Patricia,
I appreciate the gift of your “throw-away flowers”. I was wondering if we could schedule a time to do it again. They brought big smiles to our residents and made their world a little brighter. It is a shame to waste the beautiful bouquets if they can brighten someone’s day with a colorful surprise. Each recipient had the thrill of feeling special for the day. Our Chaplain was wondering if she could maybe talk to you about getting flowers for the patients she visits. Any help you could provide her would be great. You are welcome to stop here at any time with the flowers. You do not need permission to visit. You are not bringing just a bunch of flowers. You are bringing a bunch of messages that somebody cares. Thank you!
Louise
Patricia,
You know those flowers you gave me two weeks ago – the last time you were here. I trimmed the stems, put them in a vase that I had in my closet and put in that stuff that you gave me in the envelope – you know the powder that makes the flowers live longer. They were in my room for two weeks. I just threw them away yesterday.
Louise,
I will bring you more next week.
Patricia,
That will make me feel like a princess!
He was giving the flowers to his “Honey-Bun.”
It was “raining cats and dogs” and I was just about to turn the corner to go into the Philadelphia nursing home parking lot. I saw an age 50’ish man lugging heavy trash bags to his truck. Maybe he was a home remodeler or paperhanger. Looked like a lot of hard labor to be doing on Labor Day. I let him pass in front of my car and he waved a “Thank you” wave. I rolled down my window and said, “I have something for you.” He looked puzzled at what I said and pretty worn out from carrying the loads. He had a “doo-rag” head wrap tied on his head. We used to call them scarves.
“I am taking some flowers to the nursing home right over there and I have an extra bouquet. Do you have a lady you would like to give them to?” I wish I had a camera to capture his happy expression when he held the bright yellow fresh daisies and roses. “But why are you giving them to me? I am going to give them to my wife. She’s my Honey-Bun.”
And then the big-time looking NFL football player type got into his truck……and mumbled something like, “Man, I just don’t understand.” And he waved like a man who had no burdens……like a man going home to surprise his wife on a rainy holiday. Giving them to Honey-Bun. Ask me how I feel about being The Flower Lady? I really, really love it!
My niece collected 50 vases from her neighbors for the Flower Project!
Hi Maureen,
Wow, that was such a big project for you to undertake and I thank you so much. You gave me such a wonderful assortment of vases. I know the ladies will love selecting the vase of their choice along with the bouquet of their choice. Please thank you your neighbors, your mother and friend for collecting 50 vases for the nursing home residents! I am excited about taking them with me tomorrow.
Aunt Trisha
Story about Flower Project on WHYY radio today – Philadelphia
Please click the link below to read a story by Maiken Scott, the Behavioral Health reporter for WHYY radio. She accompanied me on a visit to deliver 45 bouquets of fresh flowers donated by Trader Joe’s to a senior living community in Germantown, PA. There are ten photos with the story.
45 Bouquets donated today to place in Germantown!
“The flowers were beautiful and the thought was priceless. We can’t thank you enough. You made every resident’s day and some employees. Thank you for your generosity. The residents LOVE you!” Carly
And I love them too!
I don’t want my husband to know. He has enough on his mind.
Today: The lady wrapped a knitted woolen blanket around her husband, even covering his head. He was in a wheelchair sitting outside the nursing home. Then she laid down on the wooden bench next to him.
As I walked passed them, I remarked, “Oh, he can’t have any sun either. I can’t be out for even a minute myself.” She started to sit up and said, “No, he has the shivers.” (The shivers, I thought, it must be about 90 degrees right now.) “My name is Marjorie and this is my husband Fred. I am pure-bred Italian from South Philly and he is Polish. My son lost his job out of the blue. I don’t want my husband to know. He has enough on his mind.”
I gave her a Team of Angels for the Overwhelmed. (I was out of flowers!) She asked me to read her the words because she did not have glasses. She kissed the angel pin and made the sign of the cross. And cried. Cried for her son and her husband.
I had a lump in my throat all day – just picturing the 85-year-old lady laying there, close to her husband but feeling so alone.
Beth wanted to put flowers in the chapel today at the nursing home.
Today in Montgomery County – delivering flowers donated by Trader Joe’s
Two nuns who are residents of a Catholic retirement home for religious were sitting on a bench outside. “You car is beautiful! What kind is it? And those flowers are beautiful too!” I handed both of them beautiful gladiolas and they couldn’t believe what was happening. “Oh, I love flowers so much. Oh thank you to God for bringing me this nice surprise. Can we pray for you?” Before I knew it, I felt two sets of hands on “my too stiffly hair-sprayed head” and they were praising God and asking Him to shower blessings on me and my family.
“Be careful driving home.” “What are you praying for?” I asked them. Sister Anne said, “There is a sign that marks the entrance to come into this place and it is all covered with weeds so people cannot see the entrance.” Sister Jane added, “We are trying to get someone to clean it up but it is too thick for us to do it.”
And then I took the rest of the flowers inside, gave one to the receptionist, one to the nun who was the “greeter” – just like at Walmart and …..Beth took the rest of the beautiful flowers to place in the chapel and also to the pastoral care counselor.
Going to Room 309 at Phila nursing home
Today one of the people told me about her friend who used to attend this church – a lady who is suffering with MS. She is in Room 309 at a nursing home along the boulevard. Looks like my arrow is pointing in that direction for tomorrow’s flowers from Trader Joe’s daily donation. And for 24 other residents who live in the same facility!
Today at my presentation…..
Thank you to all of my friends at Circle of Miracles for your encouragement today. I love being the Flower Lady and appreciate all that you said and did for me this morning.
I would love you to bring flowers to my dad!
I know two people from the Motown dance. Matt and Susan. Susan is the teacher and I am just a pitiful beginner in her occasional Thursday night class. Both have parents in a Philadelphia nursing home. I mentioned the Trader Joe’s donation of beautiful flowers to Susan and she just sent me this email.
Hi Trisha,
I WOULD love for you to bring flowers to my dad. He is in Room 168 and his name is Sam. He is in skilled nursing. I can get info from Matt on Tuesday about his mother’s room. I AM SURE THAT HE WOULD BE INTERESTED TOO.
My mother and I on our way to deliver BINGO flowers!
Hi Patricia,
We have 2 Bingo events going on today (Fri, Aug 2) at that time. Depending on how many flowers you receive, you can stop by one or both events:
1) Personal Care resident bingo (2nd floor activity room): approx 20 residents to present with flowers
2) Independent (and some PC) – 1st floor, approx 40 residents
When/if you arrive, tell our receptionist to track me down. I will actually be the PC bingo caller today.
I received this email from the activity director, about 3 pm…..after our Flower Visit to the Bingo crowd!
Thanks so much Patricia, for thinking of us, and for taking the time to pickup flowers and deliver them to our residents. You truly put a smile on all of their faces!
Only one resident could speak – the others nodded and smiled.
There is a Group Home for people with developmental issues or possibly severe brain injuries, perhaps from an accident or from birth. I really do not know anything more about this community home or the residents’ medical diagnosis. I passed it a couple of times and something told me that I “had” to go there with the flowers and my new “companion…sweet little Inga” who likes to accompany me on these flower capers.
There were 8 people laying flat or in special wheelchairs with aides feeding them food that was the consistency of applesauce….lovingly feeding them. The youngest girl appeared to be young, maybe in her late teens, and she was the only one that seemed to be able to speak. The oldest was probably 50. The residents spoke with their eyes, nodded and smiled.
The place was very clean and the temperature cool on a very hot day.
There is nothing more to say. I have no words. “There but for the grace of God go I.”
I gave the flowers to each person – resident and staff. Yes, the staff working there was very special. I saw a lady sitting outside. Her name was Barbara. “How long have you worked here?” She answered. “23 years.”
God placed her there for 23 years – what a blessing to have her there. In that place, special angels work with the special angels living there.
I am speaking about Flower Project at my church on Sunday
Sunday Celebration
08/04/2013 – Topic: Follow Your Arrow Wherever It May Point!
Speaker/Spark: Patricia Gallagher
Some people like flowers. But not Trisha. When Patricia Gallagher’s husband wanted to steal her heart, he sent her yellow roses. She told him, “Honey, I think flowers are a waste of money.” Ten weeks ago, she followed her arrow, the one that pointed to delivering 2,689 bouquets of fresh flowers to nursing home residents. It must have been a Team of Angels intervention that told her to ask Trader Joe’s for their day-old orchids, roses, daisies and other flowering blooms.
Every morning, she says to rooms filled with the elderly, “Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you.”
The gift of The Flower Project is what it has taught her about Love, Life and Faith. In this funny and upbeat program, she will share the magical and happy feeling she gets being The Flower Lady…..and how much she now loves and appreciates yellow roses! She wishes she could find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow but until that happens this past Middle–aged Mom is going to Follow Her Arrow Wherever It May Point!
Patricia C. Gallagher, BA, MBA http://www.patriciausa.com 267 939 0365 Author, Speaker, Consultant Appeared as guest on Oprah, the CBS Early Show, CNN, Maury, The 700 Club, Sally Jessy Raphael, CNBC
Flowers to a man in Hospice
Yesterday, my “new 82-year-old friend” who fled to the USA during The Third Reich in Germany called and asked if she could go with me to do a Mitzvah. (A good deed) I picked her up and we visited a place in Norristown. The activity director said, “Elmer needs flowers. He was just put in hospice.” He looked speechless.
Then on to Mike’s room. “He is a real ladies’ man.” “Hi Mike, how are you doing?” “I am just grand today, How about you?” I asked him if he wanted to pass some flowers out to some ladies. He smiled the biggest and most charming smile as if he had been giving flowers to ladies all of his life. And I am sure there were lots of ladies in his life that gave him flowers and gifts that said I miss you, I love you, Let’s get back together. Yep, he had that JFK and Sidney Poitier charisma and good looks too. I would have fallen for his lines back in the day too!
From a senior living facility in Montgomery County
Hi Trish,
Our residents would love flowers!Give me a call and we can talk about a date/time that would work for everyone!Thanks for including our community in this wonderful program! Robyn
“Maybe that is why the good Lord has not taken me Home yet.”
Every day Trader Joe’s donates dozens of beautiful bouquets of flowers for me to take to senior living communities. The link below tells of the origin of The Flower Project.
https://storiesforseniors.wordpress.com/the-flower-project-2/
This is what happened today when we delivered flowers:
I gave a talk at a senior living community, “Pilgrims of Peace – The Lessons Learned from the Lives of Nelson Mandela, MLK, Gandhi and Mother Teresa.” It was a big group, about 45 people. Luckily, I had 45 bouquets of flowers to pass out. Every morning Trader Joe’s donates them to me so they can bring smiles to seniors living in care communities.
Many of the residents responded to my questions with knowledge and great interest. And there were a few that were not responding. Perhaps they had hearing or vision problems or maybe dementia.
There was one lady who came up to me and said, “I am a Peace Keeper. I live my life by the Dostoevsky quote ‘Beauty will save the world.’ I look for the beauty in every person and every situation. I see the beauty in my body and on the wrinkled faces of everybody here. I see the beauty in my artwork and in the accomplishments and just the wonderful beings that my children are. And in all of nature.”
We talked for 15 minutes about that concept which I had never heard. Dostoevsky wrote Crime and Punishment and The Idiot. The quote was from the latter book. I said to her. “You have changed my life by telling me all of this. I am going to do this every day for the rest of my life. I am so glad that you told me all of this, Hattie. “ She beamed. “Maybe that is why the good Lord has not taken me Home yet. I was supposed to meet you so that when I am gone, you can be a Peace Keeper.”
“Age is only a number. Pick one.” Wisdom from a senior
This morning, an older man and his senior living community girlfriend were sitting on a small loveseat together in the parlor. She is partially blind and they both get around on motorized scooters. They met a year ago and were sitting like comfortable young lovers. Her hand was clasped in his, and their hands were squeezed tightly together. He called to me. “Hey, remember me?” I said, “No, what is your name?”
“My name is Chuckie. You are the lady that brings in all of the presents for us. I have your stuffed animal, an angel pin and then you brought us those beautiful bouquets of flowers.” I sat down next to them and we were talking about age. She is one year older than him. His wisdom to me: “Age is only a number. Just pick one.” They both smiled at me and said, “Thank you.” I said thank you to them for just being so nice!
So thank you to all of the people who give me the presents to take to the appreciative seniors.
Special request for orchids
Every day Trader Joe’s donates dozens of beautiful bouquets of flowers for me to take to senior living communities. The link below tells of the origin of The Flower Project.
https://storiesforseniors.wordpress.com/the-flower-project-2/
This is what happened today when we delivered flowers:
A social worker asked, “Do you have any orchids?” One of the staff accidentally threw away a resident’s vase of orchids and the resident is very upset. They didn’t look too lively to the aide but to the resident, they still were “fresh.”
Back to bring the flowers – I was a little short yesterday
I carried two bags of flowers in with me. I started passing them out.
Oh no, I am six short. I saw there was another table of ladies waiting expectantly for their bouquets. I just stood there and made an announcement as if I worked there. ” I am so sorry that I do not have enough for everybody but I will be back tomorrow, I promise.” The silent room broke into a spontaneous applause….clapping hands saying Thank you. So, that is where I am heading right now.
A man with a walker stopped me on the way out. “Miss, can you bring some over for the men too?” Another lady said, “That is just the first ‘setting’ for lunch. That is what they call it, a ‘setting’ – there is another group coming down for their meal at noon. Maybe you could bring some extra for them.”
You bet I will. It would be my pleasure.