News Release: 10/10/2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

Rochester, NH — Studley Flower Gardens, along with Rochester Police Department’s Community Relations Officer Danie and Todd Radict from Skeletones Records and Rochester Rise Up, will be hitting the streets of Rochester on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, handing out bouquets of flowers to brighten people’s day, as part of the ‘Petal it Forward’ program, in partnership with the Society of American Florists (SAF), of which Studley Flower Gardens is a member. Studley Flower Gardens is joining hundreds of florists across the country in Petal It Forward. This random-acts-of-kindness effort is in response to the release of data by SAF showing the positive emotional benefits of flowers.

University research reveals that flowers have an immediate impact on happiness and a long-term positive effect on moods. Now, a survey has found that, when it comes to flowers, it’s just as good to give as it is to receive. With this data in mind, the Petal It Forward team is not only spreading happiness to lucky Rochester residents who receive the flowers, but arming these recipients with the tools they need to Petal it Forward and spread happiness to others: An extra flower bouquet to share with a loved one, coworker or even a stranger.

“We see the positive impact day in and day out when we make our flower deliveries,” said Molly Meulenbroek of Studley Flower Gardens. “People love to get flowers ‘just because’ so we wanted to get together to share some local love and promote positivity in Rochester. We’re out to create random smiles, and give people a chance to do the same for someone else.”

A survey by SAF illustrates the impact of flowers. The results reveal the many benefits of flowers, including their positive effects on one’s emotions and happiness, and back up previous research studies on flowers conducted by Rutgers, Harvard and Texas A&M. (See www.aboutflowers.com/research more information on the university studies.)

The following are highlights from SAF’s survey results:
•  When it comes to happiness, it’s just as good to give flowers as it is to receive: 88 percent of Americans report that giving flowers makes them feel happy, while 80 percent reported that receiving flowers makes them feel happy.
•  Just being around flowers improves your mood: 76 percent of Americans agree that having flowers in their home or office improves their mood.
•  The best reason to receive flowers is “just because”: Women (92 percent) are more likely to agree with this, but the majority of men (three in four) also share this sentiment.
•  Florists to the rescue! Nearly four in 10 Americans indicate florists have helped them in a past or current relationship; most frequently to say “I love you,” or schedule a surprise delivery.

“The impact of giving or receiving flowers is powerful and memorable,” said Meulenbroek. “It can turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary one.”

Studley Flower Gardens and the Petal It Forward Team will give away hundreds of bouquets to people on the street. After receiving their flowers, recipients are asked to spread the happiness by gifting their extra flower bouquet to share the local love and post their happiness on social media using #petalitforward and #rochesternh.

For more information on the benefits of flowers, visit www.aboutflowers.com and www.aboutflowersblog.com.

###

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information on the Petal It Forward effort, please contact Jenny Scala at the Society of American Florists at jscala@safnow.org.
 
About Studley Flower Gardens
Studley Flower Gardens is a garden center, florist and landscape company that has been delighting customers from its 82 Wakefield Street location in downtown Rochester, NH since 1928. For more information, visit studleys.com.
 
About the Society of American Florists
The Society of American Florists is the national trade association to the floral industry, representing growers, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, importers, educators, designers and allied organizations.