You Can't Rush Flowers

Last week I was working on some arrangements for Christmas, maybe I started a day too late, maybe since I grabbed the tulips straight from the cooler they were too fresh? But they simply would not open on my timeline.

The tulips had no sense of urgency and my tight deadlines were just ignored.  I encouraged my tulips verbally, with pantomime, and various encouraging gestures, but these tulips would not budge. I added warm water to the vase; they laughed it off, mocking my impatience.

Then it struck me, how wonderful that flowers can’t be rushed. Much like the husband who goes and sits in the car until his spouse is ready.  You cannot rush flowers.

Flowers never need to be restarted and they never have to update their operating system. They simply work. Their internal clock is as old as time itself and it functions with a precise perfection, which never needs to be adjusted.

Another overlooked attribute of flowers is that they never bring unnecessary drama into your life. They never discuss politics, they never get the blues (except iris!), or drink too much booze at a party…although our tulips can drink an amazing amount of water!

Flowers never get caught in a scandal or implicated a sordid affair, although I suspect they are not entirely innocent in matters of the heart. Their discretion is as legendary, as their ability to keep a secret.

Flowers have no ego.  Yet, they attract more attention than the most puffed up loud mouth; just ask the bees and butterflies.

Contrary to the delicate feelings of florists and flower farmers around the world, flowers have no need to rush.  They have a plan and if you don’t adjust your timeline to theirs… you will be disappointed.

It is amazing that we work in a business where we need to follow the lead of a bunch of flowers. Perhaps this single fact is why the floral industry in all its facets is such a fun atmosphere to be a part of… as we are all just here, waiting on flowers to bloom.

Happy New Year from your friends at Sun Valley.