A Rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species and they come in all different colors, shapes and sizes. Roses or no Roses on Valentines Day. I can’t decide.
There are two camps of people in Williamsburg on Valentine’s Day. The Classic Red Rose or the I am too cool for red roses.
I am torn. Yes Roses are a cliche, Yes they are over-done Yes they are available all over the place. But, like a good steak, or a glass of wine, when done right they can be beautiful and will be appreciated and they can be so romantic. I have never had anyone, no matter how fashion forward turn down a heavenly scented garden rose.
Lavender Holding a rose
Ornamental roses have been cultivated for a millennia, the earliest known examples found in Egyptian pyramids and Mesopotamian writings.
Floriography is the art of writing with flowers. This art became popular during the middle ages when most of the population was not literate, especially females, the object of affection. Each flower had a particular meeting and when this art was at its height in the 19th century, entire conversations could be had by using flowers.
We know that Mistletoe is asking for a kiss, Gardenia means you’re lovely, Hibiscus means you have a delicate beauty, Ranunculus means you radiate charms, a variegated tulip means you have beautiful eyes. Colored carnation means YES, a striped carnation means NO. Yellow carnation means rejection and disdain, scented geranium stupidity, and an orange lily, hatred. Red roses symbolize passion, true love and devotion.
Roses, have their own special language. a thornless rose means the receiver never fear the giver, a leaf invites hope and a garland indicates superiority and merit. A full bunch of open blooms indicates gratitude and a single, unopened rose means beauty and innocence leading to love.
Where do all of these flowers come from? The number one producer of flowers is Holland, thats where we get all of our anemones, ranunculus, hyacinths, and of course tulips. The number two producer of flowers and top producer of roses in the world is is Columbia.
Colombian Roses
Colombian roses are grown in the Sabana de Bogata region, a highland near the equator that is the site of an ancient river bed. The cool nights, warm days and consistent sunlight
is the ideal setting for a perfect rose.
It takes about 48 hours for flowers to get from a field in Colombia to a warehouse in the United States, and one or two more days to reach a retailer. Flowers are grown on private farms and are sold through growing associations. In the past the cut flower industry was filled with problems associated with unsustainable practices, child labor and un-safe working conditions. Now a majority of the flowers sold to independent retailers are certified by watchdog organizations like Veriflora and Rainforest Alliance to ensure that the flowers are grown in a safe, respectful, sustainable manner.
From the time of harvest flowers enter a cold chain where they are stored in a 34deg. warehouse, sent to the airport in refrigerated trucks, held in refrigerated warehouses at the wholesaler and stored in refrigeration at a retailers shop. Flowers can be held for weeks in this type of environment. Once exposed to heat and the outside world they start to fade. The worst place for a flower to be is outside on the street, which is why deli flowers never last as long as ones from a reputable florist.
When choosing flowers this Valentine’s Day. Give roses another try. Garden Roses like the David Austen varieties are so romantic, I mean really romantic, they are everything a rose promises to be, beautiful, sweet-smelling and swoon worthy. Spray roses are petite and fresh, and multicolored roses like Free-spirit with their ruffled edges and peach hues always make me smile. Purple roses like amnesia or cool water look great when combined with white ranunculus or tulips. Don’t be afraid of the classic red standards like Freedom, they will last for weeks in a vase and when paired with waxflower and and an interesting leaf like magnolia, they can look contemporary and new. Just remember to order early, we always pick the best first, and its first come, first serve.
Garden Roses
