Be a Good Neighbor on Good Neighbor Day

For 17 years, the national floral network company FTD has been promoting "Good Neighbor Day." That is where local florists give out a dozen roses or carnations for free. The only stipulation is that participants who pick up the flowers must hand out 11 of them to neighbors (and keep one for themselves).

For the past three years, in Edgewater has been participating. Owner Deborah Bussard said that she hasn't given thought to publicizing it that much in years past, but wanted to reach out this year to Edgewater residents.

Bussard came to Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch to get the word out. They are also promoting the event with flyers and through email.

This year, Good Neighbor Day will begin at 9 a.m. on Sept. 7 (Wednesday).

"I've put in a big order. First, people who come in will get roses, and we'll keep giving away dozens until they're gone. Then we will go to carnations," Bussard said.

Bussard said that she wants to promote Good Neighbor Day because she said she feels "blessed to be here."

Bussard and her husband, along with her mother-in-law Virginia have been running the store for several years. Virginia owned a popular florist shop in Bowie before retiring in 1999. She was coaxed out of retirement to work with her daughter-in-law at Blooms.

While everyone else had Monday off, Bussard and family were at the flower shop packaging up dozens for the flower giveaway.

So stop by Blooms and pick up a free dozen flowers, then introduce yourself to neighbors you don't know, mend fences with others, and hand them out to those who have been kind to your family over the years.

The whole point of the day is to spread goodwill and friendship through the community.

It is expected that hundreds of FTD florists in the U.S. and Canada will participate in this year’s FTD Good Neighbor Day event, giving away millions of free flowers.

But you better get to Blooms early on Wednesday. Bussard said that once the flowers run out, they're gone.