What to send
Christmas arrangements are usually about colour rather than meaning — deep reds, evergreens, cream. In this set, a camellia with a lily covers that palette without the tinsel.
For someone who has had a hard year, skip the festive red and send lavender or a magnolia instead. December is not cheerful for everyone, and the standard Christmas bouquet can feel like an instruction to be happy.
What to write
Christmas messages are the most generic messages of the year. “Merry Christmas and a happy new year” is what everyone sends. Say something about the actual year instead — what they got through, what changed, what you are glad about.
If you have not spoken in months, say that too. “We have not talked since the summer and I wanted to fix that” is a better Christmas message than any greeting.
For the people you cannot visit
Send it on the day, not a week early. The point of a link is that it lands in the moment rather than sitting under the tree.