MORRIS FUNERAL HOME

Since 1919 Morris Funeral Home has been supporting people with sensitivity and compassion during difficult times.  Personal care and attention to detail - at fair and affordable prices - have earned their firm its excellent reputation.

We received a donation from a family service they held and the flowers were gorgeous.  We had enough to go to two of the facilities we service, making small, colorful arrangements to hand out to all the residents.

Morris Funeral Home is well versed in the traditions of most religious and ethnic groups and is equipped to respond to a variety of requests. They are Asheville’s only member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes - the premier international association of independent, locally owned funeral establishments. Membership in SIFH is by invitation and is extended only to funeral homes that meet the highest standards of practice.

Because Morris Funeral Home have never been content with just “ordinary” funeral service, they have established a reputation highly regarded in Asheville . . . a reputation for thoughtful, dignified service under all circumstances. They are located at 304 Merrimon Avenue in Asheville.  Phone 252-1821

APRIL FLOWERS FOR SOLACE

Every time Second Bloom went to Hospice in April it was gorgeous weather for working outside on the patio.  Linda volunteered each week Second Bloom was there, right up until the time she took a vacation to Italy!

With beautiful flowers from The Fresh Market, we spread joy and comfort to all the patients, family and friends.  You could see it on their faces as we handed them the overflowing arrangements.

THE BUCKET LIST

Well, it’s a different list than the one from the movie titled ‘The Bucket List’.  My bucket list is trying to figure where I might be taking 12 buckets of flowers.  The first stop on the Flower Exchange Train was Care Partners Rehab Hospital.  There were almost 60 residents and so we stuffed those cups like crazy!  Made arrangements for the nurses stations and many of the staff as well.  I think we went through about 6 buckets of flowers.

It was a beautiful day.  Susan had driven from The Fresh Market in Hendersonville with 5 buckets and I had 7 from two days of collecting from The Fresh Market in Asheville.  It was stellar.  Lots of variety to work with.  And we even enticed a few staff members out from behind their desks to join us on the patio.  Both Laurie and Jim were happy to help out and turned out to be terrific ‘bloomers’, quickly taking to our method of putting as many flowers in a cup as we possibly could.

DOWNTOWN IN BLOOM

The Grove Arcade Flower Show was the highlight of the weekend, or at least the highlight of my weekend.

Second Bloom set up a table and talked nonstop to everyone who walked by.  Jackie, Joanne and Leslie volunteered to take some air time while I walked around and looked at all the other displays.

It was a great event for Second Bloom.  Excellent visibility and networking. I met many people who recognized Second Bloom from Care Partners, both the Solace Center and the Rehab Hospital.  Some who knew about us from Fresh Market and the Biltmore Estate.  Word is definitely spreading.

PALETTES OF PERFECTION

Palettes of Perfection is a unique wedding and event planning library, boutique and gallery that Second Bloom is very happy to be associated with.  It is a wonderful collaborative venture of many great and varied businesses: photographers, musicians, caterers, florists and event planners.  Everyone you need to make your event all you want it to be.  Palettes of Perfection connects couples with event professionals and facilitates the networking and creative process. Located in a beautiful historic building at 21 Wall Street in downtown Asheville, Palettes of Perfection is a relaxing setting in which to plan your special event.  See who the other vendors are at www.palettesofperfection.com

SECOND BLOOM’S WEB WONDER

Damaris Pierce volunteered today with Second Bloom.  It’s thanks to Damaris that we’ve got such a great website!  She did a wonderful, creative job for us.  She’s very talented.  Take a look at her website www.artoflife.com and see for yourself.

Today her talent was focused on arranging flowers - some in very small cups.  She turned out to be quite masterful at it and I’m hoping she returns soon to Second Bloom. In the photo on the left she’s just getting started, but see where she ended up!

ROSES ALL AROUND

It was Second Bloom’s second delivery of the day and the second time we’d been at Care Partners Rehab Hospital.  To see our first delivery, click here. It was raining off an on but warm enough to work outside under cover.  Sharon Pearson, the Volunteer Coordinator for the Rehab Hospital came out to help but was a bit camera shy, so I left her off the hook….  However, Damaris volunteered and as you can see, she was not camera shy.

The flowers were from Fresh Market - roses of every color you can imagine.  Mixed with a few greens we made beautiful arrangements for all the patients and even some of the staff.  It’s great to work with people that know how to arrange flowers.  I must say I’m learning quite a lot.

GIVIN’ TO GIVENS

It was Second Bloom’s first delivery of flowers to Givens Health Center.  The flowers were from The Fresh Market and they were spectacular as ever.  I arrived early with a truck loaded down with buckets of flowers.  But not wanting to overwhelm, we decided on three this time.  To the left is a great photo of Susan Goforth, Sara Everett and Micheal DeHart from Givens.  Susan is the Activity Director for Givens Health Center and has been with them for 10 years.  Sara and Michael were getting ready to get their flower activity underway as I drove off with flowers for Care Partners Rehab Hospital.  Yes, it was a double-blooming day for Second Bloom!

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS

If you like what Second Bloom is doing, consider adding your name to our list of contributors:

  • Adeha
  • Alan Kelly-Hamm & Miles Friedan
  • Andrea McCarrick
  • Brenda Barkus
  • Brenda Gundry
  • Charley & Jan Shaeffer
  • Connie Regan-Blake
  • Brenda Chunn
  • Carol Hagan
  • D. Borreson
  • Damaris Pierce
  • Dodne Allman
  • Gilla Lamby
  • Ingrid Bolick
  • Jackie Taylor
  • Jan Lotherington
  • Jan Woodcock
  • Jean Pope
  • Jeanie Marshall
  • Jean Trevithick
  • Joan Kaminski
  • Jodi Rhoden
  • Kassi Day
  • Ken Leetz
  • Kristen Hovanec
  • Lauren Hendrickson
  • Laurie Wright
  • Linda Marcous
  • Lisa Phillips
  • Lori Tapp
  • Margo Mulligan
  • Mary Scott
  • Mary Godfrey Gager
  • Mimi Kiser
  • Nan Schwappach
  • Nancy Fraser
  • Ohm Sweet Ohm
  • Pat Gregory
  • Pat Hickey
  • Pat Baker
  • Patti Garrett
  • Patrick Doran
  • Rebecca Biggers
  • Richard Normile
  • Sarah Carawan
  • Sue Pritchett & Mary Castiglione
  • Summer Garrett
  • Tere Canzoneri
  • Teresa Little
  • Terri Leonard
  • Tiffany Bussard

WEDDING SEASON IS HERE

Two Sundays in a row we’ve had flowers from weddings at the Biltmore Estate.  Today the flowers, hundreds of tulips, came from Blossoms at Biltmore Park.  It took us a little bit to find the flowers at the Biltmore Inn, but we managed to load them all into the back of the truck.

We took them over to Care Partners Rehab Hospital and then dropped the rest of them off at Deerfield Retirement Community.  Clare and Jackie were the volunteers of the day. These flowers brought out an amazing amount of smiles on the faces of everyone who saw them.  The patients at the Rehab Center loved them and the staff got to take some home as well.  Who could resist this spring display, especially the day before they’re predicting snow for us!

TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS

What a beautiful spring morning!  Clare, a new volunteer with Second Bloom, rode into the Biltmore Estate to help me pick up flowers from a wedding the night before at the Inn at Biltmore.  The flowers were from Blossoms at Biltmore Park and they were gorgeous.  Tulips galore - beautiful spring colors.  They filled up half of the truck bed and we wound are way over to Care Partners Rehabilitation Hospital. This was Second Bloom’s first visit to the Rehab Hospital. It’s a brand new building, beautiful both inside and out.  It feels spacious, welcoming and healing.

We were met with both surprise and delight by the patients and staff.  We had plenty of flowers to go around.  Jackie came by to help us and within a short time we had passed out over 50 small arrangements.  Clare and Jackie are in the photo on the left and Clare’s got the solo photo on the right.  Check out some more photos from our morning!