Hundreds of floral businesses across the world joined together to spread happiness through flowers during the Society of American Florists’ annual Petal It Forward event Oct. 16.
The 10th annual Petal It Forward event saw record-breaking participation, with 706 floral businesses across 49 states, Washington, D.C., and internationally in Ecuador, Colombia, the United Kingdom, and India, sharing the joy of flowers on a global scale. Last year, 580 businesses participated.
“People are so inspired when they receive flowers,” Harrison “Red” Kennicott of Kennicott Brothers said during an television appearance this week on Chicago’s WGNTV segment which featured the event. “It’s one of our favorite events of the year. My Gen Z granddaughters would say that ‘It’s lit.’”
The initiative encourages florists to give passersby two free bouquets or flowers, one to keep and one to give to someone else.
“Flowers not only make people happy, but they reduce stress and put people in a lot better frame of mind,” Kennicott said in the segment. He was referencing a 2000 study by Rutgers University, commissioned by SAF, which found that fresh flowers improve happiness and life satisfaction — the same message at the heart of Petal It Forward.
Midwest Buds
Roseman’s Florists in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania loaded up a van to deliver some “bundles of joy” Wednesday morning.
“Basically we’re going to go around and bless a person with a bouquet and we’re going to give them a second bouquet to bless someone for the day,” he said in a Facebook video.
Michigan’s Fleurish on Mackinac posted themselves at a coffee shop first thing in the morning to pass out bouquets to customers. Nearby on Mackinac Island, St. Ignace in Bloom was sharing “A flower to keep and a flower to give away,” with their customers.
“Today is about spreading kindness through flowers,” said the folks at Hiawathia Floral Design in Indianapolis, who passed out flowers at a domestic violence shelter.
Southern Bouquets
Leona Sue’s Florist, a Scott, Louisiana-based florist since 1974, was up bright and early delivering blooms.
“If you see one of our Leona Sue’s Florist vehicles in a parking lot, we’ll be petaling it forward!” they wrote in an early morning Facebook post. “Grab a couple roses, one for you and one to make someone else smile!”
Country Flowers and Gifts in Emory, Texas also got in on the action, kicking things off at an elementary school. They handed out bouquets to students and their parents as they arrived for class.
Flowers on Broad Street in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina got a helping hand from the local police department for their event. The officers posed for a photo outside their shop.
Pugh’s Flowers in Memphis, Tennessee had their skunk mascot handing out blooms at a local coffee shop. One recipient posted her bouquet on Instagram with the caption, “Coffee and free flowers. It’s the simple things.”
A woman in Texas received a bouquet from The Flour Shop florist in Kenedy Texas and posted a photo of herself with the flowers. “Such a sweet idea and reminder to give to others,” she wrote in the caption. “My #petalitforward went to a lady that encourages me daily and makes sure everyone else is always taken care of. I was able to show her a little appreciation for all that she does.”
Coastal Blooms
Petal Productions, a Miami-based event florist, teamed up with Jet Fresh Flower Distributors — and its flower mascot — to hand out flowers at the local government center.
“Hopefully that small act of kindness inspires everyone to do something a little bit extra today and pay something forward as well,” Petal Productions’ Carlos Muina said in an Instagram story.
Joyce Merck Florists in Gainesville, Georgia stationed themselves on a city square and later outside a Chick-fil-A to pass out bouquets. “It’s been so fun passing out flowers, and it has put a smile on everyone’s face,” the florist said in an Instagram story.
Western Wildflowers
All A’Bloom Flowers & Gifts in Lee’s Summit, Missouri handed out dozens of bouquets while dressed in pink shirts for the occasion. They planned to hand out 400 bouquets. “THAT’S A LOT OF SMILES!!” they wrote in an Instagram Reel.
Candlelight Floral and Gifts in Wayzata, Minnesota kicked their day off at Starbucks. “First stop, we thank the rockstar baristas” they wrote in an Instagram story.
Did your Petal It Forward giveaway make the news? Let us know! Email Amanda Jedlinsky.
Kristine Gill is a contributing writer for the Society of American Florists.
