The Last Minute Flower Guide

Flowers are one of the most popular gifts on Valentine’s Day. However, many people forget the meaning behind this thoughtful present in the rush to find something for their significant other. Here are a few important things to remember when purchasing flowers:

1. The Amount of Flowers: If this is a new romance, it is okay to go with one rose or a smaller bouquet, but if the relationship has been going on for some time, it might be nice to think about a larger arrangement.

2. The Color: Many people do not know the flower’s color often has a certain meaning. Take roses, for example: red represents love; white stands for innocence and purity; pink represents admiration; yellow stands for friendship, and orange represents passion and desire.

According to Oscar Hansen, owner of Glidden Campus Florist, the meaning behind roses’ color is a custom that is still practiced today.

3. The Flower: The most common flower given on Valentine’s Day (or any other day for that matter) is the rose. Hansen said Glidden Florists have 5,000 roses shipped to the store to accommodate sales for their biggest day of the year. Instead, why not give that someone special a unique flower that will represent how special that person is?

Picking a flower for its meaning was more popular in the Victorian era, Hansen said. Nonetheless, here is a list of some lesser-known flowers that could make or break a bouquet:

Stargazer Lilies (pink): flirting, sweetness

Tulips: love and passion

Orchids: beauty

Daisies: fidelity

Chrysanthemum: cheerfulness, good friend

Carnations (yellow and striped): rejection

Orange Lily: hatred

Snapdragons: deception

4. The Price: One misconception is that one must go to a florist to purchase flowers. However, that is not the case. While a florist can help make a customized bouquet and help the customer on a more one-on-one basis; there are other places to shop. It is easy to find a beautiful, quality bouquet at grocery stores for a much lower price.

Remember, it’s the thought that counts.