Bouquets prove a perfect pick-me-up
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The award-winning florist took part in Lonely Bouquet Day, which involves bunches of flowers being left at a random location, which are available for anyone to take home. With the help of friend Kerry Smith, she placed eight bouquets throughout Caithness.
She went ahead with the initiative to bring some joy back to the county after a recent run of business failures.
She meant it to be a nice surprise for people to find – but in some cases it meant the world to them.
Vikki Gordon (41), from Mid Clyth, was in tears on finding a bouquet at Lybster on her way back from attending a memorial service for a friend.
Linda Paterson died in April from cancer and her ashes were scattered in the village’s harbour. After the service, Mrs Gordon went to a cafe and she spotted the bouquet on a bench. She said that on the day when she said goodbye to her friend, the flowers made her smile.
“I met my family for a cup of coffee at the cafe and I saw them sitting on the bench,” she said.
“The first thing I wondered was why nobody picked up the flowers as they were so beautiful and the cafe was busy.
“When I read the card and it said ‘adopt me’, it made the day a whole lot easier for me. After being in tears, it brought a smile to my face.”
Mount Pleasant Primary School head teacher Suzanne Urquhart (36), from Thurso, was also feeling down after she said goodbye to her primary seven pupils who had moved on to secondary school.
While walking her dog at Thurso Esplanade, she spotted a bouquet that had tipped over at a bench near the Pavilion Restaurant.
When she went over to pick it up, she read the card and took it home to give to her mother Rosie Adams who was so overwhelmed she burst into tears.
“My primary seven pupils have only just left and I was feeling low about it,” she said.
“I read about the project in the Courier the previous week and I thought it would be cool if I found one, so when I saw the bouquet it cheered me up.
“I decided to give the bouquet to my mum, who was crying when I handed them over as she thought the whole idea was so nice.”
Mhorven Polson (28), from Wick, was also walking her dog when she found a bouquet at Reiss beach.
She was worried Buddy’s curiosity might have got the better of him and could have ruined the bouquet.
But picking it up in the nick of time, she was thrilled to have found them and said that they’ve taken pride of place in her home.
“I was delighted that I could take them home because they were so lovely.
“It was great idea by Amanda and when I read the other stories on her Facebook site, it showed how much it meant to others.”
All eight bouquets were found, including one found by Devon tourists Pam and John Poole at Dunnet Head.
“Pulling in the car park, I noticed a flower arrangement under the far north marker,” said Mrs Poole
“I thought it was a marker for a deceased relative, but when I read the label I remembered reading about the project in the paper.
“It made our day and we donated the flowers to an old lady, who was over the moon.”
Miss Coghill (29), of Amanda’s Creative Florist, said she was very emotional when she heard the stories of those who found her flowers and plans to make it an annual event.
“I have heard back from all eight finders and it has exceeded my expectations,” she said. “To hear how it made their day really was what the project was all about. Some of the stories brought a tear to my eye.
“There has been a lot of positive reaction from the public who found the flowers. I will be doing it again next year.”
