Judy Terry| Green Thumb
Imagine working in a floral shop and it is the night before Valentines’ Day.Flowers of every kind waiting to be arranged, orders stacked high, the floor slippery with leaves and stems.A real nightmare, though everyone is awake and probably will be until the last stem is in a vase.
But checking with one shop, I was told it is busy but fun and they love the excitement of the day.
Roses are still the most popular flower for Valentine’s Day and tradition is that color is important when using them your messenger.Red is the classic declaration of love, while white is a symbol of purity, innocence, youthfulness and everlasting love.Red and white together sends a message of unity.
Careful though, if the delicate ivory rose catches your eye.It means thoughtfulness and caring, but without the romantic intentions.
Pink roses are elegant, feminine, refined and project sweetness.A light pink conveys happiness and joy and is a pretty way of saying “Thank you.”
In Victorian times a bouquet of yellow roses would not be well received.It signified jealousy.But its reputation is better now probably due to the bright color. Itsays affection, warmth and is a welcome gift to someone who needs cheering up.
Not only do rose colors have meanings, but the number sent is important, also.
Sending one rose means love at first sight, whereas two may mean you are already a couple. The odd number are important.Five simply means I love you, while nine says your love is eternal.Seven and eleven are not addressed in my internet source so to be safe stay away from them.
Ten is supposed to be the perfect number for a perfect love and a dozenis an outright proposal of marriage.If the need arises to say you are sorry, then better count on fifteen.If you would choose to send exactly 41 long stemmed roses you would be expressing sincere love and care.
One hundred roses show complete devotion and possibly that money is not an object.
Roses are special on Valentine’s Day but there are many other flowers and plants that will express your feelings just as well.Tulips might be the breath of spring one needs if the day is cold and snowy.Yellow daisies would help on a gloomy day.
Orchids, blooming on Valentine’s Day, could still be beautiful at Easter. Palenopsis, sometimes called the moth orchid, often lasts for two to threemonths.
I am partial to gardenias.They don’t have a Valentine meaning and one is enough, but the delicate white petals and sweet fragrance make any day special.
NOTE: Tomorrow, Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. come to the Iowa City Public Libraryfor the Project GREEN’s 2nd gardening forum.
