Florist to Celebrate Good Neighbor Day

Reseda will be coming up roses on Wednesday as part of a florist’s promotion intended to introduce folks to their neighbors.

Beginning at 8 a.m., Allen’s Flowers will give away 5,000 roses as part of an annual tradition among florists across the country known as “Good Neighbor Day.”

While supplies last, visitors will each receive a dozen roses with instructions to give 11 flowers to people they meet during the day.

“We have never done it before,” explained Jacqueline Goldman, who has owned the store with her husband, Nace, since 1985. “I just thought it was a really nice way of giving back to the community. It promotes goodwill.”

Last year, a Chatsworth florist gave away more than 1,000 roses to customers who promised to distribute them throughout the community.

Goldman won’t know how much the 5,000 flowers will cost the store until Tuesday but estimates that each dozen retails for about $20.

The promotion is also a way of reintroducing the shop to the community after a long recovery from the 1994 earthquake, she explained.

The shop was closed for many months due to extensive damage, missing crucial floral industry events such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

“It’s a nice way of letting people know we’re back,” she said.

Best of all, she added, the cheer embodied in a rose is a powerful weapon in overcoming some people’s resistance to making new acquaintances.

“It’s a nice way of getting people over that hurdle to say, ‘Hi. I’m your neighbor,’ ” she said.

Allen’s Flowers is situated at 18500 Sherman Way. For more information, call (818) 996-2603.