From Our Bench
From our bench
Every arrangement has a story. These are the moments that have stayed with us — the kindnesses, the goodbyes, and the love letters lived out in flowers.
In over 25 years of arranging flowers, some orders stay with you. This is one we’ll never forget.
The Queen of His World
Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of meeting many wonderful customers, but one story has always stayed with us.
Rick, from Cairns, has a tradition. Whenever he visits the Gold Coast, one of his first stops is Flowers of Southport.
The flowers are always for his mum.
Now 93 years old, she has always loved gladioli, so that’s what Rick buys for her every time he visits.
One order in particular stands out. When Queen Elizabeth II passed away, Rick wanted to send his mother something special. Along with a bouquet of gladioli, he included a message that we still remember today:
“The world may have lost a Queen, but I still have mine.”
It was simple, heartfelt and impossible to forget.
In a business filled with birthdays, anniversaries and celebrations, it’s often these quiet acts of love that leave the biggest impression.
Thank you, Rick, for letting us be a small part of your story over the years.
The Bouquet That Travelled 14,000 Kilometres
Not every bouquet starts with a celebration. Sometimes it starts with a phone call.
Recently we received an order from a customer living overseas who wanted to surprise her mum here on the Gold Coast. They hadn’t seen each other in person for years, but she wanted her mum to know she was thinking of her. We carefully selected soft seasonal blooms, added a handwritten message, and delivered the flowers that same afternoon.
A few hours later, we received a message saying there were tears, smiles and a very long phone call.
It’s a lovely reminder that flowers aren’t just flowers. Sometimes they’re hugs that travel thousands of kilometres.
The Valentine’s Day Standard He Couldn’t Escape
A few years ago, a young man came into the shop before Valentine’s Day with a big plan. It was his first Valentine’s with his girlfriend, and he wanted to make it unforgettable. His solution? One hundred roses.
We arranged them, delivered them, and everything went perfectly. The surprise was a success, and his girlfriend was so overwhelmed she cried.
The following year he returned, this time deciding to be a little more sensible. Instead of 100 roses, he ordered 24.
The next day, he walked back in looking slightly concerned. The flowers had been well received, but not quite as well as the year before. His girlfriend had cried again, but for a completely different reason: she was convinced he didn’t love her as much anymore, because she’d received fewer roses than on their first Valentine’s.
He looked at us and said, “I think I’ve made a terrible mistake.” Then he ordered another 100-rose arrangement.
Ever since, he’s returned every Valentine’s Day for 100 roses. What started as a romantic gesture became a tradition he can never escape.
It’s one of our favourite reminders that sometimes the biggest challenge isn’t choosing the perfect flowers — it’s living up to your own success.
The Anniversary We Delivered Ourselves
A few days before, a husband had placed an order with us, and he had taken the time to explain why it mattered. It was their 26th wedding anniversary, and his wife is very unwell. He wanted the day to feel special, the way it always had.
Then the storm came. Weather alarms went out across the Gold Coast, roads began to flood, and we made the call to close the shop and send our team home early so everyone got back safely. Which left one bouquet still waiting, and a promise we had made to a husband days earlier.
So we did not send a driver. My husband and I packed the flowers, covered them against the rain, and delivered them ourselves.
The roads were slow and the weather was against us the whole way, but the bouquet reached her that afternoon, exactly as he had hoped. Twenty-six years deserved nothing less.
Some orders are about flowers. This one was about a promise — and about a man who wanted the woman he loves to know that no storm was going to change how he felt.
Talk to our florists about your anniversary →
(07) 5632 8633 · or order online — we treat anniversary orders like the promises they are.
The Wedding That Almost Had No Flowers
A few days before her wedding, a bride called us in a panic. Her original florist had fallen through, and some of the flowers she’d planned were no longer available. With the big day almost here, she wasn’t sure what to do.
After a quick chat, we stepped in, suggested a few alternatives, and started redesigning the arrangements around what was fresh and in season. The result wasn’t exactly what she’d originally planned. It was even better.
Seeing the ceremony come together reminded us that flexibility, creativity and a little trust can turn a stressful situation into something beautiful.
The Native Banksia That Refused to Fade
Several months after buying a native arrangement, a customer came back into the shop carrying one of the banksias from her bouquet. To our surprise, it still looked fantastic. The flowers had naturally dried at home, keeping their shape, texture and character long after the fresh blooms had faded.
Australian natives have a wonderful ability to age gracefully, which is one reason we love working with them. That conversation inspired us to share some of our favourite tips for drying native flowers, so you can enjoy them for months, or even years, after they’re received.
The Funeral Tribute We Will Never Forget
For years, a quiet gentleman would come into our shop every two weeks to order a fresh bouquet for his wife. They were a regular fixture of our week — he would chat with our florists about what was in season, what she had loved last time, and choose every stem himself. He told us once, with a small smile, that he probably loved the flowers more than she did.
When he passed away unexpectedly, his wife called the shop. She asked us to arrange every flower for his funeral — the casket spray, the family tributes, the bouquets for the service. “He was the one who truly loved them,” she said. “It only feels right that his goodbye is full of them.”
It is one of the most quietly meaningful pieces of work our florists have ever done. Funeral flowers are never just flowers — they carry a story, a habit, a love letter that someone lived out week after week. We do not take that lightly.
(07) 5632 8633 · we will guide you gently through the choices.
Some moments remind us exactly why we do this. This one happened on a rainy Saturday.
The Power of a Random Act of Kindness
At Flowers of Southport, we believe in the power of small gestures and the joy that flowers can bring to people’s lives. One rainy Saturday, a heartwarming story unfolded that reminded us exactly why we do what we do.
A customer recently visited our store and shared a touching memory. “You probably don’t remember me,” he said, “but on a rainy Saturday, your husband ran after me and my mother, who was in a wheelchair. He gave my mum some flowers and said they were a gift from Flowers of Southport.”
His mother was overjoyed by this unexpected act of kindness. “My mum was so happy; she took care of those flowers and told everyone about that experience,” he continued.
“When I saw her that happy, I knew I had to become your regular. I love seeing those shiny eyes whenever I can.”
He also told us he always recommends us to others — not just because of the kind gesture, but because the flowers lasted so long, too.
What this customer experienced is part of our Saturday tradition. Every Saturday, we give flowers away to unsuspecting customers — just to brighten their day and put a smile on their faces. We believe in giving back to our community and spreading joy, one flower at a time.
Stories like these remind us that what we do goes beyond selling flowers. We have the chance to create memories, spread happiness and make a difference in people’s lives — and it’s the reason we pour our hearts into every arrangement.
At Flowers of Southport, we’re not just in the business of selling flowers — we’re in the business of creating smiles and memories that last a lifetime.