CONNECTIONS & COLLABORATIONS

2025 is rolling right along and we’re about to find ourselves springing into March! This month's blog post is focused on connections and collaborations. I will (of course) be combining the topic with how flowers can help!

Connections

The two big connections in life are with family and friends. But connection with nature is right up there as one of the most important. Current research is showing that doctors are now prescribing time in nature for their patients' health. You can read about A Prescription for Nature and the benefits being in nature have HERE, so I won’t go into that. What I will do is share three ideas of small things you can do at home to connect with nature by using flowers that won’t cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. 

1 -Consider buying one bouquet of flowers and then breaking it down into bud vases so you can place stems of flowers all around your house instead of in just one place. 

2 - When buying plants, choose ones that flower. I know people who have Christmas Cactus that bloom year after year or orchids that they can get to rebloom. One plant which shares its blooms year after year - that’s a good investment! 

3 - Don’t forget about lavender. Grow lavender in your garden (or like I do, in a pot on my 11th floor balcony). Not only does it flower all summer long, but you can also cut the stems and dry them, to use as a soothing fragrance in your home all year long.

Collaborations 

This year not only am I collaborating on blog posts with my friend Amy, but I will also be presenting a workshop called A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, YOU - Wellness Through Flowers, at a retreat for educators by Coastal Elements and Magnolia Health and Wellness. 

When planning a collaboration, to be successful, you need to have the right mindset. For me, certain attributes are a must - goodwill to others (delphinium), harmony (cosmos), kindness (bluebell), loyalty (bamboo), patience (aster), and grace (jasmine). 

I hope (snowdrop), this will be the first of many times I will present this workshop. If you are hosting a wellness retreat or seminar and would like to collaborate, please don’t hesitate to contact me - mary@marykelava.com.

To learn more about the specific meanings of flowers, take a look at my award-winning book A BOUQUET OF WORDS - Express Yourself Through the Language of Flowers HERE.