Florists, Flowers, and (My) Mom
A dintinguished florist, Cathy of Avante Gardens in Anaheim California, has asked me to write something about “Florists, Flowers, and Moms.” She asks “What are your three favorite Mother’s Day flowers and how did/does your Mom inspire you in the flower business?”
I have been struggling a bit to answer these question, because, to tell you the truth, my mother and I have not been on talking terms for a long time.
Yes, I do have a story of flowers and my mother. She used to like to plant Tulips in the tiny garden of a small house which we were sharing with another single-mother family. One afternoon in a sunny Spring day, finally a big bloom of Tulip came out. I was in the garden, looking at the marvelous bloom. Then I recognized my mother looking at me through the window.
As far as I can recall, I don’t remember her ever smiling. Naturally, as a small child, I was very eager to please my mother. All I wanted was to let her see the Tulip bloom.
I grabbed the neck of the Tulip and tilted it toward her, so that she would be able to see the beautiful bloom from top. But the next thing I knew was that the Tulip’s neck snapped and broke; my mother frowned at me and walked away from the window. I remember trying to “straighten” the broken neck in vain. This happened more than 40 years ago, but I still remember the day vividly.
Whenever the Mother’s Day comes, it is that broken Tulip in my hand that I remember, and our tiny garden, the bright sun, the sound of wind, my dirty hands, and all…
I recognize that Mother’s Day evokes different feelings to different people, just like it reminds me of one more sad afternoon in my boyhood. For many people, it may be a memorial day of their loving mothers. And for some mothers, it may be a day of remembrance of their children whom they can no longer see and touch.
Mother’s Day is one of the biggest commercial holidays in the US and we florists profit from it. And as a business owner, of course I intend to profit from it.
At the same time, I would like to be mindful of many real people, for whom Mother’s Day is not, and should not be, a day of commercial extravaganza. As a florist trying to deliver emotions, I am still trying to find out what we should be doing on Mother’s Day, not just making money, which is important for a business but not the only thing that’s important.

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