Flowers Are Magnets

"When words escape flowers speak."

                                               -Bruce W. Currie

Our "Moments of Awe" Booth

One of the great parts of going to a trade show is the physical act of creating an entire floral environment as a booth. We bring thousands of stems to show off the amazing flowers we grow on the farm. Of course, in the floral industry most folks have seen these sort of displays at one time or another.

Flowers for the people!

However, at a trade show such The Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit, we see a huge spectrum of people from across the produce industry and associated technology companies. These people may be familiar with growing watermelons and sorting pears, but they are still in absolute awe of flowers.

Roselilies in mason jars

Even Miss Chiquita Banana came to experience our flowers!

Staying close to the booth for a few days, I was able to watch people get drawn in by the wild colors and fragrances of our flowers. We would watch people scanning the rows of booths then do a double take when they saw the huge amount of flowers. Their feet started moving in our direction before they were consciously aware of it. People started getting tunnel vision as they focused on a particular flower. For some it was our roselilies, for others; the thick blocks of tulips were like honey to a bee. Their senses directed them right to their favorite item in the display.

"World's Favorite" the perfect tulips for fall.

Then they have to explain...

"These Stargazer lilies were my Mom's favorite."

"We always grew iris when I was growing up."

"I had orange tulips in my bridal bouquet."

The sensory impact of the flowers touches people deeply. They start recalling memories and occasions. They remember weddings, they remember their grandparents, they remember happy times, as well as, sad. They remember loves lost and love found.

Ilex season is here.

Flowers speak a different language than other experiences in our lives. It is so great to watch people reconnect to their personal history through them. The flowers are magnets for emotions and memories.

This is a great reminder that growing flowers is a very important job.