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It wasn't easy to decide, but I did it. Thanks to my colleagues and the best team of entrepreneurs around me, this is going to happen. A workshop where all the tips, nitty gritty of the industry and forbidden things with flowers will be revealed. A different view on flowers...and all my passion and knowledge will be shared. Save a spot, plana LNO or take mom out. Everybody is invited, although limited spaces are available.  When it already feels like winter in Montreal, New York has still a fall vibe. There are still some some green and yellow leaves everywhere lightened by the warm sun. This weekend all I felt was an energetic and alive crowd, always in a hurry and surprisingly nice and crazy people. Chestnuts vendors in the street, Salvation Army volunteers already dancing Christmas songs like is the end of the world, tourists taking all the same picture in Times square and all the languages spoken at the same time. Fashion was this time all about gold, fur and beards. Almost every store is ready for christmas, deals are coming. The ones that we connected the most were Jeff Leatham installations for Bloomingdales in Manhattan. Each window had a different theme, sparkling sense and coloured theme, and belive it or not a different SMELL! You could actually feel different in front on each one of the the bear and red roses smelled like peppermint, the reindeer like roses and musk, others like pine and more christmassy ambiance. Designers like him do more than floral arrangements. It goes beyond flowers, and is more about the experience and an art installation. These ones in particular were about all the Senses. A great inspiration for me, and one of the best memories of my trip to this evolving and high end cities of the world.  As soon as the kids came back from recess, they noticed the nice smell of fresh flowers in the classroom. Surprise, smiles, lots of ooohhhss and aaahhsss and immediate magnetic attraction to the flowers. They learned where flowers come from, how a greenhouse looks and how flowers are packed to survive the trip. Hard to keep them quiet but the 30min class was fun and a bit chaotic when they were able to choose the flowers and build their own bouquets! "Madame, est que dois vraiment donner mes fleurs a qu'un"? "Est-ce je peut avoir seulement de Roses?" A very Canadian question: "Madame, est-ce que les fleurs viennent de Egypte / Turquie / Iran /, etc " - Of course, each child wanted to know if flowers were grown in their country of origin! and what a surprise when they learned flowers like Gerberas and Alstroemerias are grown in Ontario and Salal in BC! It was joy to talk to them, hear their questions and actually teach them a bit about this hectic and crazy industry of cut flowers. It totally made my day. Very grateful for amazing teachers open to give their students new opportunities to learn. Merci Mme Julie et Mme Annie! 
A delivery day: rush, rush. early morning. deliveries! I push the buzzer and the intercom continues to ring for a couple of minutes.When the woman finally answers she is very confused and surprised about receiving a gift. "Are you sure it's for me?" I then wait patiently at the retirement home entrance for the woman to come get her flowers. Check the time. Check driving route. Text hubby. Check email...Finally someone lets me in. A very sweet woman asks in a shy tone if I am the one looking for Mme Anna*. When I introduce myself and explain that the flowers are for her, her face just lights up. With a trembling,and excited voice that breaks with emotion, the 85 year old woman says “I have never received flowers before!" My heart melts, my eyes water, and I honestly feel like I just want to hug her … I am speechless. Some things we just take for for granted. "What do you mean? Every woman has gotten flowers!" Well, not every woman. Anna turns out to be a retired teacher and nun with no children of her own. The person who sent her flowers is the mother of 2 children who are now in their 30’s, who remembered her dearly and decided to give her a bouquet of flowers in gratitude for her kindness and life lessons she had taught her kids. What a nice and sweet gesture! You don't need a special occasion to give flowers. You just need someone special. Who will you give flowers to this month? Share with us your story! |
