Local Business Spreads Joy and Stress Relief, Two Bouquets at a Time
Rockville, MD, October 12, 2026 -- Calluna Flower Truck is joining dozens of floral businesses nationwide to surprise visitors at Neighbors Coffee in Rockville with two free mini bouquets — one to keep and one to give to a friend, family member, colleague, or even a stranger.
The event will take place on Wednesday, October 14, from 8 a.m. to noon, or while supplies last.
The random act of kindness initiative, called Petal It Forward and organized by the Society of American Florists (SAF), is designed to help people start their day with more joy and less stress. The effort also highlights research from the University of North Florida (UNF) showing that living with flowers can reduce stress.
“Petal It Forward is the floral industry’s way of giving back,” said Elizabeth Daly, SAF’s manager of marketing and communications, citing the effort was purposefully planned for a Wednesday to help the mid-week slump. Elissa Abod, of Calluna Flower Truckwanted to be a part of the mood-boosting effort, and make a difference in the community. “People light up the moment they see the flower truck, and I want to share that feeling with as many people as possible”, said Abod.
The research findings on flowers and stress relief, and the need for mood-boosting gestures, seem timely: A survey by Wakefield Research in July showed that 68 percent of Americans experience stress weekly, and 32 percent report feeling stressed daily. Women are even more affected, with 25 percent reporting feeling stress multiple times a day.
Abod says the original idea behind Petal It Forward’s ‘keep one, share one’ concept, which started in 2015, came after looking at statistics that showed while 80 percent of people reported receiving flowers makes them happy, even more (88 percent) said that giving flowers makes them happy. “We want to give people the chance to experience both,” said Abod.
In addition to the research on stress, previous behavioral studies conducted by RutgersandHarvard scientifically demonstrate the positive impact flowers have on emotional wellbeing.
For information on the effects of flowers on stress research, visit safnow.org/health-benefits-research/
About Calluna Flower Truck
Founded in 2022, Calluna Flower Truck is a woman-owned mobile floral business serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Featuring "Alice," a charming 1951 Tiffany-blue pickup truck, Calluna brings flowers directly to people through community pop-ups, interactive flower bars, private celebrations, and corporate brand activations. Guided by its mission of "Spreading joy one flower at a time," Calluna creates memorable experiences that bring people together.
About the Society of American Florists
The Society of American Florists is the national trade association to the floral industry, representing growers, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, importers, educators, designers and allied organizations.