Consider an alternative flower bouquet to roses on Valentine’s Day, and look for organic flower vendors.
Although roses are the number one flower bestowed on loved ones as Valentine’s gifts, in the 19th century Victorians used flowers to convey a variety of messages. In fact, not all flowers shared loving feelings in Victorian England. If a relationship was marked by a sense of distrust, the recipient might receive a bouquet of lavender. A tussie-mussie arrangement filled with cyclamen could signal the end of a relationship.
If the simple elegance of a red rose seems lackluster after years of presenting this commonplace flower as a gift, consider a small arrangement of gardenias. One whiff will tell you why this flower represents ecstasy. I’ve always loved the fresh appeal of daisies, which represent innocence. If your romance is long distance, send an arrangement that includes jasmine, which acknowledges separation.
In addition to the symbolism of flowers, there’s another reason to consider an alternative to roses as a gift this Valentine’s Day: the bulk of the conventional rose trade thrives in South America, where pesticide regulation is weak or absent. The sensitive environments in these countries suffer because of our quest for the perfect Valentine’s rose, and workers in the floral industry must suffer a miasma of chemicals as they tend these hothouse beauties. If your loved one must have roses, explore the growing number of organic florists available.
