Sometimes I can't help being a little superstitious.
There were a couple of times that I brought silk flowers when visiting relatives at the hospital. The practical side of me thought that way they wouldn't have to change the water or worry about the flowers. The silk flowers would remain beautiful throughout their stay at the hospital. In fact, my cousin's husband apparently even watered the silk plant at one point.
Very sadly, Art's cousin and mine both passed away after we brought those flowers.
When my Aunt Dorothy (mom's younger sister) became very ill and was hospitalized we decided to go with cut flowers.
The bouquet of flowers was very beautiful, but after about three days, they looked pretty sad.
And yet, Auntie was able to recover wonderfully, much to mom's relief.
I decided at that point that live flowers was the way to go.
When another of my cousins suffered a terrible fall, even worse than mom's and was in the hospital, we decided to bring potted flowers that I hoped would last longer with minimum care. Our decision came down to these two. I loved the color and originality of the beautiful bromeliad, but the peace lily looked so lush and peaceful.
I took this photo and texted it to my daughter and granddaughter. My daughter said her choice would be the red bromeliad. My granddaughter liked the peace lily better. That didn't help.
In the end, we decided on the peace lily which was also Art's choice since I'd been leaning to the bromeliad.
Which would you have chosen?
There were a couple of times that I brought silk flowers when visiting relatives at the hospital. The practical side of me thought that way they wouldn't have to change the water or worry about the flowers. The silk flowers would remain beautiful throughout their stay at the hospital. In fact, my cousin's husband apparently even watered the silk plant at one point.
Very sadly, Art's cousin and mine both passed away after we brought those flowers.
The bouquet of flowers was very beautiful, but after about three days, they looked pretty sad.
And yet, Auntie was able to recover wonderfully, much to mom's relief.
I decided at that point that live flowers was the way to go.
When another of my cousins suffered a terrible fall, even worse than mom's and was in the hospital, we decided to bring potted flowers that I hoped would last longer with minimum care. Our decision came down to these two. I loved the color and originality of the beautiful bromeliad, but the peace lily looked so lush and peaceful.
I took this photo and texted it to my daughter and granddaughter. My daughter said her choice would be the red bromeliad. My granddaughter liked the peace lily better. That didn't help.
In the end, we decided on the peace lily which was also Art's choice since I'd been leaning to the bromeliad.
Which would you have chosen?
It's my own personal issue, I guess, but it bothers me (a little, I don't lose sleep over it) to see fake flowers in a cemetery. Perhaps "bother" is the wrong word, but it's all that my brain can come up with right now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, John! I like fresh flowers. You don't have to look after fresh ones long-term. You've helped support someone who sells them, and it's not such a commitment.
DeleteI have some Peace lilies that have lasted me 7 years. I have had to divide them, and gave some away!
Yes peace lily
ReplyDeleteI would like either one, but I like the lily better, too. I'm glad you are not giving fake flowers any more. I once received some when in the hospital, and even though they lasted for years, it was just not the same as fresh cut flowers. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe lily
ReplyDeleteAlways choose color for sickrooms.
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic: From the hospital nurse's viewpoint: Real ones make lots of staffers sneeze and spend less time in the patient's room. Most get set on the patient's overbed table, so kitchen staff have to move them or fear knocking them off when trying to feed the patient, then if placed behind the patient's view on a bigger table, they don't see them often. Some hospitals permit placement on the window sills. Most ICUs don't permit them due to the pollens carried in.
ReplyDeleteSilk or real: okay, the patient's outcome probably would have been the same with either ones.
The paper ones my very young son glued to green kraft sticks and placed in a blue vase are still in my room: don't need watering and don't flare my allergies and last for years!
Silk used to cost so much more, but the Hawaiian silk flower leis are holding up very well!
Cheers, Linda in Kansas
I liked the idea of the silk flowers because I thought you wouldn't have to take care of it. It could just look pretty and cheerful. It's fun to see everybody's opinions.
Deletethat's a tough one, but I would go with the bright red bromeliad.
ReplyDeleteI would have chosen a succulent. Small but cheery. LOL
ReplyDeleteYes, life supports life. silk is for appearances. Or something ;)
ReplyDeleteThe transience of live flowers is what is beautiful - a reflection of life. I'd have chosen the bromeliad, or a succulent, because I always think of lilies at funerals.
ReplyDeleteUmmmm.... Isn't it funny? I told Art the same thing.
DeleteAs it turned out, our mutual cousin, Mae's room was full of colorful cut and live flowers so the peace lily actually stood out more.
Spooky about the fake flowers and the out come. Think I'd stay away too. I'd have gone for the bromeliad. One of my favorite plants.
ReplyDeleteNot trying to make things more complicated, but I read this awhile back in Kat's (Adventures in Japan) blog and thought it was interesting. Kat and her husband were thinking of giving a potted plant to her husband's grandma while she was in the hospital and was reprimanded by Kat's mother-in-law. The incident emphasizes how much the Japanese culture with its strict rules of etiquette govern behavior. Here is an excerpt from that post: About 4 years ago, we bought it for Satoshi's grandma, when she was in the hospital. We were so happy with it, because it had some blooms and looked very cheery. But after Satoshi's mom saw it, she said, "You can't give her that." I asked, "Why?", but didn't get an answer. And we ended up buying her a bouquet of cut flowers.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why you shouldn't give a person in the hospital a potted plant is because it has roots. In Japanese, this is called "ne-tsuke". It is a play-on words but they believe that if you receive a potted plant, you will "root" yourself in bed. In other words, you'll be in the hospital for a LONG time.
That's SO interesting but I am going to ignore that because I like to take orchid plants to people, as well as receive them because they last forever.
Deleteon a side note - during the few times that I was in the hospital (child birth, hysterectomy), I begged the doctor to let me stay longer. It was so nice to be pampered and fed and not have to do anything.
That is so interesting, Jalna. I just asked mom and she said there is something like that in Japan. Not here though. You could look at it another way. Cut flowers don't last long. Potted flowers can leave the hospital. :-) I like looking at it that way better. I'd call it Ikiru.
DeleteAunty, that is so you!!! Hahahahaha!!
DeleteKay, I like looking at it your way too!
I just asked Art's college friend in Japan and he said it's true. They would never give a potted plant with roots.
DeleteOn the other hand, my young nephew and his wife were over this afternoon and I asked Miho if she knew about Netsuke. She was very mystified. She'd never heard of it. On the other hand she said you are NEVER EVER to give chrysanthemums because that is considered a funeral flower. Sheesh!
I would choose the peace lily because of the message it sends. They are also very easy to take care of.
ReplyDeleteI have a peace lily and it is huge! I have re-potted it once and it just keeps growing. I would have chosen the bright red bromeliad.
ReplyDeleteRed all the way
ReplyDeleteFor a cheerful hospital stay:-)
I do like the bromeliad but I would buy the peace lily. Sorry Kay :) I have silk flowers in my home but I love cut flowers. Gregg gave me a bouquet for my birthday. It was sad to see them go but I took lots of photos, of course :-)
ReplyDelete