Flower Power Mobile

In early April, a team of ambassadors representing the Society of American Florists trekked through the Pacific Northwest in a vintage-style van — “The Flower Power Mobile” — offering unsuspecting people free flowers and tips to alleviate stress. Their journey from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon to Seattle spurred a flurry of news stories in the region’s biggest media markets, as journalists clamored to cover not only the visually compelling vehicle and bouquet giveaways, but also the scientific research supporting flowers’ stress-reducing powers. …

According to recent studies, eight out of 10 Americans feel stressed out — many of them chronically (68 percent experience stress weekly and 32 percent endure it daily). To call attention to the widespread problem with serious repercussions, health professionals have designated April “Stress Awareness Month.” …