Armed with a smile and a 150 dozen roses, Lynn Johnston, opened her store, Serenity Floral, this morning ready to celebrate National Good Neighbor Day.

Johnston, as advertised, was giving away a dozen roses to anyone who walked in her store on Washington Street.

“I didn’t know what to expect but this is so much fun,” Johnston said. Depending on the season and demand, long-stemmed roses can retail for $5 or more each.

Johnston said she was inspired by Greenbrook, a floral shop in Jackson that started the one-day giveaway six years ago.

“I always wanted to do this because flowers make people happy,” she said.

Celebrated the first Wednesday of September, the idea is for the recipient the take the dozen roses and pass them out to friends and neighbors.

“I live on a street with a lot of elderly people, and I was going to give them one,” said Susan Payne, as she left to distribute her tokens of goodwill.

Johnston opened the doors at 8 a.m., one hour early, to give people a head start. Thirty minutes later, her store was filled with a dozen customers for a dozen roses each.

“I love to see all these smiling faces. It makes me feel good to do this,” she said.

Johnston, who also paid to advertise the giveaway, said it was a way for her to show her appreciation to the community.

“I opened my store a year and a half ago and everyone has been so supportive of me. This is a way to say thanks,” she said.

“I think this is a great idea and something we need more of,” said one customer, Debbie Strange.

Johnston said next year she hopes to have even more roses to give.

“I hope this is going to be something that will grow every year,” she said.