Summerport florist spreading smiles with free arrangements

No. 1 Flowers owner Jo Carter isn’t turning lemons into lemonade, but the sentiment is the same.

Following a flood of COVID-19-related event cancellations and postponements, Carter and her flower distributor, Orlando-based Pennock Floral, had a surplus of flowers — all sitting in coolers without a purpose. Rather than seeing them go to waste, Carter, a Summerport resident, now is using them to spread a few smiles in Winter Garden, Windermere and Horizon West.

“I went and I picked up lots and lots of flowers and decided I would make some arrangements to give out to the community (and) to our first responders to try and put some smiles on people’s faces and to give me something to do since all of my April and May weddings have been postponed or canceled,” Carter said. “I feel (like) everyone is down right now. Our economy is down right now, and I just like to see peoples’ faces when I (give) arrangements. … The slogan I went with (is), ‘I hope this makes you smile.’ That’s the only reason why (I’m doing this): to give people something to smile about; give them some hope. This too will pass, and we’re in this together.” 

Carter has a variety of flowers such as roses, orchids, gerbera daisies, hydrangeas, peonies and more. Residents who know of someone who could use a smile can contact Carter to arrange for a delivery. She also has given her flowers to random homes in local neighborhoods.

“Everything is free,” Carter said. “We’re not taking money at all, so if (residents) know of anyone that could use a smile (they can call us). We’re (also) just going through the neighborhoods and dropping them off on doorsteps — ringing the doorbell and leaving — with our masks and gloves.”