Blueprint for DIY wreaths takes off
A florist has devised a blooming great way to honour war veterans this Anzac Day and for Kiwis to show solidarity in the battle against Covid-19.
Leisha Davies, the owner of New Plymouth’s Simply Blooming Florist and Gifts, has created a series of online tutorials to show how to make their own wreaths from bits and pieces they can find in their backyards so they can display them outside their homes to show support and honour the country’s service men and women.
With the traditional parades and dawn services on April 25 banned due to coronavirus, Davies wants to ensure those who paid the ultimate price during the conflicts to protect society’s freedom will not be forgotten.
‘‘It’s another way for everyone in the community to show even though it’s tough times now, it has been tougher for those who fought in the wars,’’ Davies said.
‘‘We are all making our own sacrifices now but it’s a lockdown thing. We are not actually sacrificing our lives but we are both doing it for the good of the country. This is just a different kind of war.’’
This week the Royal New Zealand Returned Services Association (RNZRSA) announced,with the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), Anzac Day services would be commemorated with a 6am virtual dawn service and encouraged the community to take part by standing at their letterbox, front door, lounge or backyard to show their support.
Davies, whose greatgrandfather Sergeant Douglas Francis Proffit served in World War II, devised her plan after making a wreath while rummaging through her garden and posting it on social media.
‘‘You don’t need anything special, it’s just what you have got in your own garden.’’
Within days she had 3000 followers and now she wants to see if the idea can gain traction nationally similar to placing teddy bears in windows.
‘‘Why not take the next step and do it for this. Everybody is backing the nation and doing what they are told by staying home. I guess it was the same way in the wars, everybody backed our nation and the allies and did what they had to do for society.’’
RNZRSA chief executive
Karen Rolleston thought Davies’ idea was wonderful.
‘‘We think it’s absolutely fantastic when individuals can come up with they own way of showing New Zealanders how to commemorate during this lockdown time,’’ Rolleston said.
‘‘There are a number of people already decorating their gates, fences or letterboxes with their own version of poppies or Anzac themed ideas.’’
Rolleston said the idea worked in with its Stand at Dawn campaign which encouraged people to make Anzac themed displays as a tribute to veterans.
When Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the lockdown, Davies had just bought a week’s supply of flowers but rather than letting them go to waste she made 25 bouquets and presented them to the staff in the emergency department of Taranaki Base Hospital with a note saying ‘‘you guys rock’’ and also donated 16 to local funeral homes.
‘‘It’s all about giving back to the community.’’
Davies’ tutorials can be found on the Simply Blooming Florist Facebook page.