Buying flowers, for me

 A few years ago, my grandfather sadly passed away suddenly from prostate cancer. The loss of grandpa, a giant in our family, and someone whom I cared deeply for, was profound. As we all move through grieving process, it’s been challenging to watch my parents transition my grandmother from her home into a new place in an aged care community. Her new home, the gardens and surrounds are lovely and it’s particularly nice each resident has the ability to bring their own flair to the garden.

I can’t begin to fathom the lonlieness and heartache that comes with losing your partner and companion and understandably the negativity and sadness that can engulf one from time to time. I’m reminded of a conversation with my other grandma, who’s partner passed away several years ago. She’s fiercely independent and always maintained the importance of having (and keeping up) one’s hobbies. She’s a die-hard bridge player, gardener, baker and cook - but more on that another time.

I made Granny an arrangement for her birthday and was heartened to receive a text telling me about her friend who ran a garden centre. Perhaps this little piece of knowledge would have come up in another conversation, but the more flowers I give and the more I talk about flowers and being in nature with people, the more stories like this find their way to inbox, phone or in conversation. I cherish them all.

A few months later though, that I received another text. My mother dropped in a simple, small bouquet of sweet peas to her that I bought from the market that morning. I was inspired by how they looked in her living room, against the sage lounge, and happy that she’d liked them enough to send a photo.

Then came Daffodil Day. I received an unexpected message. She’d bought herself a bunch of daffodils and sent me a message with a photo of her arrangement, exclaiming ‘look so nice here’. I could feel the pride in the message. Flowers seem to bring out the best in people and this small act of self love and compassion gave me hope.

What are some of the opportunities (or examples of things you’ve seen) where nature helps people in older age?