Flowers by phone

Southern Living, May 1999

Want to send flowers to someone out of town? It's easy. Wire-service networks of florists from around the country work to fill such transactions.

The process requires an order placed with your local florist, who then makes arrangements with another florist out of town to fulfill the order for you. One fee is paid to the florist with whom you place the order, and a charge for using the service is usually figured into the cost-it should be less than $5. If your budget is $30 or less and you want to send something sizable, consider a nice green plant.

In large metropolitan areas, zip codes are necessary when placing the order. Most of these florists deliver to an area, not all over town.

Credit-card customers can also call an out-of-town florist directly. Find out which florist your friend or relative uses, and jot down the name in your address book for future reference.

One source for connecting with florists worldwide is B. Brooks Fine Flowers, a service founded by author Barbera Brooks. She has researched florists in many cities to find those who provide quality arrangements; many are award winners and well known in the industry. Call toll free 1-888-3463356 or visit the Web site www. bbrooks.com.

Why go to the trouble? Because someone close to you in spirit yet geographically distant can be reminded of your love, sympathy, or everyday kindness. Although perishable, the gift of fresh flowers and the special feeling they bring is long lasting.