A new-to-me thing I did last week was attend a flower arranging workshop led by a friend who in her past was a floral arranger for various events, and who has a pretty extensive knowledge of flowers.
I had some reservations about going though... reservations of the most selfish kind. I'm a practical person at heart and while I've experienced the benefit of being the recipient of flowers when healing from surgery, historically I'd rather cook someone a meal than spend money on flowers. Not because I see more virtue in a meal, but because that is more in my wheelhouse. My comfort zone, I suppose.
Also, the instructions for the workshop unfolded into our buying our own flowers, bring them, along with a vase and some cutting tools. Suddenly, this started to feel more like work than fun. But I had said yes, and I didn't want to back out.
Honestly, the only reason I said yes in the first place is because I wanted to spend time with the friend who invited me, and I knew several of other ladies who'd be there, and looked forward to catching up with them. I kept those thoughts front and center as I repeatedly told myself to "just keep saying yes".
So... the afternoon before the workshop I stopped at Walmart and Kroger to purchase some bundles of flowers and greenery. As I picked out flowers, I considered what might look nice with orange tiger lilies from my backyard.
While I know from experience bouquets in vases can be expensive, because I'm not a flower shopper, I had no idea how (relatively) inexpensive bundles of cut flowers are. I'd walked by the flower display in every visit to Kroger's produce section for the last 20-some years. But I'd never stopped to see how much the various bundles of cut flowers cost. Small bundles were $5-8 dollars, and larger bundles were right around $12.00. Between Walmart and Kroger, I bought three small bundles (one was greenery), and including tax I spent right around $17.00. I can tell you now, I bought too much.
The next morning, when we all gathered and put our purchases on the tables, it was clear there was far more than our small group could use. It was eye-opening seeing one gal's treasure of roses she'd bought on clearance for less than $5.00 a bunch. I didn't see anything like that when I was shopping, but I also didn't pay much attention to the roses. Granted, being clearance-priced meant they might wilt quicker than "non-clearanced" flowers, but I was seriously impressed with her bargain.
I shared my cut-that-morning tiger lilies (that, to my slight dismay, have been the quickest wilting flowers of all), and the rose-toting gals shared their roses. Another lady had brought greenery cut from her yard, and after some basic instruction, we all set to work making a variety of bouquets.
I don't know when I've had so much fun with three friends, and three complete strangers. They were so friendly and welcoming. After lunch and a birthday cake for one of the gals, hugs were given all around as we said our good-byes. I have no idea if I'll ever find myself again in that grouping, but for a little while, at least, I feel like I potentially made three new friends.
Once home, I could tell my tiger lilies were a tad to tall, but I don't care. I love it because I had so much fun making it.
So... my lessons learned are:
Say yes to genuine invitations that have even a modicum of appeal.
Invite others into my circles if I'm confident they'll be welcomed. I may have a whole nother post on this topic.
Flowers appear to be more affordable than I think. Now that my enthusiasm has cooled a bit, I don't know that I will make flower buying a habit, necessarily, but I do expect I'll now be checking the flower section and every once in a while bring home a bundle - most likely with the thought of including various cuttings (flowers and greenery) from my yard.
What I already knew:
Flowers are wonderful expressions of love and care for someone going through anything difficult who may also be feeling isolated. Even the simplest bouquet that I received when healing from surgery felt like a hug while they lasted. I took pictures and posted them here at the time so I can still enjoy them.
And this thought is just a bonus... If someone gives you flowers, take a picture of the arrangement - if for no other reason than to enjoy it after the blooms have faded. I, personally, use these as pictures for these friends who are in my phone's contact list. Each of my sisters and friends has a picture by her name of a sweet bouquet they gave me when I was going through a time of healing.
I think I'm a flower girl now.
My New Year's resolution for several years when I used to grocery shop, was on the first of the month buy a little bunch of flowers. Now I keep cutting small tame and wild flowers at home, same idea.
ReplyDeleteWhen people have sent me bouquets I've usually sent a picture with my thanks email. Then they get to enjoy them, too. I'm glad you went to the group, great idea.
That is a lovely idea, Liz. When I wrote many thank you's a couple of years ago, I think several people were tickled to hear I used a photo of their flowers as their avatar in my phone contacts.
DeleteWhat a marvelous experience. Hubby used to buy me flowers every week from Kroger. He has stopped now per my request. Our home is too warm in the summer for them to last more than a couple of days. I am no expert on arranging them either. That class sounded like so much fun. You arrangement turned out beautiful too.
ReplyDeleteMarsha, I suspect that the heat when I cut my tiger lilies combined with the warmth of our house caused them to wilt pretty quickly. The roses lasted nearly a week, though! I'm not sure I ended up with the clearance ones, but I thought a week of pretty roses was kind of amazing.
DeleteFor years, no decades, I discourage people from giving me flowers. We always had cats in our house and plants of any kind they always consider “fair game” by them They would hang from a curtain rod if they thought it would get them closer to the object of their attention - flowers were a HUGE draw. The very few arrangements I remember were behind closed doors until they died with very little time to enjoy them. It was a small sacrifice because I love cats. Now with our current cat Aja, she has no interest in plants or flowers. The most interest she has ever shown with “plant-like” items is to sit under our artificial Christmas tree. She doesn’t chew on it or climb it like previous cats have done. It has been fun getting flowers from my kids on various occasions. Your flower arrangement is lovely.
ReplyDeleteA year or so ago I mentioned to at least one of my sons that a plant would be a nice gift. He looked confused, as if that would be an odd gift to give. I'm just now wondering if growing up in a home where plants and flowers weren't typically in the house is what caused his confusion. I trained them, I guess...
DeleteSo pretty. My flowers come from the meadow near us. I use daisies, red clover, buttercups and sage blossom stems from my herb garden. Our honeybees like them all, too.
ReplyDeleteOh, to have so many wonderful things growing wild, Martha! That would make beautiful bouquets!
DeleteI love flowers. A pretty bouquet just brightens things up so much. I love growing the roses for that reason because they are not a pretty plant at all, but I love the clipped roses in my kitchen. One of my favorite classes in college with my home ec education major was a I hour credit on flower arranging. I wish I could say I was really good at it, but I do like to try. Anytime I give a bridal or baby shower, I go to Publix and buy flowers and then prune my shrubs and ferns for greenery.
ReplyDeleteSandy, I have always enjoyed growing flowers outside, and at our different homes have enjoyed a variety of flowers and flowering shrubs. This property is probably the prettiest with something coming into bloom just as another thing is stopping. While I would never plant irises, and sometimes I wish we didn't have them - because they get very weedy as the summer goes on... I will say, the irises here are just gorgeous, and make beautiful cut flowers for a few weeks in the spring.
DeleteWhat a fun idea! I've never heard of such groups around here. Sadly cut flowers from the grocery stores here are often $20 and up so I rarely indulge. When I do, I simply cut the ends and plunk them in a vase and hope for the best.
ReplyDeleteMary Anne, the group was just a group of friends, and one of them happened to have a history of flower arranging. She had a business at one time. I happened to know half of the gals, but as a circle, I hadn't been part of their gatherings before. There were larger bouquets that approached $20.00, but I was shocked at how inexpensive several smaller sizes were. Assuming they have increased with inflation (like everything else), I wonder how inexpensive they may have been over the years.
DeleteI have no great talent for arranging flowers, but I do enjoy cutting (or sometimes buying) flowers to put in pitchers or vases. I'm glad you went to the flower arranging workshop . . . and became a flower girl! :)
ReplyDeleteCheryl, I'm not convinced that it takes any great skill to arrange flowers nicely in a vase. Though, I did learn a few tricks I hadn't considered. I will say, it was very interesting to see the expertise this gal has with flowers. She instantly knew the names of different flowers we all brought. I'm glad I went too, but mostly for the fun fellowship of some sweet ladies.
DeleteThat sounds like such a lovely way to spend a few hours and meeting new people too. Your display looks lovely and I’m sure smells nice too. Liz (Highlandheffalump)
ReplyDeleteIt did smell very nice, Liz. Today I was grocery shopping at Kroger and I stopped for the first time since writing this to look at the cut flowers. They appear to have increased in price by at least a dollar a bundle (for the small bundles). And the small bundles seemed smaller than I remember them a few weeks ago. That happened fast.
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