Valentine Flowers
Published by Katie at January 10th, 2010Men have sent Valentine flowers to their wives and girlfriends for years. Women have even jumped on this particular bandwagon in more recent years and now send flowers to their husbands and boyfriends on Valentine’s Day. While the custom of sending cards of romance started in the early part of the 19th century, the tradition of sending flowers did not come about until much later. It seems to be one fostered more by the flower industry than by ancient beliefs.
Long stemmed red roses are traditionally associated with Valentine’s Day, although other flowers are catching up. Such blooms as tulips, carnations, azaleas, and sweetheart or miniature roses are becoming popular Valentine flowers as well. There is a rainbow of colors for these flowers, including red, pink, white, peach, lavender, and yellow.
If you choose to buy some roses and present them to your loved one in person, choose blooms that are just starting to open so they will last longer. In order to protect these flowers, wrap them well to protect against cold temperatures. Chilling can cause damage to the blossoms. There are other choices than roses. Ask your florist to create a bouquet of mixed flowers using a red, pink and white color theme. Some good possibilities for these Valentine flowers are daisies, carnations, freesia, tulips, ginger, red anthurium, and alstromeria. Top this off with some sprigs of baby’s breath and you’re good to go.
Another choice for Valentine’s Day flowers is a potted flowering plant. This will be the gift that keeps on giving through the winter. You will be able to find potted azaleas, tulips, chrysanthemums, cyclamens, and other varieties that are unusual blooms. For example, the kalanchoe is a perfect selection. It has bright red flowers that set high up on spikes surrounded by fuzzy leaves and more red, purple, or blue blossoms.
When presenting a flowering potted plant as your Valentine flowers, make sure to choose one that has a lot of buds just about to open instead of just one that’s already in full bloom. Also check the buds, blossoms, and the underneath sides of the leaves for any sign of insects or disease. Attach a card with your gift that explains care instructions.
If you aren’t quite sure what to get, consider a gift certificate from a nursery. In this way, you can be assured that your intended has exactly the type of flower or plant they truly love. You can also make arrangements for rose bushes that can be delivered when it’s a good time to plant them outside.
A gardener may appreciate a gift of seed package “bouquets” rather than Valentine flowers. These seeds can include different varieties of flowers including snapdragons, cosmos, Shasta daisies, asters, zinnias, delphiniums, and baby’s breath. You could also promise to come and plant a perennial or culinary herb garden when it becomes spring.
The important thing to remember when it comes to the perfect flowers for Valentine’s Day is that your selections are limitless. Valentine’s Day isn’t just about roses any more.