My favourite alternative to sending flowers is Edible Arrangements. They're just as beautiful as flower arrangements but you get to eat them instead of throwing them out after a week or two. This is a great idea to send to people just home from the hospital with a newborn or recovering from surgery as it's a ready made snack they can grab out of the fridge and enjoy. I have recently discovered another alternative to sending flowers - PopFlowerShop. These brightly coloured blooms are made of dirt-resistant lightweight polypropylene plastic made from recyclable #5 plastic. They're the perfect item to send to someone in the hospital as they are cheerful, low maintenance, fragrance free and hypoallergenic.