The Ten Thousand Flowers Project

What is this about anyway?

I’m drawing ten thousand flowers on index cards and giving them away to people.

Why?

Because I derive enjoyment from senseless acts of beauty.

When did you start doing this?

June 12, 2011.

Why ten thousand?

When I got it in my head that I was going to draw flowers on index cards and give them away, I decided I needed a specific number to shoot for so it would be a quantifiable goal instead of a vague aspiration. It’s also extremely likely I was hypomanic at the time, since I was cranking out ten flowers a day when I was starting out, and figured I’d be done inside of three years. (I’m down to two flowers per drawing session, so we’re looking at a while yet.) I can’t rely on hypomania to enhance my productivity, especially now that I’m on mood stabilizers, but I’m determined to see it through.

The Google tells me that there’s a 13th-century poem that refers to ‘ten thousand flowers’ by a Buddhist monk known as Wumen Huikai but I wasn’t aware of it until after I’d embarked on the project.

Why are they free?

When I began the project, I was unemployed in the midst of the Great Recession, and I didn’t have very many ways to be generous with people. I briefly considered selling the flowers for a dollar apiece, but I decided I’d rather give them away so I could have at least something coming out of me into the world that fit with my introverted way of being.

I want a flower! How can I get one?

It is now easier than ever to get a flower. Simply send the mailing address you would like it to go to free@10kflowers.com. (It doesn’t have to be your address, but do at least ask the recipient if they would like one.) No SASE necessary. Be advised that this is not a permanent arrangement, but I’ve recently received a generous donation from a nonprofit and I decided to spend it on stamps and envelopes so it’s easier to spread these flowers throughout the world. I do not know how long I will be making this offer–there are too many variables involved. But for now, an email gets you a flower. Use this power responsibly.

Where can I find out more about this project?

I’m on Bluesky, Mastodon and Instagram under @wonderbink and I’ll post newly-drawn flowers and other updates under the hashtag #10KFlowers.

Flowers Made: 5,145

Flowers Remaining: 4,855

Flowers Given: 1,428

Flowers Lost: 10

Flowers Destroyed: 1