Let’s talk about flowers today. I know there are lots of flower snobs out there. Generally these are the people who get mad if their sig-other doesn’t buy them an eighty-dollar bouquet of red roses with ferns and baby’s breath. But, maybe with times being a little tighter, you should think outside your Russell-Stover heart-shaped box and consider accepting the beauty of some other lowly flowers.
First up: the carnation. I love me some carnations, when done right. They can be a little sad when there are only five of them in a vase with the above mentioned baby’s breath filler. But when en masse they can be breathtaking. They smell like pepper, which I love, and last forever. Regard these examples.
So pretty. Now lets talk about tulips. I drive past a florist every time I work and I watch the price of a dozen rose bouquet go up on their sign as it gets closer to v-day. Last night it read “29.99 for a dozen roses,” under this it read “tulips, 1 dozen- 12.99.” Yes, please, I will take those! I know everyone thinks about tulips as an April flower, but in the dark of winter these are just the breath of light-heartedness I need. Tulips are pure joy to me and they make me smile every time. My momma stopped by the other day with a pot of planted bulbs that have grown and opened their proud petals. They are white with red stripes down the center and smell like the sweetest honey. Delightful.
I love the one with the conversation hearts in the vase. I really love how the tulip gets even more romantic as it starts to bend and open its petals completely, like in the second bouquet of white ones. Very Jane Austen.
I would also be excited if I was the recipient of a living plant that I could enjoy for a long time (depending on how long it takes me to kill it).
I love the rosemary heart topiary, or this succulent wreath.
Now don’t get me wrong, I do love roses, but I prefer the billowy wild type not usually found in the floral shops. There are just so many beautiful flowers out there that I think it is unfair that the rose gets all of the glory on special occasions. So maybe just take a little time to stop and smell the carnations!
