Nothing since the World Wars of the last century crushed more special days for more people of every age, than the covid virus concocted from Mother Nature. We forget not to interfere with her as she is the Queen and we are her patrons.
Anniversary dinners were canceled, birthday parties postponed, children’s concerts & recitals lost, and sympathy respects furloughed. However, I believe that Mother Nature always seems to have a lesson because after all, we are part of Nature and must not forget that.
I saw this required, de-socializing as actually a gift; offering us a forced, peace and responsibility-free time. A quiet & reflective time we all have not had since childhood, free of must-do’s and go’s. Instead, it gave us a chance to think or “take stock” as old timers would say. To take a longer walk with our dog and enjoy it, working on that garage, hobby project that has been hovering for years, learning a new “I always wanted to know how” art or craft, reading that cherished dusty book you found at auction, or spending that time you regretfully never have with your family. It was endless what we found to do that we would not have attempted before because… of the virus from Mother Nature . Is she wiser than we know? Did she know we were interferring? Did she see we had become too over the top, too loud, too fast, too self absorbed, and…. too apathetic? I think she did.
It was and still is a very stressful and lonely time for some; especially those home alone or under the weather. These people were not canceled and postponed-just the everyday avenues were.
Her Other Gift
During this time as owner of my building I elected to trim staff and stay open. I knew that there was still a way to recognize them which is also a gift from Mother Nature. Flowers. They can bring joy, freshness, sentiments, thought, and recognition to all these postponed people and it did. A beautiful bouquet to someone in an otherwise closed up home was huge and still is. Flowers still send your message when you cannot and always have. That canceled birthday party and lonely grandmother or best friend knew when they received my flowers that they were still special and not just ‘postponed’. Still today there are flus & colds floating around and we learned that any occasion can still be remembered without your contact by sending a bouquet or a planted garden. Don’t avoid recognition of the day or person just because you cannot visit.
As per current findings; viruses & colds do not attach itself to fresh products such as food, flowers, and plants which make them the near perfect item to bring home or send without consequence. As the ‘alternative eco-florist’, I only offer local & US grown products and watch availability and airline schedules daily as we still have issues. Imported flower crops from around the world have somewhat recovered but the market hasn’t so much-which means, older product in the mainstream markets. Now is the time to buy American everything. US grown flowers and herbs are cut and in my store within 3 days to provide a long lasting gift while being some of the most beautiful grown.
My Gifts
I understand the fears as I myself am very much like the annoying, series character Monk. Wipes, wipes, and more wipes. So I am continuing the procedures. One is ongoing non-contact deliveries. This means I give a courtesy call to the recipient of a gift coming and the driver will place it at their door to wait for them to answer and retrieve it if they so wish. No contact. The second is for those who order on-line or call-in wishing to pick-up gifts. Curb side pick-up is always available during open hours with a call back or text when their orders are ready.
As an eco-florist and with an environmental education background; I am aware of the homeopathic properties of many plant & flowers. With that, the complimentary packets of dried lavender I started during the covid with each order are now a forever :). I also have a complete inventory of sage, cedar, eucalyptus, bay, rosemary, and more for boiling and burning beacuses viruses do not like smoke. For centuries these plants & trees has been known by Native peoples to be a natural air purifier when burned. Boiling in water on the stove will help clear the air even further while bring a calming and mindful, aromatherapy to the home. Studies have shown that using any of these for just an hour reduced airborne bacteria by 94%. A single room stayed almost entirely bacteria-free for 24 hrs. with some bacteria not detected for up to 30 days.
Mother Nature has a remedy for every one of her nature-borne illnesses and we need to remember that. I hope if anything, this virus has taught us to reconnect with nature if even a little; as that is after all, how this situation started. We forgot from where we came, lost respect for it, and how we much we really need Nature-as it does not need us at all.
Bundles, bunches, and bags of natures gifts to cleanse our indoor air and bring the outdoors in. 
