floral working...

..though my 'job class' has changed, and I am no longer considered a worker in the produce department, I found myself working in the floral shoppe three days recently. The guy who is It for floral department saved enough of his vacation time, to take a week off after Christmas, so will not return to work until New Year's Day. Leaving no one who would even be remotely interested in doing what he does all day.

I worked for four hours on Friday, and was on the schedule for three hours on Saturday. Hardly worth tying my shoe laces for that. And asked if I should come in just long enough to get everything in water on Sunday after church. The cartons containing bunches of fresh cut flowers from south America are usually flat boxes, about three inches in height, maybe thirty-six inches long, and less than six inches wide. So you can imagine how thirsty they are, having travelled for two days with nothing to drink. If not recut and put in buckets of water, they are soon deceased. But if given a fresh trim, and a chance to drink, they make a remarkable come-back. Things that you would not give a nickel for can perk up and refresh, looking amazing after twenty four hours of sucking up clean fresh water.

As do a lot of plants that look ready for the trash. When I went in on Friday, the cyclamen and hydrangeas were wilted to the point of death. But with lots of misting, using a spray bottle with plain water, to hydrate the blooms and leaves, and a good soaking from the bottom up: they turned back into sellable items. The pots always come wrapped, in a water proof paper sleeve, or some sort of water resistant container. So I took them to the prep area, but them in a sink with a couple of inches of water, and let them sit for several hours. They made a remarkable comeback: returning from the great beyond, to be ready to put out on the sales floor again, with customers none the wiser.

All those limp, pitiful, panting, desperate plants wanted was some kind words, a bit of affection, and a glass of warm milk before bedtime.