Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

Flowers for absent daughter

(73 Posts)
ExDancer Wed 20-Jul-22 20:21:02

My daughter is having a terrible time fighting bowel cancer, and she lives 250 miles away. I am beside myself with worry.
She is adamant she doesn't want me to go to nurse her, we do have a somewhat prickly relationship, and her husband seems to be doing a sterling job there anyway.
I also have multiple medical problems of my own too which mean a complicated rota of appointments. (But that's another discussion.)
In the meantime, I'd like to send some flowers.
Can anyone recommend a firm specialising in this?
Is it best to go for a large well known nationwide firm, like M&S, or get in touch with a local flower shop in her village and get them to deliver direct?
What would you do?

VioletSky Wed 20-Jul-22 20:26:55

Instead of flowers, I'd send a meal of some sort. Order some favourite comfortable takeaway food... obviously you would have to ask what and when

lixy Wed 20-Jul-22 20:27:10

Have always been pleased with flowers from Bloom and Wild. They do a 'letterbox' selection so can be delivered even if recipient isn't in. It can be a true surprise that way.

www.bloomandwild.com

Ilovecheese Wed 20-Jul-22 20:30:09

I would go for the florist option because they come already arranged.

avitorl Wed 20-Jul-22 20:30:40

I have had some awful flowers from online firms so I would say to use her local shop.They are probably more concerned about their reputation locally.
The national firms get away with sending rubbish because recipients don't like to upset people sending them how awful they really were.
The last flowers I received were from M&S . They looked dead on arrival and stayed that way.

JaneJudge Wed 20-Jul-22 20:32:50

i would also suggest bloom and wild letterbox flowers

kittylester Wed 20-Jul-22 20:33:25

I can highly recommend Bloom and Wild.

Casdon Wed 20-Jul-22 20:34:50

lixy

Have always been pleased with flowers from Bloom and Wild. They do a 'letterbox' selection so can be delivered even if recipient isn't in. It can be a true surprise that way.

www.bloomandwild.com

I’d endorse this. My daughter got me a three month Bloom&Wild subscription for my birthday, and I got a different seasonal bouquet through the letterbox each month. They were all fresh and beautiful. A bonus is the if she’s out when they arrive it doesn’t matter, as they will be waiting when she gets home.

BlueBelle Wed 20-Jul-22 20:44:24

Oh dear lixy I had some awful ones from bloom and wild personally I d ring a local ( to your daughter) shop up and do it that way that’s always worked for me as they want to keep a good name in the local community

BlueBelle Wed 20-Jul-22 20:47:09

Avitoir I’ve just seen your post it wasn’t there when I posted I see we think alike
The ones I got my daughter from Bloom and wild were awful I was so disappointed

Galaxy Wed 20-Jul-22 20:49:19

Yes I am sorry I sent some bloom and wild to my mum, I was mortified when I saw them. I use Interflora and they have been very reliable.

Chewbacca Wed 20-Jul-22 20:50:22

Bloom & Wild are lovely; I've never had a poor bunch of flowers from them yet. But there's also an online florist that donates 25% of what you spend to specified charities, depending on which bouquet you choose; Cancer Research UK being one of them. I've used them twice and the recipients were very happy with them.

www.prestigeflowers.co.uk/charity-flowers

Thorntrees Wed 20-Jul-22 20:56:11

Look at- Bunches- web site,have used them for many years and always had good service. They do letterbox as well as bouquets etc. Easy to use website and you can add a few chocolates for a treat. Sorry to hear about your daughter,it’s such a worry when you are far away and feel so helpless. Take care.

grandMattie Wed 20-Jul-22 20:57:08

Bloom and wild from me too!

StarDreamer Wed 20-Jul-22 21:00:16

How do letterbox flowers work please?

I suppose it depends on the size of the letterbox.

But even with a goodsize letterbox, how is it done please?

Georgesgran Wed 20-Jul-22 21:02:11

In this heat - what about a different gift? Hand cream, eau de cologne or something refreshing as a pamper treat. As another poster said - some goodies to eat - what about Betty’s by Post?
I do sympathise, it must be very hard living so far away. Don’t forget to ‘reward’ her DH if he’s doing a sterling job.

hulahoop Wed 20-Jul-22 21:04:07

Sorry to hear about your daughter it must be hard being so far away ,sounds like she is getting well looked after .I would use her local florist .

Millie22 Wed 20-Jul-22 21:08:09

Whatever you choose don't use Serenata. I had some letterbox flowers as a gift and they were very poor. I would use a local florist near to your daughter.

Hoping she is well soon.

BlueBelle Wed 20-Jul-22 21:09:31

Stardreamer they come in a flattish box that fits through most letterboxes The ones i bought were very sparse and when I saw them in the vase I was mortified they looked so poor compared to even a supermarket bunch

It’s much nicer and safer in my opinion to have a person deliver them shop to door and they need to keep their reputation in the community so I ve always found they do lovely bouquets from local shops

Rosie51 Wed 20-Jul-22 21:10:47

I really wouldn't recommend a food gift for someone battling bowel cancer, unless they requested it. They might have food restrictions or simply not be eating much. During my last bout of cancer treatment I really didn't enjoy any food at all.
I've had good and bad from Bloom & Wild, they often don't look much when they arrive but quickly 'bloom'. A local florist is a good option if you know when would be a good time for delivery.

StarDreamer letterbox flowers are delivered in a rectangular box (much longer than wide) that go through a standard size letterbox. I suppose the depth is 4-5 cms??? The flowers are arranged the full length of the box so not more than two or three stems deep? Hard to describe but have done my best grin

Chewbacca Wed 20-Jul-22 21:16:44

StarDreamer, It's dead easy really! You go to the online florist's website, decide how much you want to spend and choose a bouquet of flowers from that price bracket. Once chosen, you choose a suitable gift card and type in your message for the recipient. Then their address, and finally to payment checkout. They then post out, in a long flat cardboard box, the blooms, the card, plant food and a little instruction leaflet of how to cut them and arrange them. They're very well wrapped and protected in the box. They arrive, usually within 24 hours, via Royal Mail,who put them through the letterbox. I did send some to a friend who didn't have a letterbox in her door and so they were left in a safe space.

Squiffy Wed 20-Jul-22 21:17:44

This from Waitrose Florist was very good! M & S were hopeless, the flowers never arrived and no-one at M & S knew where they’d gone ?

Chewbacca Wed 20-Jul-22 21:18:45

Cross posted Rosie51! And yes, I agree about food not really being appropriate in this situation.

Squiffy Wed 20-Jul-22 21:19:40

Trying again, photos vanished!

Jaylou Wed 20-Jul-22 21:20:01

How about a pamper hamper? A nice basket filled with lotions and potions (hands. feet, face etc), this will be a longer lasting treat than flowers (which are a nice idea too).