Roses Are Red

{Photos by Two Chums)

Why red roses for love?  As the story has it, the red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and, since then, the red rose has been associated with lovers.  The tradition lives on.  From timeless pieces of art and classical poetry to modern day music and media, red roses are seen depicting the message of love.

For most people, red roses simply mean “I love you” and that is why, in the United States, one hundred and ten million roses, the majority being red, will be sold and delivered within the three-day time period around Valentine’s Day.  Amazing!

Robin and I do most of our flower shopping at the Los Angeles Flower Market in downtown Los Angeles.If you live in the LA area, you should take a little field trip and explore the wonders of flora and fauna which it has to offer.  It is a joyous spot.  You are greeted with the scent of flowers as you enter – a very happy place to be.   This is the place where florists go to buy their flowers in the wee hours of the morning whilst you and I are still fast asleep.  After those really early hours, the public is welcome to be there.   (Check online to find the times when they allow the public – Google Los Angeles Flower Market.)   You pay a nominal fee to get a pass and in you go.

If you do not live in the Los Angeles area, do some investigating.   There may be a flower market not far from you where you could go and browse and pick up some posies.

Trader Joe’s is a great source for flowers and we are finding that the supermarkets, as well as local farmers’ markets usually have a wide selection, at affordable prices.

Whether you buy flowers yourself or are happily the recipient of some pretty stems this Valentine’s Day, it is important to follow some simple steps to prolong their freshness and your enjoyment.  As soon as you receive them, give them a new cut at the bottom of the stem. Hold the stems underwater, and use a sharp knife, or good sharp clippers, to cut them on the diagonal. Remove the leaves on the stems up to the place where they will be submerged under water.  Then put them immediately in a container of fresh water where they are not over crowded.  Most flowers prefer lukewarm water to really cold water. Next add about 1 teaspoon of sugar with a few drops of common household bleach to the water to kill any bacteria and prolong the life of your beautiful arrangement.   Give your roses new water every two days.  (Typically roses will last 6-7 days before they start to droop.) Now enjoy the beauty and loving sentiment these  flowers have brought to you.

I think that the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland realized what spoke to the heart when she ordered her people to “paint the roses red”……”not pink, not green, not aquamarine, ‘cause in a world full of love, joy and abundant living, roses should be red”!