Gorgeous wedding!   Fantastic reception!  And now… what to do with all those beautiful flowers?  If you are a bride from out of town, or just not sure what to do with the flowers after your event, consider donating them to Heliotrope for Hospice.

Heliotrope for Hospice is a non-profit, public and charitable organization currently dedicated to providing fresh weekly bedside flower arrangements for people in hospice care. They are a 100% all volunteer organization that procures, recycles, and repurposes donations of fresh flowers and vases from local retail, wholesale and event floral businesses.

Meet Diane Citrowske, professional floral designer, a teacher of floral design, and the creator of Heliotrope for Hospice. In 1999, Diane’s father was in hospice care and she brought him Tulips…and then as she visited him each day, she started making small bouquets for other patients in hospice care. The seed for Heliotrope for Hospice was planted.

Diane’s philosophy is that flowers are for celebrating life. As a society, and as individuals, we mark life’s most important occasions, accomplishments, and tributes by giving flowers. She believes every day of life is precious for people in hospice and her goal is to provide a floral gift to them to celebrate each day.

Having had parents of my own go through Hospice Care, I was deeply touched by the generosity of Diane to take on such an important responsibility and donate all her own time to run this charitable organization. I support her with any flower product that is left over from events and occasionally snip some goodies from my garden (Lavender and Lamb’s Ear are a favorite!).

Thru Thistle Dew Floral, Heliotrope for Hospice will pick up any leftover floral arrangements and the flowers will be repurposed into small bedside table arrangements and delivered to San Diego Hospice Inpatient Care Centers. As a 501(c)(3) organization, your donations are tax deductible. Please let me know if you are interested in donating any florals to this worthy cause, and we will repurpose your florals into gifts of beauty that celebrate life.