NORWICH – Pires Flower Basket, Inc. took to downtown Norwich on Wednesday in an effort to brighten people's days using flower power.

As part of its second annual Petal It Forward initiative, Pires Flower Basket, Inc. staff were stationed at a crosswalk on South Broad Street in Norwich on Wednesday to hand out 750 bouquets of flowers for free to travelers.

"The idea is to feel the power of giving flowers," said Pires Flowers Basket, Inc. owner Rick Williams. "We hand two bouquets to a passerby. They get to keep one, and the other bouquet they're to hand off to a friend or family member to hopefully brighten their day."