Well, it is that time again! Time to stock up on bulbs, get them in the ground, and then sit back and wait for the display of color in the Spring.
This year we will be at the Earthfare in Turkey Creek & Bearden as well as on Market Square in front of Reruns Consignment all five Saturdays in October from 10am to 2pm. We will also be at the following locations:
- Ramsey House Country Market – Saturday, Oct 2nd – 9am to 5pm
- Ramsey House Country Market – Sunday, Oct 3rd – 9am to 5pm
- UT Garden Fall Plant Sale – Friday, Oct 8th – 4pm to 6pm
- UT Garden Fall Plant Sale – Saturday, Oct 9th – 9am to 2pm
- Clinton Fall Festival (outside of Samuel Franklin Floral Design) – Saturday, Oct 9th – 9am to 3pm
- Samuel Franklin Floral Design Open House – Friday, Oct 22nd – 10am to 3pm
- Samuel Franklin Floral Design Open House – Saturday, Oct 23rd – 10am to 3pm
For a full schedule check out this previous post.
By purchasing bulbs from Random Acts of Flowers you can know that you will have a beautiful yard in the Spring AND that you are helping to brighten someones day through a delivery from Random Acts of Flowers.
Following are a few testimonials from our supporters during the 2009 Fall Bulb Sale:
David's Pink Impression Tulips
“The Tulips we purchased last year were absolutely amazing. I am the farthest thing from a ‘green thumb’ and the planting and result made my yard absolutely beautiful. I received several comments from my neighbors on how bright they were. Many thanks to the organization for the bulbs and I am looking forward to this years bulb sale!!!” – David J.
Lori's Easter Joy Tulip Mix
“I’m so glad that we are selling bulbs again this year because every single one in the bag that I bought bloomed this past spring. It was spectacular and also a lot of fun watching the various colors of 50 tulips bloom! I really am looking forward to sharing the joy with others at this year’s sale.” – Lori C.
Random Acts of Flowers is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Fall Bulb Sale!
No garden is complete without the beauty of blooming bulbs! Plan your spring flowers while helping support a local charity at the same time. Not only will you get fabulous bulbs from our great bulb companies, you’ll also be helping the charity bring smiles to patients in area hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care centers.
Come visit us during the month of October and purchase bulbs for your garden!
Can’t make it out to one of our locations or live outside the East Tennessee area? If so, you can still order wonderful bulbs and support our charity at the same time! Order online - click here – where 50% of every order benefits Random Acts of Flowers. There’s a great selection of bulbs and they’re shipped directly to you (nationwide) for one low cost.
Saturday, October 2
Earthfare Supermarket (Bearden) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Earthfare Supermarket (Turkey Creek) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Market Square (Downtown) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Friday, October 8
U.T. Gardens – Fall Plant Sale (UT Ag Campus) / 4:00p – 6:00p
Saturday, October 9
Earthfare Supermarket (Bearden) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Earthfare Supermarket (Turkey Creek) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Market Square (Downtown) / 10:00a – 2:00p
U.T. Gardens – Fall Plant Sale (UT Ag Campus) / 9:00a – 2:00p
Clinton Fall Festival (outside Sam Franklin Florists) / 9:00a – 3:00p
Saturday, October 16
Earthfare Supermarket (Bearden) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Earthfare Supermarket (Turkey Creek) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Market Square (Downtown) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Friday, October 22
Clinton Fall Festival (outside Sam Franklin Florists) / 10:00a – 3:00p
Saturday, October 23
Earthfare Supermarket (Bearden) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Earthfare Supermarket (Turkey Creek) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Market Square (Downtown) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Clinton Fall Festival (outside Sam Franklin Florists) / 10:00a – 3:00p
Saturday, October 30
Earthfare Supermarket (Bearden) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Earthfare Supermarket (Turkey Creek) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Market Square (Downtown) / 10:00a – 2:00p
Thank you for supporting RAF and enjoy your flowers in the spring!
There are days when my job as Director of Random Acts of Flowers takes my breath away. Today was one of those days.
This morning I was contacted by two members of our community, an editor and a physical therapist, both asking for help from Random Acts of Flowers. A young woman who is losing her battle with cancer wants to marry her fiancé and time is running out. We were asked to provide a bridal bouquet so that she could fulfill her wish to be a blushing bride.
With the help of Samuel Franklin Floral in Clinton and Jackie, the Floral Department Manager at a local Kroger, we were able to deliver a bouquet for the bride, a boutonnière for the groom, and a bouquet to help brighten her hospital room. My heart goes out to her and her family during this difficult time and I am comforted to know that we could help lighten their burden.
Today I shed a tear for the wonderful mission that Random Acts of Flowers is able to fulfill in our community. This is the story of one girl, of one family, a story that is sure to pull the heart strings of many, but there are countless patients and elderly residents in our community to whom we are able to give a moment of cheer in their time of need. I am blessed to be a part of such a wonderful charity!
At times like this it is important to remember that it is the support of our community that makes these efforts possible. Financial donors, volunteers who give selflessly of their time, and business owners who share their trade. Brides who donate the florals from their special day, families who donate flowers in memory of loved ones, and once again businesses in our community who give back. Many thanks to the supporters who stand behind our mission!
Today Random Acts of Flowers completed a circle of giving. Brides are one of our largest donors of flowers. What a joy to be able to give to back to a bride!
Please know that stories like this are only possible because of your support.
– Sage Morgan, Director of Operations
UPDATE:
A family friend followed the Share Your Story link on our website to share the following message.
Arielle and her fiance, Derek, were married in a beautiful ceremony this past Sat. at the healing garden at UT medical. Your flowers were absolutley beautiful. I am very sad to tell you that Arielle passed away on Sunday morning at 11:45am. She is now a beautiful angel in Heaven. Thank you for assisting in a dream for their family.
And here is a letter from the bride’s mom.
My daughter, Arielle-26, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in May. Her last wish was to be married. Her condition worsened and we hurriedly put together a wedding in 2 days flat on August 7th. I received a call from Random Acts of Flowers informing me that the bouquets would be taken care of. I cried because of the kindness and generosity of individuals to help make the wedding happen. She was a beautiful bride, we held the wedding ceremony in the garden and had a nice reception afterwards in the Dining Room. Arielle was so happy, a dream come true. She went to be with the Lord the next day. I just wanted to say Thank You for your ministry. It truly touched our hearts.
Our hearts go out to the family. We were very pleased to have helped her realize her special day.
Join us for Art in the Garden – a benefit to support Random Acts of Flowers, for a special evening in Knoxville’s own Secret Garden to help make stories like this possible.
Friday August 20th
Art in the Garden posters will blanket the town starting today. Keep a look out for these promotional posters and encourage art/charity supporters to attend what will surely be a great event!
Posters to promote the Art in the Garden special event – Kids Day in the Garden – hit the town today! Keep on the lookout for these colorful posters and encourage people to bring their kids to a fun-filled event in Knoxville’s “secret garden!”
Saturday, August 21st / 9:00a-1:00p @ Knoxville Botanical Gardens
Share charity with your children during a fun-filled day of activities! On Saturday, August 21st, the Knoxville Botanical Garden comes alive with free fun for children of all ages including a Create-A-Craft area, Yoga for Kids demonstration, StoryTime with the Imagination Library, Kids-Art exhibition, HABIT dogs, bounce-house, food, and much more!
All proceeds from Kids Day in the Garden benefit Random Acts of Flowers, a local charity dedicated to uplifting a person’s spirit. Our volunteers repurpose flowers and make botanical deliveries to needy patients in area hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care centers.
Price = FREE!!!
Friday, August 20th / 7:00p @ Knoxville Botanical Gardens
Have you ever wondered what goes into creating a piece of art? Attend the 2nd annual Art in the Garden and find out! Enjoy a sultry summer evening in Knoxville’s “Secret Garden” and experience art like never before, all to support a great charity. Guests will be treated to live art demonstrations from renowned and talented artists – all creating a piece of art right before your eyes!
The evening will be filled with spectacular art from local and regional artists, available to guests through a silent and live auction. Drinks, food and liv
e music will accompany this special event in one of the most spectacular gardens in Knoxville.
All proceeds from Art in the Garden benefit Random Acts of Flowers, a local charity dedicated to uplifting a person’s spirit. Our volunteers repurpose flowers and make botanical deliveries to needy patients in area hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care centers.
Price = $50.00 / Purchase tickets by calling (865) 633-9082
As a result of the overwhelming support of the community in the form of floral donations Random Acts of Flowers sometimes finds ourselves with more flowers than we can process in a timely manner. During these times of overrun we have begun to deliver buckets of flowers and boxes of vases to assisted living facilities for floral arranging activities. We have had a wonderful response from the activities directors and residents of these facilities! Below is a story from Linda C, a volunteer who recently dropped buckets and boxes at an area facility.
On July 8, 2010, I had the opportunity to deliver flowers and vases to Heritage Assisted Living Facility so the residents could make arrangements themselves. The residents thought the flowers and vases were beautiful. They were thrilled to be able to make the arrangements themselves. It was very heartwarming!!
On the day I was there, each of the residents planned to keep one arrangement, and deliver the additional arrangements to other residents who were not able to participate. This was a meaningful activity for them.
Thank you to Linda for sharing your story! If you have received a delivery from our organization, have volunteered with us, or just have something you would like to say, please follow this link to Share Your Story.
To the artists of the Knoxville community,
Let me start by saying how appreciative we were of your support last year! As a newly formed organization we had no idea whether we could get the support we needed from the art community in order to stage our first fundraising event. Were we wrong! The art community came out in force donating such wonderful pieces from blown glass to metalwork to photography and even edible art!
As a result of last year’s Art in the Garden Random Acts of Flowers was able to deliver over 2600 bouquets to area patients in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospices in our first year. For many of our recipients the delivery of a bouquet of flowers may be the only time that day (or even that week) that they are able to take a breath, appreciate something beautiful, and feel a moment of joy. We are so appreciative of the Knoxville art community for helping to give that moment.
Please follow the link below for information about Art in the Garden 2010. We have made a few changes this year including inviting donating artists to attend the art sale gala to promote their work and mingle with potential supporters. We feel that this is an important change that not only gives the artists more exposure but will also make the event more enjoyable for all involved.
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B7XTZyDI9omVNTVjNDhlYWUtNzdlNC00ZjQwLWI2NGQtMmJlZTA3MGE5Njkz&hl=en
Feel free to contact me through any of the venues in my signature should you have any questions.
Sage:)
Sage Morgan
Director of Operations
Random Acts of Flowers
www.randomactsofflowers.org
920 Volunteer Landing Lane, Ste 201
Knoxville, TN 37915
(865) 633-9082 o
(865) 633 9083 f
(865) 300-7710 c
For over a year, “Random Acts of Flowers” has been delivering flowers to hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospices.
But Tuesday, a very special bouquet was delivered to St. Mary’s Medical Center. A delivery that didn’t just bring a smile to the patients face, but to the volunteers who have far exceeded their goals.
It’s a delivery unlike any other.
“We’re with random acts of flowers and this is actually our 3,000th delivery”.
Pink roses to brighten Edith Whaley’s day.
“I was laying here thinking that this day was going to be a long one and here comes these volunteers with flowers, beautiful flowers, and I’m so thankful,” says Edith Whaley, a patient at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
In just over a year, 3,000 bouquets of flowers have been delivered through the non-profit organization, “Random Acts of Flowers.”
“To spread a little cheer. Our target patients are those who don’t have many visitors while they’re here at the hospital, maybe they’ve had bad news or have been in the hospital for an extended period of time,” says Sage Morgan, a volunteer with the organization.
The program has far surpassed its goals. They thought they would deliver 20 to 30 bouquets a week. But they’re actually delivering 50 to 200 a week, thanks to donations made by community members.
“Demonstrates that even a small gift, a small contribution can make a big difference in our community.”
And a big difference in Edith’s day.
“It makes me feel better. I’ll have better day, a much better day. It makes people feel like they’re not forgotten,” says Edith.
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