we use come from florist shops, as well as groceries and other places that sell flowers and plants.

The campanulas and hydrangea didn't come from a local garden; they were from the wholesaler, and probably grew in South America.

Many of our churches here have a similar program to the one Lynn mentioned, but on a much smaller scale than the Flower Shuttle. According to the latest numbers, the Flower Shuttle has produced and delivered over 56,000 arrangements in the last four years.

15 comments:

Kay Dennison said...

I love the campanala!!! It's stunning!!!!

I think a group like yours would be fun great for our area!!!! I wonder if our florists would go for it.

Travelin'Oma said...

Between you and my sister I'm starting to learn the names of flowers. I feel so English garden-y, now that I don't refer to every blossom as a tulip, rose or pansy. I appreciate your cultivation—I may bloom yet!

Gilly said...

Campanulas are lovely - but how do you have them out so early??

Unfortunately they don't seem to like our soil here :(

Star said...

The flower shuttle is a great idea. They wouldn't want me arranging flowers though.

Pat said...

Nothing like a bit of blue and the colour combo with the vase is perfect.

Lynn said...

What an awesome organization. My church does something like that with the flowers placed in the sanctuary on Sunday morning. If the party who place them doesn't want to take them home, a couple of people break them up into smaller arrangements and deliver them to people in the church who are sick, bereaved or confined to home.

Ginnie said...

I love what you did with the campanula, Judy. I can tell you are of my vintage... nothing goes to waste !

Granny Annie said...

You are a most talented floral artist!

Olga said...

What a great way to recycle. I love that idea.

Anonymous said...

Wow. Almost like the Welcome Wagon except in flowers. I remember when we first moved here that a welcome wagon came around and left a load of gifts from local merchants. I don't know what ever happened to it but it is no longer in business.

bobbie said...

So pretty! And such a welcome sight this time of year.

LL Cool Joe said...

75 people is impressive! I think it's a wonderful idea. My mother does the flower arrangements for our church and afterwards they get split up and sent to members of the congregation that are ill.

Anonymous said...

The flower shuttle sounds like a great idea!
Cop Car

sage said...

Nice flower? Do you think spring is really close at hand?

OldLady Of The Hills said...

That is really FANTASTIC! I so wish I could do something like this---but, it's not possible. It sounds like great fun and it must be so nice to know that everyone is there for such a GREAT Reason and that it brings such Happiness to so very many people! BRAVO!