Molly Britt
A look inside the flower industry and tips for Valentine’s Day
Words by Molly Britt
Flowers are one of the easiest and most thoughtful gifts you can offer someone, especially on Valentine’s Day. They show the receiver that you care and are committed without being flashy or over the top (nobody likes a show off). So, don’t want to go crazy with gifts this holiday? Buy them flowers.
A whopping 33% of all flower sales happen on Valentine’s Day. Over 250 million roses are produced for Valentine’s Day. You know what’s more interesting? Flowers have been scientifically proven to improve moods and emotions. According to Leatrice Eisma, author and director of the Eiseman Center for Color Information & Training, flower therapy can improve emotional health, using such a simple gesture with something that grows out of the ground.
Flower therapy is a concept where certain color combinations expressed in floral arrangements stimulate and relax the senses and release happy memories. Say you want to give someone some flowers to show them you care; go with a nurturing color palette of soft pastels. Include some tulips, carnations, snapdragons, and roses. Want to show someone you love them? Try a rose-colored palette of roses, lilacs, and peonies. You can say so much to a person using simple color theories and flowers.
So, you’re getting them flowers…now what kind is best? Did you know, different flowers symbolize different things? While red roses symbolize love and passion, pink roses show admiration. White roses represent purity, and yellow roses symbolize friendship. Want to be someone’s secret admirer? Send them yellow chrysanthemums: That’s what they symbolize. Maybe you admire someone’s delicate beauty, give them orchids or hibiscuses. Want to give flowers to the first person you ever fell in love with? Try lilacs. Sunflowers can be given to show adoration, while red tulips declare your love. Violets symbolize your faithfulness to someone, and pink tulips show you care. Like I said, flowers may not be much to you, but they can mean so much more to the person you give them to.
When asked, 65% of Americans said they “feel special when receiving flowers.” Flowers have special meaning unlike other gifts, according to 60% of Americans, and 70% say flower color adds impact. It’s not just getting flowers, though. Gifting flowers can improve your own mood, too. Giving someone you care about something thoughtful and not materialistic can make you feel good. (Maybe people can stop buying me socks, and start buying me flowers).
Buying flowers for someone is also a great way to help support small businesses without putting more plastic and trash into the world. A thoughtful and ecologically friendly gift? Say no more: I’m in.
So maybe this year we can forgo the expensive dinners and teddy bears carrying heart shaped chocolates. No need for the fancy bracelet or the pretty earrings. Go with a nice bouquet of flowers—just make sure to pick the right types and colors—and you can brighten up anyone’s day. I once heard a story of a man who went outside into a field every single day to pick his wife the flowers she liked. I know you’re thinking “awww” when you read that sentence; there’s my proof! Be that guy and show someone you love them. Just maybe don’t give a bouquet of yellow roses to someone when what you really mean is a bouquet of red tulips. Declare your feelings, not your friendship. Now, go out there and buy some flowers!
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