Tulips Are Another Favorite for Valentine’s Day Giving

Whether you have sticky typing fingers or just don’t know the correct words to key in, you aren’t alone in stumbling over your keyboard trying to find the perfect search terms to lead you to the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your loved one.

No matter. The end result is that, here, you have actually found some advice that should set you on the road to choosing the perfect blossoms for your beloved. We’ve gathered some valuable information to help you on your quest. But let’s start first with the search terms that got you started in your pursuit for posies: Valentines roses. You were searching for how or where or what kind of roses to buy for Valentine’s Day, correct? Ah! But here’s the real question: Must you buy roses for Valentine’s Day?

You may be surprised at the answer…

Valentines Rose or Valentine’s Rose—the Apostrophe Doesn’t Matter, Nor Does the Flower

Men, over the years, have developed the belief that only one flower typifies this February holiday: the traditional Valentines Day rose. But not just any rose. The red rose. As a result, the floral industry has to ramp up its efforts every year to try and come up with enough red roses to meet that heightened demand. That means flower growers kick it into high gear to push blooms to bud at exactly the right time, resulting in crazy-busy efforts to get the flowers harvested, processed, imported, trucked and then delivered to your florist so that she still has enough time to design a bouquet of Valentines roses that will blow your lady’s socks off (or whatever undergarment you prefer).

A Red Rose Is Traditional for Valentine’s Day

The pressure to provide roses in such abundance in such a limited window is enormous. Thus, red-rose prices end up far higher during the holiday season than at any other time of the year to cover all the extra costs associated with this frantic production cycle.

And what’s even crazier? Women don’t necessarily even prefer red roses! Sure, they are traditional, and lovely and romantic. But a variety of surveys, albeit very informal, show that women prefer other flowers. Maybe it’s the fact that roses are so traditional, and modern-day ladies want something a bit more unique, fun or personal. Whatever the case, you can feel confident that choosing blossoms other than roses won’t put you in the doghouse.

So what other choices should you consider? We asked some florists from across the continent for the second-most-requested flowers behind the Valentines rose. Following are the results of our unscientific poll to help you choose the best flowers for your favorite gal.

Favorite Valentine Flowers

Tulips

Tulips were the absolute favorite among our florist friends. What’s great about tulips is not only do woman love them, but they are also extremely affordable at Valentine’s Day. That’s because they are in season during February. So, for the same price as a Valentines Day rose in that crimson hue, you can get several bunches of tulips and bequeath your love with a dramatic, show-stopping bouquet.

Many Women Prefer Red Tulips to Red Roses

Stargazer Lilies

These beauties are preferred by anyone who longs for a perfumed aroma from their purchase. Stargazers are a variety of lily renowned for their fragrance, as well as buds that continue to open for several days after purchase.

Stargazer Lilies Are Loved for Their Fragrance

Orchids

A stem of orchids often sells at the same price point as a Valentines rose stem, but orchids typically have a longer vase life. The hardy blooms come in a huge assortment of styles and colors, too, so you can choose a variety that matches your gal’s particular preferences.

Orchids Are Often Preferred for Their Long Vase Life

Callas

These stately flowers (often referred to as calla lilies) are typically available in white, but other shades of pink, yellow and burgundy are also offered. Set a bouquet next to one of that traditional Valentines Day rose and you’ll see immediately what the appeal is.

Mixed Bunches

A potpourri of posies is often the preferred choice, mixing a rainbow of colors or blending a hue of monochromatic colors. You’ll often get the biggest bang for your buck with a mixed bunch, too, because the blend of high-priced flowers with less-expensive ones allows for a larger arrangement. A related option is to request a mixed bouquet of colored Valentines roses. Either option—according to our florist friends—will satisfy your sweetheart’s sweet spot.

Written by

Gina Kellogg

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Ancient cultures certainly recognized the phenomena involving the connections between human experience and flowers, which explains the consistent presence of flowers at important societal ceremonies, such as births, marriages and funerals.

Bouquet of White Roses With Yellow Calla Lilies | Image: PhotoRack

Besides the symbolism flowers represent (the German philosopher Goethe claimed that when he looked at a flower with the naked eye, he could instinctively experience our whole cycle of existence), as well as the “meanings” associated with individual flower varieties or colors, there is certainly much more. Flowers truly do touch us profoundly and mysteriously.

Flowers, Feng Shui and Positive Welfare

Flowers help us achieve improved health, happiness and productivity. For instance, for those who practice Feng Shui, flowers help balance the energy between natural and manmade objects that is central to Feng Shui.

Rose Bridal Bouquet | Image: Magnus Rosendahl

Drawing from science, several universities have released similar studies finding solid links between flowers and human health, happiness and workplace productivity, confirming what many have observed intuitively — and seeming to verify what ancient cultures have emphasized for thousands of years.

For example, Rutgers University’s study revealed “the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction and affects social behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is normally believed,” according to Dr. Jeannette Haviland-Jones, professor of research at Rutgers and lead researcher on the study. “What’s most exciting about this study is that it challenges established scientific beliefs about how people can manage their day-to-day moods in a healthy and natural way,” explained Haviland-Jones.

Could it be science is finally catching up to this power that flowers possess, much like the medical field has come to accept acupuncture as a viable, mainstream solution to a wide range of human health problems?

Real-Life Affirmation

You don’t have to convince Dianne Morgado, Morgado Nursery (Keaau, Hawaii). Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 and having left a career in banking and finance behind, Morgado was invited to help a friend with an orchid-growing operation he was starting up. Stressed out, feeling down and without much self-confidence, Morgado discovered that growing and just being around orchids was a “life-affirming and life-changing” experience.

She was so taken by the experience that she decided to start her own orchid farm in 2002. Today, it has three greenhouses and is still growing. Not surprisingly, Morgado credits orchids with helping make her a cancer survivor. Listening to her speak so lovingly of orchids is much like reading the noted 19th century French author Marcel Proust, who — when thinking of the silk-and-satin texture of orchids — spoke of “the passionate longing one feels sometimes for a particular flower.”

White Wedding Bouquet | Image: PhotoRack

Flowers’ Energetic, Magnetic Attraction

What seems to be the unifying theme here with acupuncture, Feng Shui and the therapeutic and uplifting effects of flowers, is energy. Perhaps the Ancients were right and the secrets of health, happiness and productivity is the flow of energy within us, within our environment and the recognition that flowers enhance connectivity between the two.

It is fitting that the flower industry is now in the position of offering consumers a range of products, not just for their beauty and artistry, but more importantly because they provide that valuable connection and balance between the natural world and our own stressed-out world.

This makes it even more important for anyone who cares about flowers to work toward supporting a goal of providing the freshest, longest-lasting flowers that will encourage everyone to make flowers part of their daily lives.

Written by

Terry Johnson

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Specifically, 81 percent of seniors who participated in a study by Rutgers University (Newark, N.J., U.S.A.) reported a reduction in depression following the receipt of flowers. Forty percent of seniors reported broadening their social contacts beyond their normal social circle of family and close friends. And 72 percent of the seniors who received flowers scored very high on memory tests in comparison with seniors who did not receive flowers.

Did you need any better reasons to send flowers than that?

Save money when you send a loved one flowers.

Sending Flowers with Wire Services

If your Grandma lives across the country from you, you may immediately turn to a wire service to handle the task. When you use these services, you typically visit the company’s website, scroll among images of various flower arrangements, make your selection and pay online. From there, the service sends the order to a florist affiliated with that wire service in the city where you want the flowers delivered. (If you call your local florist to request a long-distance flower order, that shop will usually rely on a wire service to do the same thing.)

Because florists can’t maintain a full inventory of every available flower, they will often have to substitute varieties within an arrangement when fulfilling an order they receive via a wire service. Most websites include a disclaimer that informs the customer that substitutions are a possibility, including variances in containers. As a result, the final arrangement delivered to a loved one may not look exactly like the one shown on the website image.

Another aspect of using a wire service is the possibility that you may pay extra fees—not so in all parts of the world but prevalent in certain countries. To make a profit, these wire services charge fees to cover the costs affiliated with maintaining the network, creating the website, marketing flowers in ad campaigns and other related costs of business. Typically, those fees get added to the price of the flower arrangement. In some cases, these fees can be substantial.

Finding a Local Florist

Ten or 15 years ago, that process made sense. After all, trying to locate the name of a florist near Grandma’s home wasn’t an easy task. But today, the Internet has simplified that undertaking. Using Google maps or another search engine, you can now type in Grandma’s address and then simply search for florists nearby. Voila! The search engine provides a map showing local florists, including phone numbers and, often, even direct links to the retailers’ websites. You can then contact the florist directly. You’ll benefit in multiple ways. For one, you can talk to the florist and describe the type of arrangement you want to send, and the florist can verify what flowers and containers are available to meet your desires. In addition, you’ll save on the fees you would have otherwise paid for the convenience of using a wire service.

Finding a Local Florist with Google Maps

How to Find a Reliable Florist

Concerned that choosing a “random” florist will result in an arrangement that doesn’t meet your standards? Here’s another tip: Search for a funeral business near Grandma’s home. Then call that number and ask the funeral director to recommend a nearby florist. Funeral homes develop close relationships with florists and are familiar with who provides the best service and quality. You can rest assured you’ll be referred to someone who will deliver a flower arrangement that will bring a smile to Grandma’s face—and keep her smiling for days afterward.

You can also use a reliable online florist directory that lists recommended florists in your area. We’ve started building a directory of recommended florists in South Africa, and may extend this service to other countries in the near future.

For more information on finding a florist online and ordering flowers safely, read this article.

Make a Personal Delivery

Live close enough to take flowers to Grandma personally? Consider creating an arrangement in a fun, cheerful and reusable cupcake vase. You simply place individual stems of flowers in holes located on the top of the cupcake-shaped holder to create the floral frosting. Available on Amazon, the vases are available in a variety of colors—pink, yellow, white, turquoise and chocolate brown.

A reusable cupcake vase makes it easy to create a portable gift – Photo courtesy of Joster International

More Information:

Get the Research. Want details on the research proving flowers’ effects on seniors? Check out information published by the Society of American Florists: “Flowers & Seniors Study”

As always, we would love to hear you. What has your experience with using wire services been, or do you prefer searching for a local florist. Let us know in the comments below.

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Don’t wait until your sweetheart appears with a bouquet of blooms to give your home some floral flair. The health benefits of adorning your abode with flowers are worth splurging on the blossoms for yourself. Science proves it.

Emotional Benefits in a Vase

A behavioral research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School (Boston), reveals that people feel more compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less depressed when fresh-cut flowers are present in the home.

“Other research has proven that flowers make people happy when they receive them,” Etcoff says. “What we didn’t know is that spending a few days with flowers in the home can affect a wide variety of feelings.”

The Home Ecology of Flowers Study at Harvard uncovered three main findings:

Flowers feed compassion

Study participants who lived with fresh-cut flowers for less than a week felt an increase in feelings of compassion and kindness for others.

Flowers chase away anxieties, worries and the blues

Overall, people in the study simply felt less negative after being around flowers at home for just a few days. Participants most frequently placed flowers in their kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms – those areas of the home where they spend a lot of time. They reported wanting to see the blooms first thing in the morning. Etcoff explains, “The morning blahs, it turns out, is a real phenomenon, with positive moods – happiness, friendliness and warmth, for example – manifesting much later in the day.” She adds, “Interestingly, when we placed a small bouquet of flowers into their morning routines, people perked up.”

Living with flowers can provide a boost of energy, happiness and enthusiasm at work

Having flowers at home can have a positive carryover impact on your mood at work, too. The study found that people were more likely to feel happier and have more enthusiasm and energy at work when flowers were in their home living environments.

Flowers Make People Happy

“As a psychologist, I’m particularly intrigued to find that people who live with flowers report fewer episodes of anxiety and depressed feelings,” Etcoff says. “Our results suggest that flowers have a positive impact on our well-being.”

Etcoff was also surprised at the long-lasting effects flowers had on people’s moods. “What I find interesting is that, by starting the day in a more positive mood, you are likely to transfer those happier feelings to others – it’s what is called mood contagion,” Etcoff explains. “And, the kitchen is the place where families tend to gather in the morning. Imagine how big a difference a better morning mood can make?”

For more on the positive benefits of flowers to your emotional and mental health, read this article by InLieuOfFlowers.info.

Written by

Gina Kellogg

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe to our Updates, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

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2. Valentine’s Day: Just One More Reason to Give Flowers
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