Lilla spreads the love with lonely bouquets

Lilla Zelenak is a Killester based Hungarian florist…. Here you can read her idea about cheering up people in Dublin.  If only there were more people willing to do stuff like that… Thank you Lilla!  (article in Dublin People)  

WHILE the heatwave has been putting an extra spring in our step these past few weeks, an enterprising local florist is also doing her bit to put a smile on people’s faces.

Lilla Zelenak, proprietor of ‘The Green Door Florist’ in Killester, has been spreading the love with the ‘Lonely Bouquet’ initiative, an idea she picked up from the Continent.

On June 30, the Slovakian native arranged bouquets, attached heartwarming messages to them, and left them at various locations in Killester and Clontarf for members of the public to pick up for free.

Bouquets were also left on the DART, the Luas and one outside a hospital in Clontarf.

The messages attached to the bouquets include ‘Take Me Home’, and ‘I’m all alone and looking for a new home’. The contact details for the shop are printed at the end of each message.

Lilla told Northside People: “The whole idea came from Belgium, where a woman wanted to cheer people up. Now people have joined all around the world.

“It’s a movement dedicated to spreading happiness and smiles, one flower at a time.

“I have received a great response to the initiative and already have 4,000 followers on Facebook.”

Lilla said she received a phone call from a lady who said that after finding one of the lonely bouquets, it put a smile back on her face after she had broken up with her boyfriend.

“I was happy to bring a little cheer to her day,” she said.

Another woman told her it was a lovely surprise to find a bouquet at her door.

Lilla, who has been living in Ireland for seven years, said that when she arrived first, her English was “very bad”.

“I went to live with a family and minded their kids at first,” she stated.

“However, I was always interested in floristry and went to horticulture school in Slovakia.

“I left my CV with two florists in Killester and got two interviews.”

Lilla said she was offered a position in both shops but decided to accept a job offer with The Green Door Florist.

“I was working there for six years and got the opportunity to take over the shop on October 1 2012,” she added.

Lilla intends to continue leaving the lonely bouquets in public places. Keep your eyes open in the coming weeks and you might just be one of the lucky recipients!   http://dublinpeople.com/article.php?id=2605&l=100