Photo by NOLAN GRAHAM

Cheryl Smith — owner of Wheelhouse RV, Floral, Gifts & More — handing out flowers in downtown Burns during last year’s Petal It Forward event.

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, Cheryl Smith — owner of Wheelhouse RV, Floral, Gifts & More — will hand out hundreds of flowers to Burns’ busy commuters.

Smith is joining thousands of floral-industry members in all 50 states in a random-acts-of-kindness effort called Petal It Forward.

The Society of American Florists (SAF) started this effort following the release of data 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 mood. An SAF survey also found that, when it comes to flowers, it’s just as good to give as it is to receive.

With this data in mind, Wheelhouse Floral will hand out two flowers to each recipient — one to keep and one to “petal forward” to a loved one, coworker, or even a stranger.

“We see the positive impact day in and day out when we make our flower deliveries,” Smith said. “People love to get flowers ‘just because,’ so we want to create random smiles and give people a chance to do the same for someone else.”

SAF survey 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 for more information on the university studies.)

Here are some 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,” Smith said. “It can turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary one.”

Smith and the Petal It Forward Team will give away hundreds of flower stems to people on the street. After receiving their flowers, recipients are asked to spread the happiness by gifting their extra flower stem and sharing their happiness on social media using #petalitforward.

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

Wheelhouse RV, Floral, Gifts & More has been flowering Harney County for the past four years and hopes to continue serving the community with smiles.

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.