I’ve bought flowers regularly from Fresh Market for years.  I’ve done that because they are incredibly fresh, last a long time and there is always an amazing variety to choose from.  Now I know how they do it - they are constantly making sure their flowers are as fresh as if you just picked them from your garden.  If there is one or two sad looking flowers in a bunch, Louise who heads up the floral department doesn’t keep them. The good news is all those bunches now go to Second Bloom.

That means that they are spread around all over the Asheville area nursing homes, Hospice and long term care facilities.  Today we took 5 buckets of colorful roses, baby’s breath, spider mums and more to Magnolia Health Care Center.  They’re still working on their activity room but we managed to squeeze into one end of the room and with help from residents and staff coming in and out, we made enough bouquets to go in everyone’s room.  We heard comments such as:  ‘I really like flowers’ and ‘I was just thinking about you and the flowers and wondering when you might come again’ and ‘Flowers make me happy’…….you get the idea.  Why don’t you come volunteer with us one day soon and hear first hand what a difference the simple gift of flowers makes?