Dear Annie: Should I tell my associate the flowers they sent werenât of quality?

Dear Annie: I wonder if you and your readers can give me some advice. I was ill recently and received a lovely floral gift from a business associate. One type of flower included was on its last legs, while the rest were fresh. The florist also stuffed fern into the water, which created a pretty look but made the water murky and the display appear rotting.

Normally I would phone the florist with my comments, but their name was not on the paperwork. The gift giver is a high-end business type, and I feel they would be most unhappy with the quality of this gift. Can or should I do anything about this? — Nancy in the Villages

Dear Nancy: The most important thing is to thank your business associate for the lovely gesture. You could send him a picture of the bouquet to thank him. Then, in a separate phone call or a conversation in person, let him know the condition of the flowers. I’m sure he would want to know for future arrangements that he sends to friends that this florist is NOT living up to expectations.

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“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].