LOCAL FLORIST HELPS SPREAD KINDNESS WITH FREE ROSES

The saying goes, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Some think it's sweeter when it's free.

Knaup Floral, in conjunction with KGMO, MIX 104.7-FM and FTD Florists, distributed more than 10,000 free roses in bunches of a dozen for people to pass on to others, keeping one for themselves. Hundreds of FTD florists nationwide participated in the event.

"They were gone in less than an hour," said Kathryn Landewee of Knaup.

Many lined up before the 7:30 a.m. opening time on Wednesday to make sure they got roses.

This is the third year Knaup Floral has participated in Good Neighbor Day.

"Every rose we received for this promotion was given away," said Landewee. "We handed out over 500 dozen to customers in our store and donated 150 dozen to each hospital so that every patient would get one."

Knaup Floral was the only local florist shop that participated in the promotion. Others in the region that had sponsored the giveaway previously said many who received the roses didn't keep up their end of the bargain by distributing them.

"We've always received positive feedback," said Landewee. "Many people who come in are people who give them to their co-workers. Others say that they are giving them to friends they haven't seen in awhile or neighbors they don't know. That's the spirit of why we do this."

Florists participating in the promotion purchase the roses to be given away. "We bear the cost because we believe that flowers can really brighten one's spirits, and we want to promote friendship and goodwill," said Landewee. Knaup Floral increased their order this year from around 3,500 to 10,000 roses.