Bill Ardle has faith in the kindness
of Springfield and he put it to the test Wednesday.
Ardle, owner of Schneider's Florist located
at 633 N. Limestone Street, had 6,000 roses on hand to
give away in celebration of Good Neighbor Day.
Merely for the asking, anyone could walk
into the store, request a dozen roses, and walk out with
the flowers — no cash required.
There was a catch, though. Accepting the
flowers meant promising to give 11 of them away.
And plenty of people agreed. A woman came
in requesting a dozen to share with her co-workers.
A gentleman requested a dozen, and Ardle
asked if he was married or single. When he said he was
single, Ardle wryly suggested that he give the flowers
to "every beautiful woman he met," and maybe that would
change his status.
FTD has sponsored Good Neighbor Day for
member florists since 1994, but this is the first year
Ardle has participated.
He decided to join in this year as a way
to thank the community for all the goodwill extended to
Schneider's over the years.
Ardle said Good Neighbor Day gives people
the opportunity to express their positive feelings for
friends, family members, neighbors or co-workers. Flowers
can, he said, be a way for people to more gently communicate.
"We're really in the communication business,
but we communicate with flowers." Ardle said.
By 4 p.m., Ardle had given away about 300
dozen roses. If he has any left, he said he will extend
the event through Thursday.
Overall, he said, more women came in requesting
flowers. While he wouldn't offer direct advice to the men
who missed an opportunity, he did say, "Flowers are the
way to somebody's heart. They really do work."
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