In recent weeks I have had the honour to show how much some of you care, when family and friends have lost loved ones.

Sometimes I have visited the house several times to deliver your kind thoughts as a flowery gift with such caring words in the cards.

For one particular lady, it was all too much for her. Her house was full of beautiful flowers and she really had appreciated all of them, but on my last visit she seemed so overwelmed. I asked if she was okay, and she explained that she really didn't have another vessel for these flowers.

I deliver flowers in sturdy plastic vases that I keep topped up with water in the back of my car. I try not to use boxes and cellophane, they are not eco friendly and they are expensive, I would rather give you extra flowers for your money, so I was happy to lend her my delivery vase.

But this got me thinking, perhaps when we send flowers at a time of distress we should ask our florist for advice about what to send.

One customer asked for one of my jam jars. He was close to his work colleague and he just wanted her to know he was thinking of her. She was still talking about her jam jar weeks later.

Every florist has supplies of many different types of containers, vases, boxes or even a teacup that we can make lovely designs into and we would all be happy to advise and work to your budget.

It was just a thought, and I know for all the orders I get at these difficult times that you want to show you care.