fandomtownies | Monday: Covent Garden Flowers

Funny thing about what was popular this time of year because there was a Steven, looking like he was on a mission.

He came inside the shop and looked pleased to see Nell. "Nell! Hello! Brilliant. I need your help."

"Hello, Steven," Nell said cheerfully. "I'm happy to help. What can I do for you?"

"I could use your expertise," Steven said. Then he looked around, particularly towards the outside. "And, erm, privacy? Don't suppose you've a way to keep squirrels overhearing, do you? Only it's meant to be a surprise, you see."

"Oh, of course, just one minute please."

Nell stepped outside and waved down one of the squirrels. "There are some rum balls I'm experimenting with and hot cocoa with rum up at the greenhouse tonight in it for you if you'll let us have a private conversation."

One of the squirrels had a question.

"No, that's fine," Nell said. "I don't mind you listening as long as you don't pass the information on to radio. Thank you."

She went back inside. "All set."

"Knew you'd have just the thing to take care of it, cheers," Steven said. "Right, so I'm looking for something sort of for the holiday? Only I don't know if they celebrate. But even if they don't holidays can be hard sometimes, can't they? Seeing other people be happy when you're not? So I was thinking something cheerful? Like flowers?"

"Holidays can be hard," Nell agreed, "Even if you don't celebrate - or if you don't have anyone to celebrate with. Or if you're missing someone you've lost or can't be with." Nell knew all too well about that.

"But flowers are lovely. They brighten up a space and even better remind the person that someone is thinking of them and cares for them in whatever way."

"Do you think an arrangement or a live plant would be better?" Steven asked. "Arrangement only lasts so long but live plant - is that like giving a chore? Them having to care for it and all?"

"It depends," Nell said. "I wouldn't recommend an orchid for a live plant as those can be finicky, but an ivy or a succulent can be very pretty and don't require much care."

"I was thinking something with lovely fall colors?" Steven said. "Oranges and yellows. Which now I say it I realize is probably an arrangement, isn't it? You can't get multiple flower colors in a live plant, can you?"

"Of course you can," Nell said. "There are some beautful orange and yellow marigolds or there are some daisies with orange petals and a yellow center."

She might have some other choices at her shop, but she wasn't going to sell those at her job. "And, of course, I can make a lovely floral arrangement with those colors."

"Which do you think is better?" Steven asked. "I suppose I'd like it to be something that makes the person getting it feel... Appreciated? Not without people who care for them? Is that arrangement or plant, do you think?"

"I'm biased," Nell said, "But personally, I prefer a plant. It's always seemed to me less a token of appreciation and more a lasting gift. It's common to pick up some flowers to bring someone, but not as much a plant. I think a plant sort of speaks to lonegvity. Though, if the person is not good with plants or isn't a fan, then flowers are probably a better choice."

"Don't know how they are with plants," Steven admitted. "Suppose we have to take that one out of consideration. I do like the idea of a gift that's not usual. Think that's got the right feel to it. But let's see what they're like. Could you show me the marigolds? Those sound cheerful. Almost have 'merry' in their name, don't they?"

Nell pulled out some orange and red marigolds. "They are cheery, aren't they?" she said. She also grabbed a few orange and red carnations and some day lilies to show him.

"Very nice," Steven said. He looked them all over. "I think I do like the marigolds best, now that I see them. Don't know what it is. Sort of look like little pillows, don't they? Cheerful and relaxing. Do you have any in yellow as well? That'd get all the fall colors in, wouldn't it?"

Technically brown was also a fall color but brown flowers tended to be dead ones so they'd just leave those out.

"Yes, of course," Nell said and got a few of those to add in. "I do like them myself.

"Brilliant." Steven smiled as he saw it come together. "And it's sort of the size of an arrangement anyway, isn't it? Best of both worlds, there."

"It is," Nell said with a smile. "I'm sure they'll love it."

Steven looked at it thoughtfully. "Don't suppose you have a ribbon, do you? Something to go round the pot? Make it look like a present?"

"Of course," Nell said and got some fall colored ribbons to twine together and decorate the pot. She took an extra moment to dip her fingers in the soil and give the plants an extra dose of energy. "I can wrap the whole thing up, if you like."

Steven looked at her curiously. "Wrap it up how? Like in a box?"

"Sort of," Nell said. "You set the pot in a box and then set that on paper or plastic and loosely wrap up and over it."

"I see, so it's protected but not cramped in," Steven said. He'd been wondering how a plant would do sealed up in a box with no light, so what Nell said made much more sense. "And that way I could still add a card? I'd like to add a card. Explain what it's meant to be, you see."

"Exactly," Nell said. "And of course you can add a card. We have these little stakes that go right in the plant with a sort of prong on top where you can insert the card."

"Oh that's brilliant!" Steven said. "I was thinking tape it to the package, but that's much nicer, isn't it? Yes, one of those as well, please. See? I knew you'd steer me right."

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