My Lonely Bouquet
There’s a lot that is negative about social media and so often the traditional media can’t wait to make sweeping statements about how these new forms of communication will be the downfall of society. They so rarely seem to cover however, the amazing tools they can be to actually bring people together, to inspire and, in many ways make the world a better place.
I first heard about ‘lonely bouquets’ from my friend Sara. She’s an amazing flower grower in Wiltshire and if it wasn’t for twitter we probably would never have met. I spotted one day that she had tweeted to say she had left her ‘lonely bouquet’ at a bus stop in her village and that she hoped it had gone to a good home. Intrigued I asked her about it and she pointed me in the direction of a blog called Fleuropean. The idea was the inspiration of Emily, an American living in Belgium and the basic principles are: to pick some fresh flowers from your garden, make up an arrangement in a jam jar or similar, attach a ‘take me’ tag and then leave them somewhere for a passer-by to pick up and brighten up their day. I just love it.
So yesterday I picked some flowers and then left them in buckets in the cool and dark of my downstairs loo to recover from being picked in the heat of the day. The plan was to arrange them last night and drop them off at my chosen location early in the morning so nobody would spot me. Of course the best laid plans and all that meant I was frantically arranging flowers this morning and had to postpone my delivery of them until lunch time when I got back from an appointment.
I had decided to pick the village doctors’ surgery for the placement of the flowers. Partly because it has an overhanging roof which would provide them with some shelter from any heavy downpours but mainly because, well lets face it most of us need a bit of cheering up if we’ve had to go along to see the doctor. There was a slight spanner in the works, as I remembered at the last-minute that it was Wednesday and that they only take appointments until 12 pm. As I sprinted around, clutching the jar and card I was worried there would nobody around to see them. The other problem was putting them somewhere they would be spotted without being spotted myself. I timed it well so that I got them to the door without been seen from outside, although I’m sure those waiting inside must have wondered why there was a hunched, black waterproof-clad person acting a little furtively on the other side of the glass door. You’re meant to take a photo of them in the spot where they are left but this would have drawn too much attention to the whole operation so you’ll have to make do with the image of them in my kitchen.
I retreated to a seat outside the primary school which was close enough for me to keep an eye on proceedings but not so close to draw attention from any visitors. And then I waited. I knew I couldn’t sit there for too long as I did have work to be getting on with but I thought it would be nice to see them taken away, and if all else failed I could move them on to another venue if they had been untouched by the time the surgery closed. I was also intrigued to see people’s responses. Would they think there was a catch or just not like them?
I had only just sat down when a Land Rover pulled into the car park. A smartly dressed farmer got out and wandered up the path to the surgery. I was silently saying in my head, ‘Pick them up, pick them up!’. I saw him stop by the door. He stood still as he was read the card and scratched his head in a very Stan Laurel way. He was obviously flummoxed by the whole idea. He went inside and minutes later came out with a prescription and got back in his Land Rover. I was a little bit disappointed if I’m honest. More cars arrived and several people walked through the door without even seeing the flowers. This was annoying. Maybe I had put them in the wrong place, especially as I knew the likelihood of people seeing them on the way out was slim. But then a woman leaving caught sight of them and stopped, bent down to read the tag. I was willing her to take them but then she too left empty-handed. Mmmm, maybe this wasn’t going to work.
A little red Corsa turned up and a woman in her twenties got out. I was a little more hopeful that she might be more open to the idea. She stopped and looked, but only briefly and then went inside. At this point I was starting to think about time scales and how long I could justify waiting in the hope I would see them taken. I have to admit to also thinking, ‘Jeez what’s wrong with you all, they’re pretty flowers not a hand grenade’. I didn’t think it was in the spirit of the idea to go up to someone and shout ‘Just taken the blinking flowers’.
And then the door opened, and the twenty something woman came out, with one of the doctors in tow. She pointed to the flowers, they stood and looked and then the doctor bent down and picked them up and they both went inside.
I don’t know who eventually claimed the flowers but I was pleased to see them taken indoors at least. Walking home I tried to suppress a grin because it felt such a lovely thing to do and it had also been so intriguing to watch people. I felt a bit like Amelie in the French film of the same name. I don’t think it’s my last lonely bouquet, I just need to think of some more suitable locations.
If you’d like to take part have a look at Emily’s blog.
wellywoman 
I think people jsut can’t believe there is something beautiful without a catch. To be honest I’m not sure I would pick them up, however much I wanted them.
I guess that’s true. It’s quite sad though that’s the case. I do love the whole concept of random acts of kindness. The news bombards us with everything that is wrong with the world, maybe these acts can go some tiny way to balancing this out. 🙂
but, somebody, somewhere, IS happily enjoying those flowers now! My mother used to send her visitors out the door, posy in hand, their eyes and noses engrossed.
🙂 I just love the power of plants and flowers and how they are able to bring a smile to faces. Your mum sounds like my kind of lady. :))
Wellywoman! You’re just too cute! I love it! What a gorgeous bouquet for a start, I wish I could arrange flowers so nicely and then sitting and hoping someone takes them is just so lovely! I bet they’ll be brightening the docs office for everyone to share, good on the young girl. I was just thinking about what I’d do if I found a lonely bouquet, I’d probably be tempted to leave it for someone I felt was more deserving or possibly do what the 20 something did, unless I’d had a really bad day then I’d be off with them like a shot! Brilliant post and such a cute thing to do. Big hugs xx
Hi Anna, Why thank you!! *blushes* It’s such a simple idea that Emily at lonely bouquets came up with. I just love it so much and the whole idea of random acts of kindness. I’m already planning the location for the next bouquet. 😉
Lovely bouquet and a lovely adventure to take part in. Just a thought – maybe putting “there’s no catch” actually makes people wonder about it, when they wouldn’t if it hadn’t been said, and, as far as the people in cars are concerned, perhaps they were worried about spilling the jar of water as they drove, rather than not tempted at all.
Hi Helen, Thank you and quite possibly. The jam jars are actually a perfect way to transport flowers in a car as they fit snuggly into the drinks holders. We’ve taken flowers hundreds of miles to family this way with the air con on to keep them cool. And not a drop of water is spilt 😉
What a lovely thing to do! I can just imagine whoever receives it will have a smile on their faces, even if just for 15 minutes. And by the way I love how you wrote it, I could just imagine you getting up to each thing at each moment.
It reminds me of this time once a few years ago at around Christmas time, I was walking through the streets when I lay with a basket full of lavender came up to me and gave me a bunch of lavenders. At first I thought she must have been a gypsy trying to sell me (and then cast a bad spell on me) some rosemary, which happens sometimes in Spain (lol) then she explained that, no, she was from the shop l’occitane and was just giving me the lavender because they were doing this for christmas. That was nice 🙂 xx
Hi Sofia, Thank you! It’s strange isn’t it how we’ve kind of become quite mistrustful of people. I know we all need to have a certain level of savviness but it’s sad if we can’t be open to the kindness of others. I’m planning lonely bouquet No.2. 😉
Such a lovely idea! 🙂
What a brilliant idea – a floral equivalent of BookCrossing. I’m sure that your attractive bouquet really brightened up somebody’s day WW. What is the wispy grass at the back? Well I think that it’s a grass but could be mistaken 🙂
I think Emily at lonely bouquet was inspired to come up with the idea. I’ve vaguely heard of book crossing. Will go off and look that one up. The grass is Panicum ‘Frosted Explosion’. Can highly recommend it.
Great idea, like leaving books around (is that Book Crossing Anna?) – and ‘random acts of kindness’. The way you described the whole adventure was an enjoyable read, so thanks for that as well as the idea!
Thanks Cathy. I love the whole random acts of kindness idea. I’m planning more. 🙂
What a lovely thing to do. So glad someone enjoyed them in the end. We have a little area at the allotment where we can leave things for other allotmenteers to pick up. But I love the idea of putting things where people wouldn’t expect them.
Thanks CJ. We have a similar area at our allotments too but I think there is something about placing things somewhere unexpected that makes it that bit special. 🙂
A most enjoyable post about a terrific idea, and it would be nice if it were to catch on. xx
Thanks Flighty. I hope it does catch on. Emily blog http://www.fleuropean.com maps where lonely bouquets have been placed and it is international. I’m planning my second, I just need to think of the right venue. Have a great weekend. x
A most unusual idea, hmmm…maybe we should all do such things more often and it would add surprise, joy and wonder to the world. Well done, wellywoman!
Hi Annette, thank you. If we all did something once a week or even once a month just think of the difference it could make. They are only small gestures but sometimes they’re the ones that count the most.
Interesting reactions to your post, Welly! Leaving a bouquet of flowers for someone is a very sharing idea but I have to agree with Helen in that a jar of water might pose problems for someone having their arms laden later, eg shopping, school run, etc. My car doesn’t have a drinks holder so I relate to that – maybe if there was wet tissue packed around the stems and a plastic bag to hold it? Btw, I wouldn’t have claimed it as I have plenty of flowers in the garden to look at; perhaps the people at the surgery felt the same – Maybe the lonely bouquet should be left outside an old people’s home, hospital or even a school (in term time 😉 ) for a child to take flowers for their Mum. Still a lovely idea though!
I’ve just spent the evening catching up on blog posts and yours made me smile the most 🙂 I’m so pleased the flowers were picked up and chances are, they were put on display in the surgery where many people would benefit.
what a great idea, people may be wary of interfering with the flowers because so many are left to signify accidents tied to street furniture, maybe an idea would be to just put on the card ‘please take me home’ & leave it at that.
What an absolutely fabulous idea, I love it. Sad that so many can’t accept a generous gesture at face value, but that just shows that we need more of this kind of thing. I’ve been wondering how many people have been picking from the “help yourself” edible border on our High Street, once the decorating is under control I will have to pop in to the community shop and ask.