“If you tend to a flower, it will bloom, no matter how many weeds surround it.”– Matshona Dhliwayo, philosopher

For love, for celebration and for grief, flowers are the language through which we try and convey how we feel in that moment. But, for two women, it’s after those moments have ended, as the events have concluded, that the flowers take on an entirely new meaning. 

From that, a nonprofit organization was formed, and it all started with the flowers they had leftover after each had lost their fathers recently. Rebecca Shelly said that she had first considered what a waste it was that so many flowers were thrown away after an event, while working for a wedding planner. 

Ruth, left, and Shelly get together at each other’s homes several times a week to rearrange donated flowers. Photo by Taylor Rizzari

“The floral budget was really high, and nobody had planned for what to do with all of the flowers after the wedding,” the Virginia woman said. “We collected as many as we could in our cars, but there were so many left over, they would have filled two U-Haul trucks,” she said.

The venue needed to be cleared out, so we were throwing all these stunning peonies into black trash bags. I felt terrible about the waste.”

Then sadly, Shelly and her friend, Laura Ruth, both lost their fathers around the same time. The flowers that had been sent by kind friends and family were sitting and the pair were contemplating how much they loved them, but were worried about adding to the waste of flowers that often happens in these cases.

“We were struck by how many flowers our families had received,” Ruth said. So the two friends began to think about how the flowers had given them comfort during a hard time, and maybe they could give that same comfort to someone else.

“What if we could repurpose the flowers and brighten the day for somebody else?” Shelly asked. Friendly City Florals was born. The nonprofit reuses donated flowers from weddings, funerals and even floral shops throughout their hometown of Harrisonburg.

These freshly cut flowers were donated to Friendly City Florals by local gardeners in Harrisonburg, Va. Photo courtesy of Friendly City Florals

Shelly and Ruth take the flowers, and pick through finding the blooms that are still fresh. Then they take those and make new bouquets, and then deliver them to a wide variety of places, including senior centers, hospitals, schools and even donate them to emergency responders.

Local gardeners have joined in, donating flowers from their one backyards. Judy Leaman grows snapdragons, coneflowers and more, and loves the work the nonprofit is doing. “I have a huge yard, and I’m happy to share because I know that faces are going to light up when people receive these bouquets,” she said.

Residents in nursing homes are always happy when somebody brings them flowers,” Leaman said. “It tells them they’re not forgotten.”

The friends hope that others take to this idea, and start their own nonprofits. “It just makes sense,” Shelly said. “It’s a simple thing to pick out what’s wilted, add some of our own [flowers] if needed, and share the joy one more time,” Ruth said. 

“We’ve put the word out everywhere that if you have too many flowers and don’t know what to do with them, we’ll take them off your hands,” Shelly said. 

One place that benefits from the donated flowers is the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. “It’s a creative way to give our residents joy and purpose,” said Abigail Cave, enrichment program manager at the center. “Seeing all those flowers instantly brightens up their day.”

For resident Dot Misner, 90, the days when the donated blooms arrive are some of her favorite times. “It’s nice to come back to my room and find a place where I can enjoy the flowers all day,” she said. Shelly and Ruth sometimes bring their children with them while they drop off the flowers. They hope their kids will want to keep up this tradition when they are adults. 

“When we drop off the flowers, everybody oohs and aahs over them,” Ruth said. “They’re really touched by the gesture. One woman kept saying, ‘Really? These are for me?’”

Sources: Washington Post | WHSV