'Bridal bouquet turned retirement home decor': Virginia friends find ways to repurpose special event flowers

'Bridal bouquet turned retirement home decor': Virginia friends find ways to repurpose special event flowers 
WFMZ-TV 69 News, Allentown, PA; by Karin Mallet; 7/10/24 
Flowers are just as nice the second time around ... where people are making sure your beautiful blooms don't end up in the trash once your event is over. It just takes a little bit of creativity. Laura Ruth and Rebecca Shelly ... were both navigating motherhood, COVID lockdowns and the loss of their fathers. Creating green spaces gave them both some much needed solace. They realized if flowers had that kind of power for them, they would likely have that kind of power for others so they created "Friendly City Florals." With their team of volunteers, they repurpose flowers from weddings, birthday parties, special events. ...  They spruce them up a bit and then bring them to schools, retirement and nursing homes, hospice and social service centers. It's a great second life for these flowers. The green bridal guide estimates the average wedding produces a staggering 400 pounds of trash.
Editor's Note: An adaptation of this--used by several hospices--is to partner with a local florist for them to donate leftover/not-used flowers to the hospice for their inpatient units. A volunteer picks them up and arranges them for hospice rooms. Upon the death, family members are encouraged to take the flowers home with them.