Kristin Finan @kristinfinan Mar 24, 2020 at 6:10 PM Thousands of flowers in rainbow hues were all destined for the trash. For Bryan Sandy, manager of the Austin Flower Company, a floral wholesaler facing an indefinite closing starting Tuesday night because of the coronavirus epidemic, the idea was heartbreaking. "It just seems like a big waste to throw away something that beautiful," Sandy said. "I’d rather have people enjoy it than just throw it away." In an effort to spread the joy that flowers bring, Sandy partnered with a handful of local designers to create a sprawling floral installation on the Long Center’s H-E-B Terrace that appeared on Tuesday night and will stand as a love letter to Austin for the next 48 hours. RELATED: Coronavirus in Austin: Trader Joe’s surprise for bride who canceled wedding For Katie Nopola, a freelance floral designer who helped organize the installation, it’s a way to spread light during a dark moment. "It’s a very scary time for each and every one of us. We’ve lost tens of thousands of dollars between our companies. We’ve lost all our weddings until at least probably the fall," Nopola said. "It’s kind of our last chance to showcase a little beauty and bring a smile to people’s faces. Mother Nature is thriving in all of this, and, as artists, we want to create love and joy and happiness. We’re happy that we can do that in any capacity." When Nopola became aware of the Austin Flower Company’s impending closure, she floated the idea of the installation to other floral designers including Samantha McCrary of Bricolage Curated Florals, Valerie Wolf of Davy Gray, Amy and Dale Dyer of Earl Grey Floral, and freelance designer Cherise Rivera. Then, hoping to display the installation in an "iconic Austin setting," […]